For years, my wealthy in-laws had a strange habit: they’d “forget” their wallets at restaurants, leaving others to pick up their lavish bills. I’d warned my husband, Dan, that one day this behavior would catch up to them.

But I never imagined that lesson would come from my own mother. When Dan’s parents invited her to a fancy Italian restaurant for his mother’s birthday — while we were away on vacation — I feared the worst. My mom, however, only smiled and said, “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I can handle it.”

That evening, my mom watched the familiar act unfold: grand orders of wine, appetizers with unpronounceable names, and laughter as they enjoyed a feast fit for royalty. Then came the moment of truth — and, just as predicted, everyone suddenly “remembered” errands and “forgot” their wallets.