CHAPTER 2 — THE VACATION THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD STOLEN
“Everything?” the concierge repeated.
I watched Kevin through the glass wall of the lounge entrance.
He was still standing beside Jessica.
Linda had one hand wrapped around the handle of the suitcase that had apparently replaced me.
Tyler and Emma sat nearby.
My grandchildren looked miserable.
“Yes,” I said.
The concierge hesitated.
“Dr. Hayes, just so I understand correctly, you are the primary purchaser on all five original reservations.”
“I am.”
“And Mrs. Parker’s ticket was added yesterday evening.”
I frowned.
“Mrs. Parker?”
“Linda Parker.”
Jessica’s mother.
Something cold moved through me.
“I didn’t add Linda Parker.”
There was silence on the line.
Then I heard a keyboard.
“Your daughter-in-law contacted our office yesterday at 8:42 p.m.”
“What did she say?”
Another pause.
“She stated that you had authorized an adjustment to the passenger arrangements.”
Of course she had.
Jessica had not simply humiliated me at the airport.
She had planned it.
She had waited until the night before departure, when she assumed it would be too late for me to do anything.
“How was Linda’s ticket paid for?”
“Using the card stored on your travel account.”
I almost laughed.
The arrogance was breathtaking.
Jessica had used my money to replace me on the vacation I had paid for.
“Cancel Linda’s reservation.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Cancel the helicopter tour.”
Another keystroke.
“Done.”
“The snorkeling excursion.”
“Done.”
“The private marine program.”
“Done.”
“The dolphin experience.”
A small ache passed through me when I said it.
That experience had been for Emma.
She had talked about dolphins for nearly a year.
But I reminded myself that I was not taking anything away from my grandchildren.
Their parents had made this decision.
“The hotel?”
The agent hesitated.
“You reserved two oceanfront suites at the Grand Wailea for ten nights.”
“I remember.”
“The cancellation penalty is significant.”
“How significant?”
“Approximately $6,200.”
I looked again toward the gate.
Jessica was laughing about something Linda had said.
Six thousand two hundred dollars suddenly seemed inexpensive.
“Cancel them.”
“Both?”
“Both.”
More keys clicked.
Kevin checked his phone.
A moment later, his smile disappeared.
I saw him tap the screen.
Then again.
Jessica leaned toward him.
Her expression changed.
My phone vibrated.
KEVIN.
I let it ring.
The concierge continued.
“There is also a rental vehicle, the private airport transfer, three dinner reservations with deposits, and the photography session.”
“Cancel all of it.”
“Yes, Dr. Hayes.”
“One more thing.”
“Of course.”
“Leave the airline reservations for Kevin, Jessica, Tyler, and Emma intact.”
I would not trap two children at O’Hare to prove a point.
Linda’s unauthorized ticket was different.
That was gone.
“And my reservation?” I asked.
“Your original seat was released during yesterday’s change, but I can place you on the 6:10 p.m. flight through Los Angeles. There is one business-class seat remaining.”
I considered it.
For six months, Hawaii had represented my family.
Breakfasts overlooking the ocean.
Emma holding my hand near the water.
Tyler asking a thousand questions about sea turtles.
Kevin relaxing for the first time in years.
That version of the vacation no longer existed.
