You forgot to ask! Take the guests and don’t complain! the motherinlaw snapped at her daughterinlaw. This time Nell got more than she bargained for.
What do you mean, that doesnt concern me? I live here, this is my flat too, so Im sayingno! Nell stood in the doorway, determined not to let her motherinlaw and her entourage inside.
You werent asked who to house and where! Clare Steadman retorted, her tone dripping with arrogance. Take the guests and dont cause a scene. Come in, Lydia, Peter, thats just her joking.
With a forced smile, Clare slipped past the people shed arrived with, pulling an elderly couple behind her.
Why should I fight you? Nell asked, her voice cracking.
No need to pick a fight, love, Clare answered, her smile sour again. If Matt were home, you wouldnt be shouting at our relatives. My son is generous and respects his family. You could learn a thing or two from him, if you werent so illmannered.
Five minutes earlier Clare had rung the intercom downstairs. Standing by the buildings entrance, shed asked her daughterinlaw to let her in. Without a second thought Nell pressed the button, opening the door for her motherinlaw, even though she barely understood why she should be there while her husband, Matt, lay in the hospital with appendicitis.
When Nell finally opened her flats door, she was taken aback. Beside Clare stood a man and a woman she had never seen, each lugging a suitcase.
Meet my cousin Lydia and her husband. Theyve come to see the family. Clare announced, as if it were a donedeal. Theyll be staying with you and Matt. Id house them at mine, but I already have my old friend from Brighton, Zina, and her grandson. So, Nell, welcome the guests. Lydia and Peter have kindly agreed to stay.
Now, with these strangers practically storming her flat, Nell didnt know whether to call the local constable to evict them or first ring her husband in the ward.
Meanwhile the unwanted guests began rummaging through the flat, slowly unpacking their bags.
Cozily snug, isnt it? And spacious. Tell me, Nell, how far is the tube from here? Wed like to go into the centre tomorrow, wander the streets, admire the monuments and historic buildings. Lydia asked.
Nell opened her mouth to answer, but Clare cut her off.
Not far at all. Ten minutes walk, nice and easy. We chose this flat with my fathers help for our sonclose to the park, the tube, shops, and a good school. Clare declared with pride.
Well done, Clare! Youve given him an education and helped buy the flat. Lydia continued, ignoring Nell entirely.
Im calling Matt. This is outrageous! Nell seethed, feeling the walls close in.
Call him. Let my boy be pleased that his aunt and uncle have finally visited, even if he cant host them properly at the moment. Clare sneered, eyes fixed on Nell.
Nell dialed Matts number. He didnt answer, probably still asleep after a painkiller. She decided to try again later.
It wouldnt have been so hard to welcome her husbands relatives if Clare had asked first, had treated her with a modicum of respect instead of barging in like a bulldozer. Clare seemed to think the purchase of the flat was entirely her and her husbands achievement, even though the young couple had taken out a mortgage and even the first deposit had come from both sets of parents.
Nell, still on the phone, heard only a steady line of buzzing. She didnt push further; Matt was in the hospital, not a spa.
All right, my dears, Ill leave you to it. My house is full of guests, and they need my attention too. Settle in, get some rest. Well sort out a meeting tomorrow, Clare chirped, and slipped out, leaving Nell alone with her unwanted visitors.
Nell realised she had no choice but to let the strangers stay the night. Driving them out of her own home would have been easy, but she feared how Matt would react. She didnt want to argue with him while he was ill.
Dont worry, weve already eaten. Just give us a place to crash for the night, the guests said.
At last Matt called back, his voice weak.
How are you, love? he asked.
Its a nightmare! Nell whispered from the balcony, closing the door behind her to keep the intruders from hearing. Your mother has turned the flat upside down!
What happened? Matt replied, trying to stay calm.
Shes brought in some distant relatives! Nell blurted. Lydia and Peter, from whoknowswhere, have moved in with us. I tried to stop them, but she pushed them in and left. Ive never seen them before.
