«Listen, Mum, most of my mates had help from their parents with housing,» said the grown-up son. «Im getting married sooncant you sort us out with a flat? You dont want us sofa-surfing, do you? You dont even have to buy onejust let us move into that one-bed you rent out. Maybe even put it in my name? Just to keep things fair!»
Sarah sat at the kitchen table, sorting through bills. Her husband, James, had left for work hours ago, but she still hadnt mustered the energy to tidy up. Her thoughts buzzed like a swarm of disturbed wasps. Lately, peace at home had crumbledher youngest, Oliver, was constantly winding her and James up.
All Sarah wanted was to finally live for herself: redecorate the spare room just how she liked, buy a sleek new sofa for the lounge. Once Oliver married and moved out with his wife, the whole flat would be theirs. But then her eldest, Emily, divorced her deadbeat husband, throwing everything into chaos. The renovation plans were scrappedthe biggest room went to Emily and the grandkids, little Archie and Lily.
Now, Olivers wedding to his fiancée, Victoria, was just a month away. Hed moved her in months ago, and suddenly, seven people were crammed into a three-bed, practically tripping over each other.
Victoria strode into the kitchen. Sarah tensed.
«Morning, Sarah,» she said, adjusting her flawless ponytail. «Are you having breakfast, or shall I sit alone? Dont want to intrude.»
Victoria always called her by her first namenever «Mrs. Thompson»and it grated. The girl was bold as brass, and Sarah wouldnt have chosen her for a daughter-in-law in a million years. But Oliver worshipped her, so she and James had to grit their teeth.
«Hello, Victoria. Ive eaten,» Sarah replied curtly. «Give me five minutes to clear up, then its all yours.»
Victoria poured herself a glass of water. «Sarah, I wanted to askOliver and I were talking about where well live after the wedding. What do you think?»
Sarah set the bills aside. There it wasthe thread theyd been pulling for months.
«Weve discussed this. You can have the spare room.»
Victorias face twisted into what Sarah called her «patronising sneer.»
«Sarah, be honest. Youve got a lovely flatcosy, bright. But its *yours*. You and James have lived here thirty years. And with Emily and the kids its not three people anymore, its five. We dont want to live under a microscope.»
«And how *do* you plan to live after the wedding?» Sarah snapped. «Youve no place of your own. Rentings all you can afford.»
«Thats what were saying,» Victoria said, sitting opposite her. «We thought about your other flatthe one-bed you let out. We could live there. Pay rent, obviously or you could just *give* it to us.»
Sarah scoffed. «Ive two children, in case youve forgotten. Should I hand you a flat and leave Emily with nothing?»
«Emily can stay here,» Victoria shrugged. «Three bedroomsyou and James in one, Emily and the kids in another. Plenty of space.»
«Emily cant live here forever,» Sarah said through gritted teeth. «Shes divorcedshe needs her own life. And I wont solve your housing problems for you. Youre young, you worksave up like we did.»
«But thatll take *years*!» Victoria cried. «Oliver just got promoted, but even then, buying a flat will take five, six years! We want to live *now*!»
«Then why the lavish wedding?» Sarahs voice turned steely. «Why the limo, doves, a hundred-guest reception if you cant afford a roof? Just sign the papers quietly and put the money toward a deposit!»
«Thats *your* way,» Victoria shot back. «We want our big daymy dream dress, my friends seeing were not penniless. Dont you get it?»
«Oh, I get it. You want to show off. But no home means divorcesmart couples sort housing *first*.»
Victoria stormed out, seething.
That evening, Oliver cornered Sarah, clearly put up to it. This time, he targeted their recent anniversary bash:
«You and Dad celebrated thirty years at The Ivy because you *could*. You scrimped for a decade, paid off the car you *gave* me. You *earned* that night!»
«You couldve had a BBQ at the cottage!» Oliver retorted. «Saved a fortune. That money wouldve helped me *now*! How much did you blow? Three grand? Four?»
Sarah whirled on him. «*Youre* lecturing *me*? You couldnt even save for a decent suit*we* bought your wedding one! Were covering seventy percent of this farcewe took out a *loan* for your nonsense, and you *dare* throw our anniversary in my face?»
«Dont shout at me!» Oliver yelled. «Im just asking for whats fair. Where am I supposed to take my wife? Some mouldy bedsit? *Mum*, answer me!»
«And why cant *her* parents help?» Sarah fired back. «You expect me to hand over my safety net? That flats for our retirement! Were keeping it rented.»
«For *what*? Youve had your turnnow give *us* a shot!»
«Your *sister* needs help moretwo kids, no husband!»
Victoria burst in. «Emily can lean on her exor *that* flat youll leave her. Just give us the one-bedwere not asking for *this* place. Right, Olly?»
The row escalatedno one backing down, Oliver and Victoria now *demanding* what wasnt theirs.
A week before the wedding, the house was oddly quietOliver and Victoria were at a mates cottage, Emily visiting her cousin. Sarah and James were watching telly when the doorbell rang.
James answeredand in marched Victorias mum, Zoe.
«Jim, love! Sarah here? Let me in!»
Sarah rushed to the hall. Zoe was already kicking off her shoes.
«To what do we owe this?» Sarah said coldly.
Zoe smirked. «Sarah, pet, we need to talk. My Vickys in bits over this flat business. Cried her eyes out last night*about you*!»
Sarah arched a brow. «Oh? Whats her problem?»
«Dont play daft!» Zoe huffed. «Why wont you let them have the empty flat? Its just sitting there! Too stingy to help your own son?»
James exhaled sharply. Sarah squeezed his hand*stay calm*.
«Zoe, why dont *you* buy them a place? Since when is *their* housing *my* job?»
Zoe blinked. «Whered I get that sort of money? Were just getting by! If *I* had a spare place, Id give it in a heartbeat. So stop being difficulthand it over!»
James snapped. He shoved the door wider and barked, «Out. *Now*. Tell your daughter the flats off the table. End of.»
Cursing, Zoe left. James called Oliver and ordered him outthe second he got back.
