«We dont need Grandma,» the grandchildren decided at the family meeting.
«Are you mad? Thirty grand for that old banger? Its falling apart!» Colin Wilson slammed the bonnet of the battered Volvo and glared at the seller.
«Its not a banger, its a classic,» the man replied calmly, running his hand over the worn steering wheel. «They dont make em like this anymore. 78, factory build. All papers in order, fully refurbished. Engine runs like a dream.»
«A dream thats turned into a nightmare,» Colin scoffed, turning to his wife. «Olivia, lets go. Im not wasting money on this scrap.»
Olivia sighed and gave the seller an apologetic smile. «Sorry, but hes right. We need a car for the cottagesomething to haul things and get us there. This ones just…»
«Take it, you wont regret it,» the seller pressed. «Ill knock it down for you. Twenty-eight grand, and its yours.»
«No, thank you,» Olivia said firmly, taking Colins arm. «Well keep looking.»
They walked in silence through the garage cooperative. Colin was still fuming, while Olivia worried about how long it was taking to find a decent car. Summer was coming, and they needed a way to get to the cottage. Ever since their old Ford had been wrecked by a drunk driver (thank God theyd walked away unharmed), theyd been stuck taking the bus with two changes or paying neighbours for lifts.
«Maybe we should just take out a loan for a new one?» Olivia suggested hesitantly as they left the lot.
«On our pensions?» Colin snorted. «No, well find something decent second-hand. Just need to look harder.»
«But summers around the corner, and the gardens not even dug,» Olivia said, adjusting her scarf against the brisk spring wind. «The kids promised to help, but you know how that goes. Alex has work, and Emilys got the little ones…»
«Exactlythe kids,» Colin suddenly perked up. «What if we asked Martha?»
«Gran Martha? My mum?» Olivia stared at him. «Shes seventy-eight. Wheres she going to drive?»
«Whats age got to do with it?» Colin waved a hand. «Your mums fitter than I am. Morning walks, shopping, coffee with her mates. And shes got savings, remember? Always said she was putting aside for a rainy day. Well, its pouring.»
«Colin!» Olivia gasped. «How can you even think that? Thats her moneyshe saved it all her life. She wanted it for the grandchildrens education.»
«And wed be using it for them,» Colin insisted. «Buy a car, take them to the cottage. Fresh air, nature, berries straight from the bush. Good for their health.»
Olivia shook her head but said nothing. The idea of asking her mother for money sat uneasily with her. They hardly saw her as it wasMartha lived alone in her old two-bed flat on the outskirts of town, and the journey there was a hassle. Now theyd turn up with their hands out? It wasnt right.
Back home, the family had gathered for Sunday luncha tradition Olivia had kept for years. Alex and his wife Sophie were there with their fourteen-year-old son Jake, and Emily with her husband Mark and twelve-year-old twins Lily and Oliver.
«Find a car?» Alex asked, helping set the table.
«No,» Olivia sighed. «Either too pricey or falling apart.»
«Dad wants to ask Gran Martha for money,» Colin blurted as he walked in. «Shes got savings.»
«Gran Martha?» Emily paused, mid-slice into the loaf. «Would she even agree?»
«Dunno,» Olivia admitted. «Havent asked yet. Not sure we should.»
«Why not?» Colin sat down. «Who else is she leaving it to? Us and the grandkids.»
«She always said it was for their university,» Olivia reminded him.
«And wed be using it for them,» Colin repeated. «Taking them to the cottagepractical education. Biology in action, not just books.»
Everyone laughed, and the conversation moved on. But after lunch, when the adults lingered over tea and the kids vanished with their gadgets, Colin circled back.
«Liv, Im serious,» he said, stacking plates. «We should talk to your mum. Family money ought to help the whole family.»
Olivia hesitated. «Mums always been independent. She wont take kindly to us telling her how to spend her savings.»
«Whos telling her? Well explain. Its not like were asking for a holidayits practical.»
That evening, as they all sat in the lounge, Colin suddenly announced, «What if we asked Gran Martha to move in with us?»
Everyone turned to stare.
«With us?» Olivia echoed. «Colin, were cramped as it is. Where would she sleep?»
«We could convert the storage room,» Colin said. «Or put a sofa bed in here. She wouldnt be alone in that flat, and wed know shes safe. At her age…»
«And her flat?» Alex asked carefully.
«Wed rent it out,» Colin said brightly. «Two-bed, even on the outskirtseasy twenty-five hundred a month. Thatd cover the car, the cottage, everything.»
Olivia frowned. «Shes my mother, not a cash cow. That flats her whole lifeher memories, her things. How would that even work?»
«Come off it,» Colin scoffed. «Whats she need memories for at her age? She needs care, company. Wed give her that.»
Olivia opened her mouth to argue, but Jake interrupted, looking up from his phone: «Does Gran Martha know about this plan?»
«Not yet,» Colin said. «Were working out how to ask her.»
«What if she says no?» Lily asked.
«Well persuade her,» Colin said confidently. «Explain its best for everyone.»
«Best for everyoneor best for you?» Oliver said quietly, his usual shyness gone.
«Oliver!» Emily snapped.
«Im not being rude,» Oliver said. «Just honest. Is this for Granor for us?»
