«Listen, Mum, most of my mates have had help with housing from their parents,» the grown son said. «Im getting married sooncant you help us out? You dont want us living like vagrants, do you? You dont even have to buy us a placejust let us move into the one-bed flat you rent out. Better yet, put it in my name. Just to keep things fair!»
Elizabeth sat at the kitchen table, sorting through bills. Her husband had left for work hours ago, but she couldnt bring herself to tidy up. Her thoughts buzzed like disturbed bees. Lately, peace in the family had unravelledher youngest son, Oliver, had been wearing her and her husband down.
Liz had dreamed of finally living for herself: redecorating the spare room, buying sleek new furniture for the lounge. Oliver would marry and move out, leaving the whole house to her and her husband. But then her eldest daughter, Emily, divorced her layabout husband, upending everything. The renovation plans were scrappedthe largest bedroom went to Emily and the grandchildren, little Harry and Sophie.
Now Olivers wedding to his fiancée, Victoria, was a month away. Months earlier, hed moved her into «his» space, and now seven people were crammed into a three-bed house, practically living on top of each other.
Victoria walked into the kitchen. Liz frowned the moment she saw her.
«Morning, Elizabeth,» Victoria said, adjusting her perfect ponytail. «Are you having breakfast, or shall I sit here alone? Dont want to be in your way.»
She addressed her future mother-in-law casually, never using her full name. The audacity grated on Lizshed never have chosen someone like this for her son. But Oliver was smitten, so she and her husband had to tolerate it.
«Good morning, Victoria. Ive already eaten,» Liz replied coolly. «Give me five minutes to clear up, then you can have the kitchen.»
Victoria grabbed a glass and filled it with water.
«Elizabeth, I wanted to ask you something. Oliver and I have been discussing where we should live after the wedding What do you think?»
Liz set the bills aside. There it wasthe thread theyd been tugging at for months.
«Weve already talked about this, Victoria. Theres a spare room here. You can stay.»
Victoria set the glass down, her face twisting into what Liz privately called «patronising disdain.»
«Elizabeth, lets be honest. Youve done up this house beautifully. Its cosy, brightbut its *yours*. You and your husband have lived here thirty years. And with Emily and the kids its not three people anymore, its five. Oliver and I dont want to live under a microscope.»
«And how *do* you plan to live after the wedding?» Liz asked, irritation rising. «You dont own a place. Rentings your only option.»
«Thats exactly what weve been thinking,» Victoria said, sitting across from her. «Weve talked about your flatthe one-bed you rent out. What if we lived there instead? Wed pay rent, of course. Orbetter yetyou could *give* it to us.»
Liz smirked.
«I have two children, in case youve forgotten. Am I supposed to hand you a flat and leave Emily with nothing?»
«Emily could live with you,» Victoria shrugged. «Three bedroomsyou and your husband in one, Emily and the kids in another. Plenty of space.»
«Emily cant live with us forever,» Liz clenched her fists. «Shes divorcedshe needs her own life. And Ill say it again: I wont give you that flat. Youre young, you workearn your own home.»
«But thatll take *years*!» Victoria threw her hands up. «Oliver just got promoted, but saving for a deposit will take five, maybe seven years! We want to live *now*!»
«Then why the extravagant wedding?» Lizs tone brooked no argument. «Why limos, doves, a hundred-person reception if you cant even afford a roof? Just sign the papers quietly and put the money toward a deposit. Isnt that simpler?»
«Elizabeth, thats *your* view,» Victoria said tightly. «Oliver and I see it differently. This is *our* daywe want it perfect. I want a gorgeous dress, I want my friends to see were not paupers. Dont you understand?»
«Oh, I understand,» Liz nodded. «You want to show off. But I also know that no home of your own is a fast track to divorce. Smart couples buy a place *before* marrying.»
Victoria shot her a glare and stormed out. She had no comeback.
***
That evening, Oliver confronted Lizclearly put up to it by Victoria. This time, he targeted their recent anniversary celebration.
«Mum, Dad and I celebrated thirty years in a nice restaurant because we *earned* it. We scrimped for ten years, paid off the car loanthe car *you* got, by the way. And yes, we splashed out because we *deserved* it!»
«You couldve stayed home! Had a barbecue at the cottage. Wouldve been cheaper. Do you know how much I could use that money now? How much did you blow? Two hundred grand? Three?»
Liz turned sharply.
«*Youre* saying this to *me*?» Her voice cracked. «You couldnt even save for a decent suit! We bought your wedding one! Were covering seventy percent of this weddingwe had to take out a *loan* for your nonsense! And now youre *lecturing* me?»
«Dont shout at me,» Oliver snapped. «Im not lecturing. Im asking for whats fair. Where am I supposed to bring my wife? Here? Some mouldy rented dump? Mum, Im *asking* you!»
«And *Im* asking why *her* parents cant house you! You want me to hand over my only safety netthe flat I kept for my retirement! Well keep renting it out, same as always!»
«Why should you? Youve had your turngive us ours!»
«Youve forgotten you have a sister, Oliver. Emily has kidsshe needs help more than you do!»
Footsteps interrupted themVictoria marched in.
«Emily can rely on her ex-husband,» she cut in, «or this house youll leave her. Give us the flatwe wont touch the three-bed. Right, Ollie?»
The row escalated. Everyone was convinced they were right. Oliver and his fiancée had long abandoned decorumthey werent asking anymore. They were *demanding* a flat theyd done nothing to earn.
***
A week before the wedding, the house was oddly quietOliver and Victoria were at a friends country home, Emily and the kids were visiting cousins. Liz and her husband, William, were watching TV when the doorbell rang. They exchanged glancesno guests were expected.
William answered. The lock clickedand in burst Victorias mother, Zoe.
«Will, hello. Liz home? Let me in!»
Liz froze. Shed only met Zoe three times, but that was enough. Victoria was her mothers daughter.
Liz hurried to the hallZoe was already kicking off her shoes.
«What do you want?» Liz asked bluntly.
Zoe grinned.
«Hi, Liz. Came for a chat. Kids are getting hitched soon, and my Vickys beside herself*complaining* about you, by the way!»
Liz arched a brow.
«Oh? Whats her grievance now?»
Zoe scoffed.
«Liz, dont play daft! Why wont you let them have that flat? Its *empty*! Cant spare a room for your own son?»
William exhaled sharply. Liz squeezed his hand*stay calm*.
«Zoe, why dont *you* buy them a place? Why is *their* housing *my* problem?»
Zoe blinked.
«Where would *I* get that kind of money? We live paycheque to paycheque! If *I* had a spare place, Id hand it over in a heartbeat. So come on, Lizstop being difficult. Give them the flat. No need for fuss, eh?»
William had had enough. He nudged Zoe toward the door and barked:
«Right, thats it! Outnow! Tell your daughter the flats off the table. End of discussion!»
Cursing, Zoe left. William called Oliver and ordered him to move out the moment he returned.
