**Unwelcome Visitors**
The phone jolted Valerie awake at five in the morning. An unknown number flashed on the screen.
“Hello?” she muttered, voice thick with sleep.
“Val? Is that you?” came a booming, cheerful womans voice.
“Yes,” Valerie replied flatly.
“Its me!” the woman trilled. “Do you recognise me?”
“I do,” Valerie lied politely, though she had absolutely no clue who was calling.
“I knew youd remember me straight away!” the woman gushed. “Thank goodness I caught you. Are you free to chat?”
“I am.”
“Brilliant! Me, my husband, and the kids are already at the stationgot off the train an hour ago. Can you hear me alright?”
“Perfectly.”
“You sound a bit quiet. Are you sure you’re all right, love?”
“Never better.”
“Im so glad! At first, we thought wed book a hoteldidnt think we had any family in London. Then it hit usyoure here! Isnt that just serendipity?”
“Quite.”
“Honestly, its such a relief we remembered you. Youve no idea how thrilled we wereespecially the kids.”
“I can imagine.”
“And my husband said straight away, Call Valerie. She wont let us down.”
“He was right. I wont.”
“So youll let us stay with you? Did I get that right?”
“Absolutely. Mi casa es su casa.”
“Oh, we wont be long,” the woman assured her. “Just a fortnightsee the sights, then back home. You know what they saytheres no place like home. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“We knew youd say yes. Especially my husband. He said, No way will Val turn us away. Were family, after alleven if its been a decade since we last saw each other. Right?”
“Right.”
“You live alone now, dont you?”
“I do.”
“In a three-bed flat?”
“Correct.”
“So well come over now?”
“By all means.”
“Well be there in an hour. Still at the same place?”
“Still here.”
“Brilliant! See you soon!”
“Cant wait,” Valerie deadpanned.
She hung up, dropped the phone on the nightstand, rolled over, and yanked the duvet over her headcompletely untroubled by the fact she still hadnt the foggiest who shed just spoken to.
An hour later, the doorbell chimed. Valerie cracked an eye at the clock, groaned, and flipped onto her stomach. The phone rang again. She slept through it.
Soon, fists hammered on the door. Valerie remained indifferent. Finally, the phone rang once more.
“Yep,” she mumbled, eyes still shut.
“Val? Its us!” the same woman chirped.
“Yep.”
“Were here! Weve been ringing and knockingwhy arent you answering?”
“Youre ringing now?”
“Yes!”
“Funny. I dont hear it.”
“I dont understandtry again!”
The doorbell sounded.
“Were ringing!” the woman announced.
“Nope. Still nothing,” Valerie lied. “Try knocking.”
A loud rap echoed through the flat.
“We knocked!”
“Sorry. Didnt catch that,” Valerie sighed.
“Blimey, I mustve got the wrong place,” the woman fretted.
“What?”
“Where *are* you right now, Val?”
“What do you mean? At home.”
“Wheres home?”
“Manchester,” Valerie said, plucking the first city that came to mind. “Where else?”
“*Manchester?* Not London?”
“Moved nine years ago. Right after the divorce.”
“Why?”
“Why the divorce?”
“Why the move?”
“Got sick of London. Too many bad memories.”
“Manchesters better?”
“Obviously. Miles better.”
“How?”
“In every way. No bad memories, fresh startwhy am I explaining? Come see for yourselves. How many of you are there?”
“Four. Me, my husband, and the kids. Our eldest, Oliver, and little Archie. Archies trying to get into unithird time this year!”
“Well, all four of you, come on up. Manchesters got a cracking uni too.”
“When should we come?”
“Nows good.”
“Cant do now. Weve got too much on in LondonArchie only wants to study there. We came up to sort jobs, actually. Thought wed stay with you a year. But, well you see how it is.”
“So not coming today?”
“Afraid not.”
“Shame. Id got the guest room ready.”
“Oh, were gutted. Youve no idea.”
“I think I do.”
“No, reallywhen I think what were missing, its enough to make you weep.”
Valerie decided it was time to wrap things up.
“Right then,” she said brightly. “If you cant make it now, pop by whenever. Always happy to host. Once youre settled in London, send me your addressIll visit for a fortnight. See how it goes. After all, youre the only family Ive got left there. Deal? Youll text me the address?”
But Valerie never heard the answerthe call dropped abruptly.
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