I warned my mom right away, but she just chuckled. “Don’t worry,” she said confidently. “I can handle it.”
The night of the dinner, I waited for a text or call. But it never came. Instead, the next morning I got a calm message: Had a lovely evening. Call me when you’re home.
When I finally did, she sounded amused. She told me how the dinner went exactly as expected: gourmet dishes, luxury wine, and everyone slowly disappearing just before the check arrived. But my mom didn’t panic. She ordered dessert.
Then she asked for the manager—Robbie. As fate would have it, he was a former student from her teaching days. And now, he owned the restaurant.
They caught up like old friends, and when my mom explained the situation, Robbie acted swiftly. He called my in-laws on speakerphone and politely informed them that their group had left without settling the bill—and needed to return or the matter would be escalated. They showed up quickly, flustered and silent. Meanwhile, my mom enjoyed her soufflé.
Robbie added a 25% inconvenience charge, bringing the total over $2,000. They paid every cent.
The next day, my mother-in-law called my mom to “thank” her and added, “Just so you know, we always pay our way at family dinners.” My mom just smiled and let it be.
Since then, every time we dine together, my in-laws make sure to tell the waiter upfront, “We’re paying separately!” The waitstaff usually looks a little puzzled, but I just smile. My mom didn’t just handle the situation—she changed the rules entirely.