Why does Mum need a twobedroom flat? Shes already 65. Shes unlikely to host guests, and with her sisters she can have a cup of tea in the kitchen. Honestly, a onebedroom flat will more than suffice for her.
Helen Carter knows exactly why her son and daughter have turned up. Michael mentioned it a week ago when the whole family gathered to celebrate the birthday of Sophie, Helens youngest granddaughter.
Michael and Olivia have just arrived and havent even started a conversation when the doorbell rings. Their neighbour peeks in.
Oh, Helen, Im late. Youve got guests, havent you? the elderly woman says, blushing.
Its family, Nina, Helen replies. Whats the matter?
My sewing machine jammed again the thread is tangled and I cant get the bobbin out. Ill pop round later, sorry, Nina says.
No problem, Ill have a look in a minute, Helen says.
She returns to the living room and addresses Michael and Olivia:
Ill be with the neighbour for about five minutes; you two head to the kitchen the kettles already on. Love, tidy up a bit.
Helen quickly sorts the sewing machine issue and hurries back home. Standing in the hallway, she stops, listening to something that catches her off guard.
Olivia, Ive done the maths, Michael says, this flat could sell for at least £90,000, while the little twobedroom house Mum is thinking of moving into is worth around £30,000.
And you want Mum to give us the difference? A million pounds each? his sister asks.
Of course we do. Not a million, but £120,000 each, Michael answers.
Where will she get that? Olivia wonders.
I told you Ive done the research! Why does Mum need a twobedroom flat? Shes 65. She wont be entertaining guests, and with her sisters she can have tea in the kitchen.
Honestly, a singleroom flat is more than enough for Mum. A decent onebedroom with a fresh fitout will run about £18,000.
I was looking for a place not on the outskirts but closer to the centre, in a relatively new block, with shops and a clinic nearby, Michael explains.
I dont know, what if Mum refuses? Olivia protests.
Why would she? Im actually against the idea of her moving. But if shes being forced into a retirement home, maybe shell do us a favour.
Helen has lately been thinking about returning to her hometown. When she moved out to the Manchester area, she was fortyfive. At that age you cant make many new friends; she had a few acquaintances, but they werent the lifelong mates you have from youth.
She didnt want to move then quit her job, pull the kids out of school, and go to an unfamiliar city. But her husband was offered a good post at a factory, and she agreed.
Twenty years pass: work, family, occasional trips back to York. Two years ago her husband suddenly passed away.
Her son and daughter now have their own families, and Helen feels like shes floating in a vacuum. When she retires, the loneliness deepens and the calls from her sisters become more frequent.
Helen doesnt wait for her daughters answer. She slams the front door as if shes just arrived.
Michael and Olivia are in the kitchen. Their mother has already poured tea into mugs and sliced a sponge cake she baked before coming.
Mum, are you sure you want to move? Olivia asks.
Yes. Now that your fathers gone, nothing holds me here. After twenty years this place never felt like home.
Nothing holds you? What about us? What about the grandchildren? Olivia exclaims.
Olivia, you have your own lives and worries. I dont want to be a burden. Your kids are grown, they dont need a nanny. Whats left for me? Sitting on a bench with other pensioners, strolling the park with a stick?
Some people might enjoy that. Not me. What else is there? Books and the telly? My sisters live nearby, plenty of acquaintances. Just outside the town, in the village, theres the old family house where everyone gathers for the summer.
I keep dreaming Im back in York, walking the streets, and everyone I meet seems familiar, Michael says.
Right, Mum, what about the flat? Michael steers the talk to practical matters.
What? Ill sell it and buy a new one, she replies.
Want a hand with the sale? Michael offers.
Ill go through an agency. The advert is already up, so Ill start packing gradually.
Mum, Im not just offering help for free. There are scammers everywhere. You could end up with no money and no flat.
Dont worry. Liz Cole will help me with the sale shes my brotherinlaws wife, remember? Helen says.
Liz runs her own agency. Natasha also has a reliable realtor; they recently helped Paul buy a house, she explains.
How much are you aiming for? Michael asks.
Liz said £90,000 is a fair price, but we could list it a bit higher at first. Ive checked the property sites; the market looks like that.
The flats over there are cheaper, Olivia notes.
Yes. A comparable twobedroom here goes for around £60,000.
Mum, Olivia and I have a favour to ask: could you give each of us at least £30,000 after you sell? Michael asks.
£30,000 each? I wouldnt have enough for a new flat.
Why not? You could buy something smaller, like a onebedroom, Michael suggests.
A onebedroom would be uncomfortable for me, Helen says. I need two rooms: a bedroom and a sitting room.
Some families of three live in onebedroom flats, Michael replies.
Yes, those who cant afford bigger places. I can afford a bigger one, and I dont see why I should give that up. I want to live comfortably.
Mum, it would be fair to Olivia and me. Its still a family flat, after all.
Michael, I never expected wed be talking about this, but remember Dads will gave you everything you were entitled to.
He never shortchanged you. All I got was the flat. And now you expect me to split it with you?
Michael didnt phrase it quite right, Olivia interjects, trying to smooth things over. He meant you could help us if you have any money left.
He has a mortgage; Illya and I want to buy a cottage. Even £15,000 would help us.
Even if you buy a £60,000 flat as planned, youll still have £30,000 left. Thats what were talking about.
Yes, the remainder will be useful. First for the move, then for renovations, then for furnishing the new place Ill need furniture and appliances.
The leftover will be my safety net, just in case I fall ill. I dont want to be a problem for you or other relatives.
So you wont give us anything? Michael asks.
Michael, Im surprised youve brought this up. Youre thirtyseven, Olivia thirtyfour, both with degrees, both working.
Youll still have to pay the mortgage for a few more years, but youre not struggling. If I hadnt decided to move and sell, would you have managed? Did you have a plan to relocate me to a simpler flat?
No. Sorry, Mum, for stirring this up, Olivia says. We just thought
You thought Mum, whos always helped you, would never turn you down, Helen replies.
I wouldnt refuse if you truly needed it. But I think youll manage: Michael will cover the mortgage, Illya will save for the cottage, and everything will be fine.
Helen does exactly what she planned: she sells the flat, moves back to York, and buys a new home near the spot where she and her late husband once lived.
Relatives help her settle and redecorate. Now, waking up each morning, Helen Carter truly feels at home.