An awkward silence fell. Colin cleared his throat. «Course its for her. Shes alone; were family. Grandkids around her, proper care.»
«Have you asked her if shes lonely?» Oliver pressed. «We barely visit. Just birthdays and Christmas.»
«Everyones busy,» Olivia said weakly.
«Exactly,» Colin jumped in. «If she lived here, wed see her every day.»
The grandkids exchanged glances, and Olivia saw their scepticism. Gran Martha was strict, old-schoolthe kind who scoffed at smartphones, rolled her eyes at social media, and grumbled that kids these days wasted too much time «on those screens.»
«We should ask Gran first,» Emily said, eyeing her children. «She might not want to move. Her friends, her routine…»
«Of course well ask,» Olivia agreed. «Ill go tomorrow.»
«Ill come,» Colin said quickly. «Two of usll convince her faster.»
The next day, they found Martha in high spiritstable set, jam jar out, Colins favourite apple pie fresh from the oven.
«Howve you been, Mum?» Olivia asked, helping in the kitchen.
«Right as rain,» Martha said briskly. «Walks, shopping, coffee with the girls. Life ticks along.»
«Thats what we wanted to talk about,» Colin began over tea. «Your… situation.»
«Whats wrong with it?» Martha eyed him sharply.
«Nothing,» Olivia cut in. «We just thought… maybe youd like to live with us? Wed make space, look after you…»
«Move in?» Martha blinked. «Whats brought this on?»
«Well, at your age,» Colin said, «things happen. With us, youd have family around.»
Martha studied him, then turned to Olivia. «What about my flat?»
«Wed rent it,» Colin said airily. «Extra income. Especially now we need a car for the cottage.»
«Ah,» Martha nodded. «So you want the rent money?»
«Its not just that,» Olivia said, shooting Colin a look. «We worry about you.»
«Is that why youve not visited in four months?» Martha smiled wryly.
«Everyones busy,» Colin said. «But if you lived with us»
«I see,» Martha set down her fork. «What do the grandkids think?»
«Theyre thrilled,» Colin lied. «Cant wait to have you around.»
Martha snorted. «Doubt that. Teens have their own lives. And Im too strict for their liking.»
«No, really,» Colin insisted.
Martha stood. «Tell you whatgive me a week to think it over.»
Relieved, Olivia agreed.
When they got home, the kids were huddled in Jakes room. They emerged, solemn-faced.
«Weve had a meeting,» Jake announced. «About Gran.»
«What meeting?» Colin frowned.
«A grandkids council,» Lily said. «About Gran moving in.»
Olivia tensed. «And?»
«We dont need Gran living here,» Oliver said plainly. «Not like this.»
Olivia and Colin stared.
«Excuse me?» Colin said.
«Its not fair,» Jake explained. «Her whole lifes in that flat. Her things, her friends. Youd just be dragging her out for the rent money.»
«Its not just» Colin started.
«Grandad, were not stupid,» Lily cut in. «You want cash for the car and cottage. Gran would be stuck here, like a… a prisoner.»
«Dont be daft!» Colin spluttered. «Shed be family!»
«Family shoved in a storage room?» Oliver said. «Shes seventy-eight.»
«And you didnt even ask us,» Jake added. «We live here too. Study, relax. Its our home.»
Olivia faltered. «I thought youd be happy. Shes your gran…»
«The gran who moans about us being on our phones?» Lily said. «Who thinks cartoons are for babies?»
«Shes from a different time,» Olivia said weakly.
«Exactly,» Jake said. «And forcing her here? Itd be misery for everyone.»
Colin sank into his chair. «So we just leave her alone in that flat?»
«No,» Oliver said firmly. «We visit more. Take turnsus on Saturdays, you midweek. Invite her for weekends. But not forever. Her homes hers.»
Olivia looked at them, amazed. When had they grown so wise?
«But the car» Colin began.
«Grans savings are for emergencies,» Jake said gently. «Not a Volvo. Thats not fair.»
Colin flushed. «I just thought»
«Fairs when everyones happy,» Lily said. «Gran in a converted cupboard? Thats not happy.»
Silence fell. Olivia felt a swell of pride. The kids had seen what the adults hadnt.
«Youre right,» she said at last. «Ill call Mum, tell her weve changed our minds. And well visit properly.»
«About the car,» Jake added, «Ive got savings from summer jobs. I could help»
«No,» Colin said firmly. «Our problem. Maybe split one with the neighbours.»
That night, Olivia lay awake, thinking of her motheralone in that flat, rarely visited. The move hadnt been about care; itd been about convenience. The kids had seen through it all.
In the morning, she called Martha. «Mum, weve changed our minds. But well visit more. Have you over. If thats alright.»
«Course it is,» Martha chuckled. «Wasnt moving anyway. But more of the kids? Lovely.»
«And, Mum… about the car. Well manage. Your savings stay with you.»
«Whats left to save for at my age?» Martha laughed. «Rainy days are past. Just sunshine nowespecially with more visits.»
Olivia hung up, smiling. The kids were right. They didnt need Gran as a tenant or a burden. They needed her as Granstubborn, old-fashioned, but loved. Her place was where she belonged: independent, respected, on her own terms.
As for the car? Theyd figure it out. After all, happiness wasnt in a Volvoit was in a family that finally saw straight.
