They say family is everything — but my sister-in-law proved otherwise on what should have been a relaxing family vacation. Jessica, my brother Peter’s wife, planned a getaway to a gorgeous lake house. Six bedrooms, private dock, hot tub — and $500 per person. Jessica claimed she didn’t need to pay since she “organized” it. My mom, Meryl, was thrilled. A hard-working single mother who raised us after Dad died, she hadn’t had a real vacation in years. But days before the trip, my son came down with a high fever. I had to stay back — and begged Mom to still go and enjoy herself.

The next day, I called to check in — and what I saw broke my heart. Mom was sitting in a hallway, red-eyed and exhausted. Behind her, a thin camping mat. No bed. No room. No dignity.Jessica had given the real rooms to her side of the family. When I confronted Peter, he said it was “first come, first serve,” and Mom “didn’t mind.” I was furious. This woman — who raised him, sacrificed everything — was now sleeping beside a mop closet. So, I packed a queen-size air mattress, left my recovering son with a neighbor, and drove straight to the lake house.

When I got there, Mom was washing dishes like nothing was wrong. But I saw the sadness in her eyes. I marched upstairs, knocked on the door of the master bedroom — Jessica’s room — and told her the floor was now her place. I moved her stuff out and set up the air mattress for her. The master suite? That now belonged to Mom. Jessica and Peter were livid. But I didn’t care.