Just days before my due date, I asked my husband, Jake, to make sure someone would take care of our dog, Rich, while I was in the hospital. He assured me his mother, Abigail, had it covered.
The labor was long and exhausting, but the moment I held our newborn in my arms, every ache faded away. Coming home, still floating in that post-baby haze, I expected a warm welcome—a card, maybe a meal. What I found instead was a note on the kitchen counter.
It wasn’t a sweet “Welcome Home” message. It read:
“You owe me $600 for looking after Rich. My time isn’t free. Here’s my bank info.”
I blinked. Jake turned pale. This was… unexpected.
Later, when I brought it up, she tilted her head and asked, surprised, “A catch?”
I nodded calmly. “Yes. If you’re going to bill me like a professional service, I’ll need an itemized invoice—with dates, times, and a breakdown of duties. Records of Rich’s meals, walks, vet visits, any other services provided. You understand—just standard procedure when hiring help.”
