…your daughter-in-law’s father’s car dealerships.”
My daughter-in-law’s father, Frank Russo, had bought the house in cash through his company and given it to the couple as a wedding anniversary gift. They hadn’t needed a single dollar from me. They’d taken my $45,000 anyway. And they’d been planning to ask for $30,000 more.
I called Frank. I’d met him only twice. When I told him what his daughter had done, he was silent for a long moment. Then he asked me to send him the screenshots.
“I’m ashamed,” he said. “That’s not how I raised her.”
Frank paid me back the $45,000 within a week, out of his own pocket. Then he told his daughter, Gina, that if she ever took money from me again, the house would go back to his company.
My son, Matt, hadn’t known about the money. Gina had told him I’d offered it “as a gift.” He’d never asked me directly.
I didn’t go to Christmas dinner at their house. I hosted my own instead. I invited Matt and all four grandchildren. Gina stayed home. Matt came.
At my small table, there was room for everyone. My granddaughter made name cards. Mine said: “GRANDMA — MOST WANTED GUEST.”
