“Where on earth are you going? Weve come to visit!”
“I cant stand your sister!” huffed Emily, wrinkling her nose. “She drives me up the wall!”
“Youre not the only one,” chuckled William, backing up his wife.
“She sticks her nose into everything and acts like shes the cleverest person alive. You should see the smug look on her face when she manages to make me look daft,” Emily muttered through gritted teeth. “One minute its my parenting, the next its my outdated lipstick.”
“Shes always been like that,” William shrugged. “Blame Mumspoiled her rotten, didnt she?”
“Thank goodness we live fifty miles away from your lot,” Emily sighed, rolling her eyes.
Williams mother, Margaret, and his sister, Beatrice, lived in London, while he and Emily had settled in a cosy little village nearby.
The two women were widows who shared a flat, so every time William and Emily visited Mum, they inevitably ended up at Beatrices too.
Williams sister couldnt stand her sister-in-law, so rows were as unavoidable as rain in April.
At first, Emily bit her tongue, but when timid Margaret started copying Beatrices nitpicking, she decided to fight back.
Every visit ended in a scene, so the couple agreedno more family trips.
Margaret noticed straightaway and rang her son, demanding answers.
“Why havent you visited? Two whole weeks! Dont you think your poor mother and sister miss you?” she scolded.
“Were swamped, no time,” William said briskly, avoiding details.
“Oh, really?” Margaret sniffed. “Whats so important? Or is your wife forbidding it? Last time, she left looking like shed sucked on a lemon.”
“Told youbusy,” William cut in, ending the call.
An hour later, Margaret rang again. “Beatrice and I are popping down to the village.”
“What? Why?” William blinked.
“Visiting an old friendand you, since you wont come to us,” she declared.
Williams face fell. Hed avoided them for a reasonnow they were invading!
“We might not be home,” he lied weakly.
“Where else would you be?” Margaret snapped. “Honestly, if you dont want to see us, just say so.”
“Birthday party,” William blurted.
“Fine, go,” she huffed. “Though its not like your mother and sister drop by every day!” She hung up.
Guilt gnawed at Williamuntil he remembered how they treated Emily. Best to say nothing and spare her the stress.
Three hours later, he regretted that decision. The doorbell rang, and Emily answeredonly to freeze at the sight of Margaret and Beatrices smirking faces.
“Emily, love, ready yet? Still in your pyjamas?” William barrelled in, pretending not to see their guests.
“Ready for what?” Emily frowned.
“The party! You forgot?” He forced a grin. “OhMum, Bea, what brings you here?”
“Were here, like I said,” Margaret said sweetly. “Are you going to leave us on the doorstep?”
“Cantwere off. Emily, go change!” He yanked her hand.
Emily caught his wink and played along.
“Wheres this party, then?” Beatrice crossed her arms. “Bit late, isnt it?”
“Starts at eight,” William said firmly. “Half an hour to get there.”
“Youre going in trackies?” Margaret eyed his outfit.
“Blimeyforgot to change!” He bolted upstairs.
The sisters exchanged doubtful glances.
“Cancel your plans for us?” Margaret pressed when he returned.
“Cant. Paid fifty quid a head for dinner,” William said, knowing shed refuse to reschedule.
“Well wait here till youre back,” Beatrice offered, eyeing the sofa.
“No needgot somewhere else to be, surely?”
“Your place is nicer than Agness,” Margaret chuckled. “She wasnt thrilled to see us either.”
“Want a lift to the coach station?” William nudged.
“No buses back tonight,” Beatrice said smugly.
“Ill book you a hotel,” William offered.
“A hotel?” Margaret gasped. “Think well rob you?”
“No, we just dont like people in our house unsupervised,” Emily cut in.
“Fine!” Margaret flounced out, Beatrice hurling insults behind her.
Once their taxi vanished, the couple collapsed with relief.
The “party” excuse was retired.
Margaret and Beatrice returned to London, vowing to cut ties with their “ungrateful” family.
William only remembered them months later, when a dentist appointment took him to the city.
Beatrice answered the door. “Were off out,” she said coldly. “Cant have strangers alone in our flat.”
It stungbut the rift was final. After that, the family ties quietly frayed away.