Im going to call her and ask her to take them back. Its too late for tonight, but they can leave in the morning, Matt said, trying to soothe her.
Honestly, Id rather not have them stay, but theyre your family, so Ill make do, Nell replied reluctantly.
Lydia and Peter were left in Nells flat.
The next morning, as Nell headed to work, she told her husbands relatives shed simply shut the front door behind her.
Youre not giving us keys? they asked, bewildered. How will we get back in? Do we just wait at the landing for you to return?
You wont be coming back, because you wont be living here, Nell snapped, and walked away.
What are you doing? Clare called immediately. Why didnt you give Lydia and Peter the keys? You said theyd stay!
Did Matt not tell you? Nell retorted. I told him you must welcome guests, especially relativesyour direct duty. Dont upset him with your whims. Let him recover!
Nell hung up, hoping the unwanted kin would never find their way back into her flat. She was determined not to open the door for anyone else.
That evening, she walked home to find a troubling scene. Peter and Lydia were perched at the kitchen table, surrounded by slices of ham, cheese, and other leftovers theyd scavenged from the fridge. Even worse, they were drinking wine straight from the bottle, and it had been hours.
Oh, Nells finally here! Lydia slurred. Whip us something quick, were starving. We cant figure out how to use your fancy cooker.
Yeah, weve been stuck here all day because you didnt leave us a key! Peter added, his words slurred.
Nell left the kitchen, dialed the police, and reported that strangers were refusing to leave her flat.
Clare Steadman, fetch your drunken relatives before the police arrive, Nell told the officer. If you dont, theyll end up in a cell.
Clare laughed.
You called the police? she exclaimed. Ill have them out within half an hour, or theyll be spending the night in a cell.
When the constable finally cleared the flat of the intruders, Nell breathed a sigh of relief. She tried not to dwell on the harsh words Clare had thrown at her.
Ungrateful! We welcomed her into the family, and she behaves like a selfish parasite! Clare shouted from the hallway.
Alone again, Nell plotted vengeance. She would make Clare regret her arrogance.
She called her own mother.
Mum, hello! How are you and Dad? Could you give me the number for our cousins back in Thornley? Nell asked.
Why do you need them? Theyre always up to something, you know. her mother replied, amused. Whats the plan?
I want to invite them over, just for a little lesson, Nell said, smiling darkly.
Her mother warned her gently.
Maybe dont go that far? she suggested.
No, Mum. It has to end this way. Nell insisted.
A few days later, Clare knocked on Nells door. Opening it, she was met by a ragtag group of people who smelled of cheap whisky and looked like theyd just walked out of a backstreet tavern.
Good afternoon, they said politely, the stench of stale ale hanging around them.
Pushed aside, Clare stared in disbelief as Nell ushered her own relatives into the flat.
Come in, make yourselves at home. These are my family, straight from the village. A bit rough around the edges, but hardworking! Nell announced.
We love a good labour, they chorused.
Theyll stay a few days, Nell added.
What? Who did you bring? Clare snarled.
Im on a work trip, Matts in the hospital. By your own logic, Im just following the rule: guests, especially relatives, must be welcomed. So here they are. Nell replied, turning away.
The first fifteen minutes were a blur of shouting, coughing, and the smell of cheap spirits. Nell watched as her village cousins dumped bags of supplies, clearly intending to stay.
All right, theyve been fed, maybe a little overindulged. Theyve got a decent supply of fuel, if you catch my drift, Nell muttered to herself, satisfied.
She let her relatives know the plan: if things got too messy, theyd clean up themselves, no police.
Dont worry, nothings broken us yet, they laughed.
The next day Matt called from the ward, his voice thin.
Your mothers furious with Nell. She says she wont let you back into the flat. he reported.
Perfect, Nell replied, smiling. Thats exactly what I wanted. Let her learn respect.
She thought, Ill make her understand what it feels like to be disrespected, as a faint grin crossed her lips.
And so, the strangers from Clares side spent a full day at Nells flat, giving her the peace shed fought so hard to reclaim.
