With a heavy heart, I pack our things to visit my mother. The thought of leaving twists my gut, yet here I am, bundling my son, Oliver, into the car, headed to Mums. All because yesterday, while I was out walking Oliver, my husband, Edward, decided to play the gracious hostletting his cousin Lucy, her husband George, and their two kids, Lily and Noah, take over our bedroom. Without so much as asking! He just announced, You and Oliver can stay with your mumplenty of space there. The nerve of it still stuns me. Our home, our room, and Im the one packing like some unwanted guest? No. This is too much.
It began when I got back from our walk. Oliver was whining, exhausted, and all I wanted was to tuck him in and sip my tea in peace. But the flat was chaos. Lucy and George had already claimed our bed. Their kids darted about, scattering toys, while my thingsbooks, skincare, even my laptopwere shoved into a corner as if Id vanished. I stood frozen. What on earth is this? Edward, unshaken, said, Lucys family needed a place. Thought youd be fine at your mums. More room there.
I nearly choked on my rage. First, this is our homeevery cushion, every spoon, picked together. Now Im to vanish because his family fancies a London holiday? And why no discussion? I mightve agreed, if asked. But this? An order. Lucy, for her part, just smiled. Come now, Emily, dont fuss! Well only be two wee weeks! Two weeks? I dont want them touching my things for two minutes.
George? Silent as a stump. Lounging on our sofa, sipping coffee from my favourite mug, nodding along. The kids? Disasters. Lily, six, spilled juice on the rug, while Noah, four, turned my wardrobe into a den. I tried reminding them this wasnt a hotel. Lucy shrugged. Oh, theyre just children, what dyou expect? Right. And Im to clean up after them.
Alone with Edward, I told him how disrespected I felt, how Oliver needed routine. Dragging him to Mums, where hed sleep on a camp bed, wasnt fair. Edward sighed. Emily, dont overreact. Theyre family. We help family. Family? And what are we? I bit back tears. Instead, I packed. If he thinks Ill roll over, hes wrong.
MumMargaretexploded when she heard. Edward thinks he owns the place? Come here, love, theres room for you and Oliver. As for your husband, hell answer for this! Shed storm over and boot them out in a heartbeat. But I wont have the drama. I just need quiet to think.
As I fold Olivers pyjamas, he looks up. Mummy, how long at Grannys? I hug him tight. Not long, sweetheart. Just till Daddy understands. But deep down, I know: I wont go back till our home is ours again. And Edward will have to choosehis generosity or his family.
