I gave my daughter a flat as a wedding gift. Only later did I realise what a terrible mistake Id made.
I had a wonderful wife: beautiful, loving, brilliant. We spent twenty-three years together. Those were the best years of my life. But not long ago, a cruel illness took her from me. Wed raised our daughter, Emily, together.
While my wife was still alive, she suggested we buy another flat to rent out for extra income. My pension was barely enough, but she said the rent would be steadylike money dripping from a tap. If times got tough, we could always sell. Property is always a safe bet. And it meant Emily would never have to worry about a place to live.
When Emily accepted her boyfriends marriage proposal, I gave them the second flat as a wedding gift, so they wouldnt have to rent. But I soon regretted it deeply. I always believed my daughter had a good head on her shouldersuntil she did this.
The moment I signed the flat over to her, she sold it and bought a brand-new Mercedes with the money.
Where will you live now, Emily? I asked, my voice tight with disbelief.
Oh, Dad, well earn enough for another place soon, she said airily. For now, well just rent. Ben and I have always dreamed of owning a car like this. And weve still got a few thousand leftso were flying to Spain for a proper holiday. Weve earned it.
Shock didnt even begin to cover what I felt. And did they drive that car for long? Of course not. Three months later, my son-in-law crashed it, turning it into scrap metal. At least Emily wasnt hurt. Then she found out Ben had taken up with another womanand she left him.
With no husband, no flat, and no car left, Emily had no choice but to move back in with me.
