When the grandmother learned that her grandson intended to evict her from the flat, she sold it without a second thought.
Why take out a loan when one can simply wait for the grandmother to pass away and inherit her apartment? That was the logic of my husbands cousin, Rui. He had a wife, Joana, and three children, and the whole family lived in anticipation of the inheritance. They shunned any idea of credit, preferring instead to daydream about the day the grandmothers flat would belong to them. At present they cramped into Joanas mothers modest twobedroom apartment in Cascais by the sea, a situation that clearly wore them down. Rui and Joana increasingly whispered about how to solve the grandmothers situation.
But the grandmother, DonaRosária, was a genuine jewel. At seventyfive she radiated vitality, embraced life with joy and never complained about her health. Her home in central Cascais was always bustling with friends. She mastered the smartphone, attended exhibitions, frequented the theatre, and even indulged in harmless flirtations at seniordance evenings. It seemed as if she emitted light, and her existence was a lesson in savoring each day. For Rui and Joana, however, that was not a source of prideit was sheer irritation. Their patience had run out. They decided that DonaRosária should transfer the apartment into Ruis name and move to a nursing home. They made no effort to hide their motives, insisting it would be better for the grandmother. Yet DonaRosária was not one to surrender. She refused resolutely, which sparked a real fire. Rui erupted, calling her selfish and demanding she think of the grandchildren. Joana stoked the flames, hinting that the grandmother had lived long enough.
When my husband Tiago and I heard about it, we were stunned. DonaRosária had always dreamed of traveling to Indiato see the TajMahal, inhale the spiceladen air, wander the streets of Goa. We suggested she move in with us, rent out the flat, and save the proceeds for the trip. She agreed, and soon her spacious threebedroom apartment in the city centre began generating income. When Rui and Joana caught wind of this, they created a massive scandal. They believed the flat was their birthright and demanded that the grandmother let them live there. They even accused Tiago of manipulating DonaRosária for his own gain. Rui went so far as to claim the rental money as his legitimate share. We said no, and that was final.
Joana started turning up at our house almost dailysometimes alone, sometimes with the childrenalways bearing frivolous gifts. She asked after the grandmothers wellbeing, but we saw the real purpose: she and Rui still hoped DonaRosária would depart and leave them the inheritance. Their greed and shamelessness were astonishing.
Meanwhile, DonaRosária amassed enough savings and set off for India. She returned radiant, her suitcase brimming with stories and photographs. We suggested she not stop there: sell the apartment, keep traveling, and live with us in her old age, enjoying peace and comfort. After some thought she agreed to take the risk. The flat sold for a good price, and with the proceeds she bought a cozy studio on the outskirts of Cascais, putting the rest toward new adventures.
She toured Spain, Austria and Switzerland. While cruising on Lake Geneva she met a Frenchman named Pierre. Their romance felt cinematic, and at seventyfive she married him! Tiago and I flew to France for the wedding, and it was wonderful to see her glowing in a white dress, surrounded by flowers and smiles. DonaRosária deserved that happiness. After a lifetime of work, raising children and supporting grandchildren, she finally lived for herself.
When Rui learned of the sale, he lost his mind. He demanded that the grandmother hand over the studio, claiming she already had enough. How he intended to cram five people inside remained a mystery. But we no longer cared. We were delighted that DonaRosária had found her place in the sun. As for Rui and Joana their story serves as a reminder that when money is at stake, even the closest relatives can reveal their true colors.
