I finished helping the guests. I smiled, handed over the room keys, explained breakfast hours, and waited until the elevator doors closed.
Then I looked at the message again.
Vanessa had not made a mistake. She had decided my children were optional, my money was available, and I would probably stay quiet to avoid conflict.
So I replied with two words.
Understood.
Then I finished my shift.
Later that evening, I sat in my office and opened the Punta Cana folder on my laptop. I had planned everything: flights, transfers, suites, dinner reservations, activities for the kids.
Total cost: $9,400.
I checked the shared itinerary and saw Vanessa had added her sister Mariah days earlier. Then I saw a message from my brother Caleb, who had been living in my house for free for four months.
