Fine, we wont throw you out for the holidays, Grace Whitaker said, halfsmiling. Make three bedrooms ready my sisters and my niece will stay overnight. Youll sleep in the kitchen yourself.
Grace, what about the fact Im the sole owner of this house? Ive got the title deeds. I snapped back. So dont even think about trying to get in Ill have you escorted out by the police.
After work on Thursday, I was planning to swing by the Willowbrook Shopping Centre. New Years was only two weeks away, and my old school friend Emma had invited me over for the celebrations.
Emmas place was going to be packed: her daughter with her husband and kids, my sister, and my niece a university student. Id been to Emmas flat a lot, knew everyone, so I wanted to buy the presents ahead of time.
Im decent at picking gifts, but I love actually handing them over. I could already picture myself wandering the festively lit aisles, examining the items, watching the shop assistant wrap them up in shiny paper.
My mood nosedived the moment I stepped outside. In the car park, by my sedan, a figure was waiting Rebecca, the sister of my exhusband.
Vicky, hello! she called, shivering. Why so long? Im practically frozen.
Good afternoon, Rebecca, I replied, a little surprised. I didnt expect to see you here.
Why not? Were family, after all, she said. At least weve been called that for twenty years.
Glad were no longer counted as such, I muttered, reaching for the car door.
Rebecca held me back.
Listen, Vicky, Ive got a favour to ask not just me, the whole family.
What family? I havent spoken to yours in a year. Im not taking any requests, I said.
No, just hear me out. I dont know how you and Michael split the assets, but Mum still believes the house you live in belongs to our side.
You and Michael bought it together, and he spent ten years fixing it up. We all celebrated New Years and May bank holidays there. What now?
Mum wanted to host her birthday in May, gather the whole clan on the veranda, like we always did. And you shut us out, then drove off somewhere unknown.
I dont get why youre telling me all this, I asked. I was just visiting a friend, decided to leave. Sorry, I forgot to ask you.
And forget about our family gatherings at my house. When Michael and I divorced, we agreed: the flat, car and garage go to him, the house to me. We made it official right away. So you can all meet at Michaels flat. Thats it.
Vicky, Mum asked if we could use the house on the 31st, like before. A lot of people will come we wont have anywhere else to put the whole family, Rebecca pleaded.
Grace Whitaker really? She finally asks? After twenty years of only demanding things from me? I laughed, Tell her Im not agreeing. Book the relatives a hotel instead.
I slipped back into my car, my enthusiasm for a shopping spree evaporated. Ill buy the gifts tomorrow, I thought, and drove home.
Michael and I had been together for almost twenty years. We bought the house ten years ago. A year ago he announced, At fortyfive lifes just beginning, and said hed build his future with his charming young secretary.
I didnt try to stop him, but I refused to be pushed aside. I kept the house and the family savings; he walked away with a twobedroom flat, a Vauxhall Astra, and a garage.
Since my only remaining support was my daughter, a university student, Michael never claimed a joint account.
A few days earlier, my daughter Lily called, saying shed stay in her hall of residence for New Years.
Mum, will you be mad? she asked. Ill be home for the holidays.
So I accepted Emmas invitation. With that crowd, I wouldnt be lonely.
Knowing Rebecca, I sensed this wasnt over shed keep stirring trouble. And I was right.
That evening my exmotherinlaw rang:
Victoria, arent you biting off more than you can chew? Youve taken the house from Michael, now think you can dodge us?
Yes, well all spend New Years in our own home the one my son kindly let you stay in. Clear?
Fine, we wont kick you out for the holidays. Prepare three bedrooms my sisters and niece will stay, youll be in the kitchen.
Grace Whitaker, do you forget I am the sole owner? I have the paperwork. If you try to force your way in, the police will be called.
Well see who gets the police involved! Just get the rooms ready, well bring all the food, so you wont have to cook a thing. Dont argue, youll remember this New Year forever!
In my mind, Michaels mother had gone completely bonkers. Grace Whitaker wasnt usually a peacemaker, but her latest performance shocked even me. Did she really think Id be scared into obeying her orders?
I used to be the model daughterinlaw in that family the other two eventually accepted the motherinlaws authority. Now that Michael and I were divorced, her words only left me baffled: what were they counting on?
Meanwhile, in Graces flat, a plan was taking shape.
Rebecca, you and Alex are in charge of the groceries. Buy everything we can, ahead of time. Well cook on the evening of the 31st and the morning of the 1st.
Well handle the cold cuts and hot dishes. Sophie and Hannah will do the salads. Well pack everything in containers, and well borrow the two remaining dinnerware sets from Victoria I know she still has them. Michael didnt take any when he moved out.
Mum, what if she refuses to let us in? Rebecca asked.
Let her try! Well be twelve people the whole clan. Shell be embarrassed. Imagine the front door opening to Uncle Keith, Aunt Lucy, Leon and Natalie, and the others. She wont shut us out, will she?
On the night of 31December, at nine oclock, four cars pulled up outside number14 Eastgate Lane.
Strange, Alex, Rebeccas husband, noted. The lights are off. Maybe Victoria isnt home?
Where could she be? Shes at home. And Lily must have arrived. Theyre probably hiding, avoiding us, Grace chuckled. Ring the bell.
No one answered, and the door stayed shut.
I’ve got a spare key, Grace said, smiling. I knew Victoria might try something, so I kept one.
She opened the gate and the whole gang slipped into the courtyard.
Hold on, Ill open the house now. Turn the lights on and bring everything into the kitchen well set the table in a flash. And Victoria, if you want, hide yourself; we wont be asking you to the table.
A few minutes later a clamor rose from the hallway.
Heres the lady of the house, Alex announced.
But it wasnt Grace at all.
Meanwhile I was helping Emma set the table the guests were due any minute.
My phone rang abruptly.
Is this Victoria Whitaker? Theres an alarm going off in your house. The patrol unit is on its way.
There are twelve people here, claiming to be family and saying theyre here with your permission.
I never gave anyone permission. Its probably the family of my exhusband. I didnt invite them. They just walked in.
Will you file a report? the operator asked.
Yes, but Im out of town and wont be back until the day after tomorrow.
The uninvited crowd was escorted to the police station for a few hours. By the time they got to Graces flat, the salads were already spilling and the hot dishes had cooled.
When I finally got back home, Michael called, demanding I retrieve the police report.
Vicky, I thought youd changed the lock, didnt you? he asked.
I didnt why would I damage the door? I just installed a new lock and Im using it.
Why, when you left, did you lock the old one?
I guessed your mother wouldnt give up and would turn up with her guests. I didnt want the door messed up by unwanted visitors, I explained.
So you deliberately left the old lock, which she had a key to, and set the alarm? You provoked them! he shouted.
My point, Michael, was that your family could have spent New Years at their own place. They chose otherwise, so they ended up at the police station. Thats not my fault.
By the way, I had to tidy up the flat and air it out after they left the food theyd already set out was a bit spoiled by the time I got back.
Why didnt you tell Rebecca you were arming the house? Michael asked.
Why should I? There are signs on the gate and door that read Policeprotected. Anyone can read that.
Tell everyone my mother, Rebecca, Alex and the rest that Ill never welcome them as guests again, I replied.
This time Ill take the report, but next time there will be full legal consequences
So, what do you think of the exfamilys antics? Drop a comment with your thoughts and hit like if you enjoyed the tale.
