My grandma always has fresh-baked cookies ready, never forgets a birthday, and somehow makes every family gathering feel like home. If anyone deserved the perfect birthday dinner, it was her.

So when she mentioned she’d love to have “just a small dinner out this year,” I was all in.

She’s 85 this year, and it’s a big deal. A quiet evening with good food and her favorite people? Done. But of course, the rest of the family had other plans.

“Grandma deserves something spectacular,” Aunt Linda had announced on our family group chat. “Not some boring little dinner.

The rest of the family insisted on taking Grandma to the nicest restaurant in town, which might’ve seemed like a nice gesture if they hadn’t made it all about themselves.

Our weekly Sunday was a circus. I stepped outside to escape for a while, and that’s when I overheard my cousin Katie scheming with her brother, Mark.

“Seriously, Jade won’t say no,” Katie whispered. “She works at a bank! She’s loaded. Lives alone. No kids. What else is she spending money on?”

Mark snorted. “Exactly. We just gotta keep it chill until the bill comes. Then we’ll play dumb, and she’ll pick it up.”

I froze in place. Oh, so that was the plan. Blow up Grandma’s birthday dinner into a huge event and let me foot the bill while they sat there acting clueless.

What about Grandma?” Mark asked. “Should we tell her to bring her wallet too? You know, as backup?”

Katie laughed. “Please. She’ll insist on paying anyway. She always does. But cousin dearest will jump in to save the day because she’s such a hero.”

I felt my face flush hot with anger. Using Grandma like that? On her birthday?

I would’ve happily paid to give Grandma the night of her dreams. But getting played like some open wallet? Absolutely not.

Fine. Let’s see how that plays out, I thought as I retreated inside.

I picked Grandma up on the night, and we drove to the nicest steakhouse in town. Grandma clutched her little purse and smiled like it was the best day of her year.

Meanwhile, the rest of them acted like we were at a celebrity afterparty. Katie took nonstop photos “for the aesthetic,” posing with every drink and appetizer.

Mark sampled every overpriced whiskey on the menu, loudly proclaiming himself a “connoisseur” to our server Miguel, who deserved a medal for his patience.

Aunt Linda kept loudly recommending the most premium options to anyone who’d listen. Through it all, Grandma beamed.

“This is lovely,” she whispered to me. “I never expected all this fuss.”