**Unwelcome Guests**
The phone jolted Valerie awake at five in the morning. An unknown number flashed on the screen.
“Yes?” she answered flatly.
“Val, darling?” came a loud, cheerful womans voice. “Is that you?”
“It is,” Valerie replied, indifferent.
“Its me!” the woman trilled. “Do you recognize me?”
“I do,” Valerie lied politely, though she had no idea who was speaking.
“I *knew* youd remember me straight away!” the woman gushed. “Oh, Im so glad I caught you. Can you talk now?”
“I can.”
“Brilliant! Me, my husband, and the kidswere at the station. Got off the train an hour ago. Can you hear me all right?”
“Perfectly.”
“You sound a bit quiet. Are you sure everythings alright, love?”
“Everythings fine.”
“Im *so* relieved! We were going to stay in a hotel at firstthought we had no family here. Then we remembered *you*! You see?”
“I see.”
“Honestly, what a stroke of luck! You cant imagine how thrilled we wereespecially the kids.”
“I can imagine.”
“And my husband said straight off, Ring Valerie. She wont let us down.”
“He was right. I wont.”
“So youll let us stay with you? Thats what youre saying?”
“Thats what Im saying.”
“We wont be long,” the woman prattled on. “Just a fortnightsee the sights, then back home. You know what they sayEast or west, home is best. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“We *knew* youd say yes! My husband especially. He said, Val would never turn us awaywere family! Distant, maybe. Havent seen each other in ten yearsbut familys family. Right?”
“Right.”
“You live alone now?”
“I do.”
“In a three-bed?”
“Yes.”
“So well come straight over?”
“Come over.”
“Well be there in an hour. Still at the same place?”
“Still here.”
“Wait for us, then!”
“Waiting,” Valerie murmured.
She hung up, dropped the phone on the nightstand, rolled over, and buried her head under the duvet. She drifted back to sleep without a second thoughtnever once puzzling over who, exactly, shed just spoken to.
An hour later, the doorbell rang. Valerie cracked an eye at the clock, groaned, and turned away. The phone buzzed again. She ignored it.
Soon, fists pounded on the door. Valerie didnt stir. Finally, the phone rang once more.
“Yes?” she muttered, eyes still shut.
“Val, sweetheart?” the same woman chirped.
“Yes.”
“Its us! Were here! Ringing and knocking, but youre not answering!”
“Youre ringing?”
“Yes!”
“Why cant I hear it?”
“No idea!”
“Try again.”
The doorbell trilled.
“Were ringing!” the woman announced.
“No,” Valerie said. “Still nothing. Knock this time.”
A rapid thudding echoed through the flat.
“Now were knocking!”
“Nope. Cant hear that either.”
“II think Ive got it wrong,” the woman stammered.
“Got what wrong?”
“Where *are* you, love?”
“What dyou mean, *where*? Home.”
“Wheres home?”
“Manchester,” Valerie said without thinking. “Where else?”
“*Manchester*? Not London?”
“Moved nine years ago. Right after the divorce.”
“Why?”
“Why the divorce?”
“Nowhy move?”
“Got sick of London. Too many bad memories.”
“Manchesters better?”
“Course. *Miles* better.”
“How?”
“Everything. Whatever I do. No ghosts. But why am I explaining? Come see for yourself. How many of you are there?”
“Four. Me, my husband, two kids. The eldests Peter, the youngestAndy. Andys trying for unithird time this year.”
“Well, all four of youcome on up. Weve got a cracking uni here too.”
“When should we come?”
“Nows good.”
“Cant now. Got too much on in London. Andy only wants to study there. We came to find workplanned to stay with you a year! But look how its turned out.”
“So youre not coming today?”
“Afraid not.”
“Shame. I was looking forward to it.”
“Oh, *so* were we! Youve no idea.”
“Ive got some idea.”
“No, love, you *havent*. Thinking about whats aheadI could just *weep*.”
Valerie decided it was time to end this.
“Right then,” she said coolly. “If you cant make it now, come when you can. Always happy to see you. Once youre settled in London, send me your address. Ill pop round for a fortnight. See how it goes. After all, youre all Ive got left there now. Deal? Youll text me the address?”
But she didnt hear the answerthe call cut out abruptly.
