The Neighbours Who Overstayed Their Welcome: How Grace Drew the Line
Daniel returned home exhausted, only to find the flat filled with the rich aroma of roast beef—Grace was preparing dinner, chopping vegetables for a salad. He kissed his wife on the cheek and sighed.
“Smells amazing.”
“I wanted to make something nice for our guests,” she replied sweetly.
“My relatives?” Daniel frowned. “I told you not to bother.”
“But how could I not? They’re family. They’ve been at work all day—they’ll want a proper meal.”
“Grace, you’ll see what I mean soon enough… You should’ve listened.”
A few hours earlier, his mother had called.
“Love, your cousin Natalie—Lydia’s daughter—just bought a flat near yours. They’re renovating, so they’ve no running water yet. Lydia asked if they could pop round to shower for a couple of days.”
Daniel wasn’t thrilled. He’d never liked Natalie, even as a child—she was sly, just like her mother.
“Fine,” he muttered. “But only showers. Nothing else.”
Natalie and her husband, Rob, arrived just before supper.
“Hello! I’m Natalie, this is Rob. You must be Grace?”
Without waiting for an invitation, Natalie wandered through the flat, testing door handles, peering into the bedroom. Daniel shut the door firmly behind her.
“Weren’t you just here to shower?”
“Oh, yes! Grace, could we borrow some towels? We didn’t bring any.”
Once they’d washed, they lingered in the living room, inhaling the scent of roast beef.
“That smells divine!” Natalie chirped. “What’s for dinner?”
Grace sighed and reluctantly set the table.
They devoured everything, leaving without a crumb—or the borrowed towels, washcloths, and shampoo. Grace rubbed her temples.
“The shampoo doesn’t bother me, but we’ll need new washcloths.”
The next day, it happened again. And the day after. Grace served a broccoli bake, and Natalie wrinkled her nose.
“Ugh! You actually eat this? Where’s the proper meat?”
By the fourth night, Grace made spaghetti bolognese. Natalie pushed her fork around.
“Hardly any meat. Just sauce.”
Daniel turned to Rob.
“When’s the water being fixed?”
“Oh, it’s back on already,” Rob admitted.
Natalie cut in swiftly. “The new showerhead hasn’t been fitted yet…”
After they left, Grace gave Daniel a knowing look.
“I know how to stop them. But you’ll have to play along.”
The next evening, when the guests settled in, Grace presented a bowl of dry oats, grated apple, and honey.
“This is a ‘Health Salad.’ Very nourishing. Daniel and I swear by it now.”
Natalie forced a bite, then grimaced. They left quickly.
“You’re cooking tonight,” Grace told Daniel. “There’s shepherd’s pie in the freezer.”
Two days later, Natalie called.
“You’re not eating that salad again, are you?”
“Afraid so. Grace won’t budge. If you come over, bring some roast beef—I can’t stomach another bite.”
“No, we’re done. We’ve got water—and a showerhead now, surprise.”
A week later, Daniel’s mother rang.
“Lydia says Grace is starving you.”
“Mum, don’t be daft. I’m fed, happy, and healthy. Oh, and we’re moving—selling the flat. Then we’ll see who’s really family.”
