Dear Eric: After a few years of no contact, I reconnected with a once-close cousin. During her recent visit to my area, I met her and her granddaughter, “Mia”.

My cousin told me about the financial difficulties this sweet teenager is facing. My friend funds most of Mia’s extracurricular activities and clothes.

About a month later, I received a text from Mia asking if I could buy a pair of sneakers for her upcoming soccer camp. Surprised, I contacted my cousin about her request. My cousin “reminded” me that I had offered to help Mia. Well, I wasn’t talking financially!

But since she’s such a sweet child, I offered to help her buy the sneakers. Unfortunately, Mia wanted outrageously overpriced sneakers that I wouldn’t buy for my own granddaughter. When I told my cousin about this, she said, “Well, Mia is very picky and wants what she wants.

Not very happy with this answer, I asked Mia to choose a pair in a specific price range. She apologized and sent other options within that range. After receiving them, Mia sent numerous thank you texts, then invited me to join her and my cousin “on the coast” for the 10-day vacation they had planned. I didn’t respond, because the invitation didn’t come from my cousin.

I’m angry and feel like I’m being backed into a corner by my cousin asking Mia for help and I haven’t heard from her. Should I let my cousin know how I feel or just cut ties completely?

– Feeling used