Dave scratched his head, piecing it together. “Tom must have listed it after you told him you’d be out of town.”
The woman looked horrified. “Oh my gosh, we had no idea. We’re so sorry! We’ll leave right away.”
“No, no, it’s fine!” Maria said quickly, trying to ease the tension. “Let’s figure this out.”
The couple, Jake and Emily, stepped inside awkwardly as they attempted to make sense of the situation. Maria turned to Karen and whispered, “What is happening?”
Karen looked just as confused. “Tom must have listed the house when you told him you’d be away.”
Maria pulled out her phone and called Tom, who answered cheerfully. “Hey honey! I thought you’d be on your flight by now.”
“Tom,” Maria said, her voice strained, “did you list our house on Airbnb?”
There was a pause. “Uh, yeah. I figured we could make some extra money since you’d be gone.”
Maria closed her eyes, trying to stay calm. “Tom, I’m not out of town. I’m throwing you a surprise party. And now we have a house full of guests and a couple who thinks they’re renting our place.”
There was a long silence before Tom groaned. “Oh no, Maria, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Well, you need to come home now,” she said, exasperated. “We’ll sort this out when you get here.”
After hanging up, Maria turned to the group. “Tom’s on his way home. We’ll figure this out once he arrives.”
Jake stood up, looking apologetic. “We don’t want to ruin your party. We can find another place to stay.”
Lisa shook her head. “No, stay! We have plenty of food and drinks. Join us.”
Emily smiled, still uncertain. “Are you sure? We don’t want to intrude.”
“Absolutely!” Maria laughed at the absurdity of the situation. “The more, the merrier!”
When Tom finally arrived, looking sheepish, he apologized to everyone for the mix-up. “I’m so sorry, everyone. I was just trying to save up for a vacation for Maria and me.”
Tom’s sister Susan laughed. “Well, you definitely surprised us!”
Jake and Emily decided to stay for the party, and soon, laughter and clinking glasses filled the house. Despite the chaos, everyone had a fantastic time, turning it into a night to remember.
As the party wound down, Dave raised his glass. “Here’s to unexpected guests and unforgettable surprises!”
Everyone toasted, chuckling at the unusual turn of events. Looking around at the smiling faces, Maria felt grateful. Sometimes, life throws surprises your way, and it’s all about how you handle them. This night would be a story Tom and Maria would share for years, with a vacation as the cherry on top.