When the waiter saw her, his face dropped. Then he spotted me — and realized who I was. The meal went smoothly; the staff, knowing I was the new owner, made sure everything was flawless. Then, I stood up and called the waiter over.
I asked him to explain how we treat guests. Nervously, he spoke of respect and kindness. That’s when I revealed the truth to everyone: I now owned the restaurant. My grandmother gasped and smiled through tears as I turned to the waiter with a choice.
He could leave with a month’s pay — or stay and complete customer service training. To his credit, he stayed. Months later, he’s changed completely — kind, respectful, and always the first to greet Grandma with tea and warm breadsticks.
That night became more than an anniversary. It became a lesson in second chances and the power of standing up for those we love. In the end, Grandma got more than just her celebration — she got her dignity back.