“Fine then, we wont kick you out over the holidays. But prepare three bedroomsmy sisters and niece are staying the night. You can sleep in the kitchen.”
“Margaret, do you realise Im the sole owner of this house? Ive got the paperwork to prove it. So dont even think about forcing your way inIll have the police remove you.”
After work, Valerie had planned to stop by the shopping centre. Christmas was just two weeks away, and her old friend Emma had invited her over.
Valerie knew it would be a full houseEmmas daughter with her husband and kids, her sister, and her university-student niece. Shed visited often enough to know everyone, so she wanted to get the gifts sorted early.
Gift-giving was something Valerie enjoyedpicking them out, wrapping them, watching the shop assistants tuck them into glossy paper. But her mood soured the moment she stepped outside and spotted Rebecca, her ex-husbands sister, waiting by her car.
“Val, finally!” Rebecca said, hugging herself. “Im freezing out here.”
“Afternoon, Rebecca. Didnt expect to see you.”
“Why not? Were still familyor we were for twenty years.”
“Luckily, not anymore,” Valerie said, reaching for the car door.
Rebecca stopped her. “Listen, Val, Ive got a favour to ask. Well, not just methe whole family.”
“What family, Rebecca? Ive had nothing to do with yours for a year. I dont want to hear it.”
“Just listen. Mum still thinks the house youre living in belongs to us. You and Michael bought it together, and he spent years fixing it up. We always spent holidays thereChristmas, Easter. And now what?”
“Mum wanted to host her birthday in May, just like old timeseveryone on the terrace, the whole lot. But you disappeared.”
“I went to see a friend. Didnt realise I needed your permission.”
“And forget about your little family gatherings in *my* house. When Michael and I divorced, we agreedhe kept the flat, the car, and the garage. The house is mine. Legally. So go bother Michael instead.”
“Val, Mums asking if we can host New Years Eve there, like we used to. Therell be loads of usno way well fit in the flat.”
“Margaret actually *asked*? Thats new. Twenty years of demands, and suddenly shes polite? Tell her no. Book a hotel.”
Valerie got in her car. The thought of gift shopping was ruined. “Tomorrow,” she muttered, driving home.
She and Michael had been married nearly twenty years. The house Rebecca was going on about? Theyd bought it ten years ago. Then, a year back, he announced that “life doesnt end at forty-five” and left her for his pretty young assistant.
Valerie didnt fight to keep himbut she wasnt about to let him take everything. The house and savings stayed with her; he got the flat, the Jaguar, and the garage.
Their daughter, Sophie, was still at uni, so Michael didnt push for joint accounts.
A few days ago, Sophie had called. “Mum, you wont mind if I stay at halls for New Years, will you? Ill be home for the rest of the break.”
Thats when Valerie accepted Emmas invite. At least there, she wouldnt be alone.
But knowing Rebecca, this wasnt over. And she was right.
That evening, her ex-mother-in-law called.
“Valerie, youve got some nerve, havent you? Stealing Michaels house, thinking we wont do anything about it? Well, listenthis New Years, were *all* celebrating there. The house *my son* let you live in. Understood?”
“Fine, we wont throw you out. But prep three bedroomsmy sisters and niece are staying. You can sleep in the kitchen.”
“Margaret, do you *realise* I own this house? Ive got the deeds. Try breaking in, and Ill have the police drag you out.”
“Well see about that. Get the rooms ready. Well bring the food, so you wont even have to cook. And dont argueyoull remember this New Years forever.”
*Shes lost the plot,* Valerie thought. Margaret had never been pleasant, but this was something else. Did she actually think Valerie would cave?
Back in the day, Valerie had been the “good daughter-in-law”the others just let Margaret rule. Now? The womans demands just baffled her.
Meanwhile, at Margarets flat, plans were underway.
“Rebecca, you and Alex handle the food. Get everything ahead of time. Well cook on the 30th and the morning of the 31st.”
“You and I will do the roast and sides. Sarah and Olivia can handle salads. Well pack it all upand well use Vals good china. Michael left it behind.”
“Mum, what if she *doesnt* let us in?” Rebecca asked.
“With twelve of us? Shed be too embarrassed to slam the door. Uncle Keith, Aunt Louise, Lenny and Natalieyou think shed turn them away? Shell let us in, sweet as pie.”
On New Years Eve, at nine p.m., four cars pulled up outside the house on East Lane.
“Odd,” Alex muttered. “Lights are off. Maybe shes not home.”
“Where else would she be? Shes hiding. Ring the bell.”
No answer.
“WaitIve got keys,” Margaret said smugly. “Knew shed pull this.”
They filed into the garden, then the house.
“Lights on, food to the kitchen. Well set up quick. If Val wants to hide, let her.”
Twenty minutes later, a commotion in the hallway.
“Ah, the hostess,” Alex said.
But it wasnt Valerie.
She was at Emmas, setting the table for guests, when her phone rang.
“Ms. Valerie Keating? Your home alarms been triggered. Officers are on-site.”
“Twelve people claim theyre family and have permission to be there.”
“I didnt invite anyone. Probably my exs relatives. Theyve broken in.”
“Will you press charges?”
“Absolutely. But Im away until the 2nd.”
The unwanted guests spent hours at the station. By the time they got back to Margarets, the salads had wilted and the roast was cold.
When Valerie returned, Michael called, demanding she drop the charges.
“Val, you changed the locks?”
“No, just added a deadbolt. And an alarm.”
“But you *locked* the old one?”
“I figured your mum wouldnt give up. Didnt want her breaking the door down.”
“So you *let* them trigger the alarm? You wanted them arrested?”
“Mike, they *chose* to break in. They couldve stayed home. Instead, they rang in the New Year at the police station. Not my fault.”
“By the way, I had to air the place out. The food they left out had gone off.”
“Why didnt you *warn* Rebecca about the alarm?”
“The signs say Police Patrol. They can read.”
“Tell your mum, Rebecca, Alex*all* of themtheyre never welcome again. This time, I dropped it. Next time, they wont be so lucky.”
