A week later, she came over to meet the baby. She cooed over her grandson, marveling at how much he looked like Jake. For a brief moment, I thought she’d moved past her ridiculous demand.
Then, as she handed the baby back to me, her tone shifted. “So, about that $600… When can I expect payment?”
I smiled sweetly. “Oh, I’m happy to pay you—on one condition.”
Her smile faltered. “What condition?”
I walked over to the desk and pulled out a thick folder I’d prepared earlier. “Since you’re charging us for services, it’s only fair we do the same.”
She frowned as I slid the folder toward her. “What’s this?”
“It’s an invoice,” I replied. “For every favor we’ve ever done for you. Moving you into your new house last year? $800—family discount included. The time Jake and I paid for your car repairs? $1,200. Babysitting your neighbor’s kids when you were ‘too busy’? $600. I could keep going.”
Her face paled as she flipped through the pages. “This is ridiculous!” she sputtered. “You can’t charge me for things family does for each other!”
“Exactly,” I said, crossing my arms. “Family helps each other out without expecting payment. Or at least, that’s what I thought. But if you want to treat this like a business arrangement, fine. We’ll do it your way.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, searching for an argument. Finally, she muttered, “This is different. I had to rearrange my schedule for Rich!”
“And I had to rearrange my entire life to have your grandchild,” I shot back. “So if we’re talking about fair compensation, I’d say we’re more than even.”
Flustered, Abigail grabbed her purse and stormed out, slamming the door so hard it startled the baby.
Jake, who had been silently watching from the kitchen, walked over and hugged me. “Remind me never to get on your bad side,” he said with a grin.
I laughed, sinking onto the couch with the baby in my arms. Rich padded over, resting his head on my knee as if to say, Good job, Mom.
Abigail might not have learned her lesson, but one thing was certain: she wasn’t getting a single cent of that $600. And if she ever tried something like this again? Well, the folder would be ready.