“Oh, where are you off to? Weve come to visit!”
“I cant stand your sister!” Emily snapped, pulling a face. “She drives me up the wall!”
“Youre not the only one,” replied James, backing up his wife.
“She sticks her nose into everything and acts like she knows best. You should see the smug look on her face when shes trying to make me look stupid,” Emily muttered through gritted teeth. “One minute its my parenting, the next its my clothes being out of fashion…”
“Honestly, shes always been like that,” James shrugged. “Mums fault, reallylet her get away with everything and spoiled her rotten.”
“Thank goodness we live miles away from your lot,” Emily sighed, rolling her eyes.
Jamess mum, Margaret, and his sister, Charlotte, lived in London, while James and Emily had settled in a quiet little village nearby.
Both women were widowed and shared a flat, so whenever James and Emily visited his mum, they inevitably ended up at Charlottes too.
Jamess sister couldnt stand Emily, so rows between them were pretty much guaranteed.
At first, Emily bit her tongue, but eventually, she started pushing backespecially when she noticed Margaret joining in with the criticisms, taking advantage of her silence.
Every visit turned into a full-blown drama, so the couple decided to stop going altogether.
Margaret noticed straight away and started ringing her son, demanding answers.
“Why havent you been round? Two whole weeks without seeing you! Dont you think your mum and sister miss you?” she scolded.
“Weve been busy, no time,” James replied curtly, not wanting to get into it.
“Oh, whats so important then?” Margaret asked suspiciously. “Has your wife put her foot down? Last time she left, she looked like shed sucked on a lemon.”
“Like I said, weve got things to sort out,” James shot back, quickly ending the call.
But an hour later, Margaret rang again. “Charlotte and I are popping over to the village.”
“What? Why?” James asked, taken aback.
“Just visiting an old friendand since you wont come to us, well drop in on you,” Margaret said breezily.
Jamess face fell. The whole point of staying away was to avoid this exact situation.
“Probably wont be in,” he said, hoping to put them off.
“Oh, where are you going then?” Margaret snapped. “Sounds to me like you just dont want to see us. If thats the case, just say so.”
“Weve got a birthday party,” James lied quickly.
“Well, go theneven if your own mum and sister arent worth cancelling plans for,” she huffed before hanging up.
James did feel a pang of guilt, but remembering how they treated Emily, he pushed it aside.
He didnt tell his wife about the callno point stressing her out unnecessarily.
But three hours later, he realised that was a mistake. The doorbell rang, and Emily went to answer it.
When she saw Margaret and Charlotte smirking on the doorstep, she froze. She hadnt expected this.
James, suddenly remembering their earlier call, rushed to the hall.
“Emily, love, you ready? Still in your comfy clothes?” he said loudly, pretending not to notice their unwanted guests.
“Ready for what?” Emily looked baffled.
“The birthday party! You forgot?” James forced a smile. “OhMum, Charlotte, what are you doing here?”
“We came, like I said on the phone,” Margaret replied smoothly. “Are you going to let us in, or leave us standing here?”
“Sorry, were just heading out. Emily, go get changed,” James said, grabbing her hand.
Emily gave him a questioning look, but when he winked, she caught onhe was trying to get rid of them.
“Where are you off to? Weve come all this way!” Charlotte folded her arms. “Bit late for a party, isnt it?”
“Starts at eight, need to be there in half an hour,” James said firmly.
“Youre going like that?” Margaret scoffed, eyeing his casual clothes.
“Blimey, forgot to change!” James feigned embarrassment before darting off to the bedroom.
Charlotte and Margaret exchanged doubtful looks.
They werent buying it.
“Cant you just cancel for us?” Margaret asked when James reappeared, neatly dressed.
“Cant, sorry. Been planned for ages, and dinners already paid for. Come back next week?” He knew shed refusetoo proud.
“Maybe well just wait here till youre back?” Charlotte suggested, glancing around.
“No needyouve got that friend to see, right?” James said quickly.
“Honestly, your place is nicer than hers,” Margaret chuckled. “And she wasnt exactly thrilled to see us last time.”
“Want me to drop you at the train station?” James offered, nudging them towards leaving.
“No trains this late,” Charlotte said smugly.
“Ill book you a hotel room, then,” James said, trying to sound helpful.
Margarets face fell. “A hotel? Dont trust us in your house?”
“Its not thatwe just dont like people being here when were out,” Emily cut in.
“Let me drive you, then,” James pressed.
“Dont!” Margaret snapped, storming out.
Charlotte followed, muttering about “ungrateful family.”
Watching them leave through the window, James and Emily exhaled in relief.
No need for the party excuse anymore.
Margaret and Charlotte got a taxi back to London, swearing never to speak to them again.
James only thought of them months later when he had a hospital appointment in town and fancied lunch nearby.
Charlotte opened the door, took one look at him, and said coldly, “Were just off outdont want strangers in the house.”
James realised, with a twinge, that they were still holding a grudge.
After that, things between them fizzled out for good.
