I stared at the screen for a few seconds after she hung up.

notified as part of protocol.

I hadn’t mentioned that part to my mother.

Two days later, she called.

This time she didn’t sound cheerful.

She sounded irritated.

“Lauren, what did you do?”

“Good morning, Mom.”

“They shut off the card! The hotel says the transaction was reported as fraud!”

I poured coffee calmly.

“Because it was.”

Silence.

“I told you we used it!continue reading …