No. Weve decided its best if you dont bring your wife and child to this flat. We wont put up with the inconvenience for long, and sooner or later, well have to ask you to leave. And then your wife will go around telling everyone we kicked you out onto the street with a baby.
Daisy, you look absolutely gutted. Whats happened? asked the neighbour.
Nicholas said the landladys told us to move out. Immediately. Apparently, she rented the place to a couple without children, and now youre planning to bring a baby home. Hell cry at night, the neighbours will complain, and she doesnt want the hassle.
So, youve got nowhere else to go?
Nicholass parents have a three-bed, but his little sister still lives there. And my parents are in a villagetwenty miles from the city, Daisy replied.
Well, stay with your in-laws for a week or two while you find somewhere new, the woman suggested.
Nicholas has already tried. The minute landlords hear weve got a baby, they say no.
Bit of a pickle, that. Still, youve got two days leftyour husband will think of something.
But Nicholas didnt think of anything. After a few fruitless calls to listings, he simply packed their things from the rented flat and moved them to his parents.
His parents and younger sister, however, were less than thrilled at the prospect of hosting Nicholass familyespecially with such a lively new addition.
Son, we agreed before your wedding that you and your wife wouldnt live with us, his mother said. Youre welcome to stay in your old room, but we dont want strangers in our home.
And Daisy *is* a stranger. Shes your wife, not ours. You chose herwe didnt.
Mum, its just temporary, until we find somewhere decent, Nicholas tried to reason.
You know what they saynothings as permanent as a temporary solution. First its a week, then a month, then suddenly its forever.
No. Besides, your father and I work, your sisters at uni. We all need proper rest. With a baby in the house, thats impossibleno loud conversations, no telly, and be ready to wake up at all hours.
Well try to find somewhere quickly, Nicholas promised.
No. Weve decided its best if you dont bring your wife and child here. We wont put up with the inconvenience, and we *will* ask you to leave.
And then your wife will tell everyone we threw you out with a baby. Thatll ruin our reputation, and I wont have people gossiping about us. So dont even think of bringing Daisy and the child here. Sort it out another way.
With this cheerful update, Nicholas arrived at the hospital.
Listen, Daisy, maybe you and the baby could stay with your parents for a bit? he asked.
Doesnt your mum even want to see her grandson? Daisy said, shocked.
I dont know. She said were not to come, Nicholas admitted.
Brilliant! Other women get welcomed home with flowers, gifts, family fussing over the baby. And us? Like strays, unwanted by anyone. Not even allowed to be seen, Daisy fumed.
That evening, she rang her parents, and when she and the baby were discharged, her father turned up to collect themalong with Nicholas.
Pack up, love, lets get you and the little one home. And you, her father said to Nicholas, bring Daisys things and whatever youve bought for the baby.
The drive to the village took barely half an hour. Everything was ready for the babya cot with bunny-printed sheets, a chest of drawers for tiny clothes, and a comfy nursing chair.
In the living room, a celebratory lunch awaited. No outsidersjust Daisys parents, her gran, and her younger sister, Izzy.
No mention was made of Nicholass family over lunch, though they busily debated the babys name. Eventually, they settled on Oliver.
Nicholas left for the city right after, promising to bring Daisys things the next day.
When he returned, he got some good news.
Daisy, Nicholas, her father said once everyone was seated. Your mum and I had a chat. Well sell Grans house and give you the money.
Well make it a gift to Daisy. One conditionthis house goes to Izzy in the will. Daisy, is that alright?
Of course.
Right, Ill list it tomorrow, her father said.
The house took three months to sell. All that time, Daisy and Oliver stayed in the village while Nicholas lived with his parents in the city, visiting on weekends.
Another six weeks were spent flat-hunting, sorting the mortgage, and doing up the place.
Finally, the day cameDaisy, Nicholas, and little Oliver moved into their own home. After a month of unpacking, they threw a housewarming party.
They invited Daisys parents, her friends, and Nicholass mates. His parents, however, werent there. Theyd only found out about the flat by accident.
When Nicholas collected his things, his mother assumed they were just moving to another rented place.
So, you invite your wifes country family to your housewarming but dont even tell us youve got your own place? Couldve asked us round!
And we still havent met our grandson. Not very family-like, son, his mother scolded over the phone.
But turning away my wife and newborn baby*thats* family-like? Nicholas shot back.
I explainedwere not as young as we were, we need our peace. But now we can visit, cant we?
Why?
Why? Olivers our grandson!
Mum, hes nearly six months old, and suddenly youre desperate to see him. Odd, isnt it?
Not odd at all. When he was tiny, there wasnt much to look atall babies look the same.
I think the reasons different. You were terrified Id move my family into your flat, guarding it like a fortress.
While Daisy and Oliver were with her parents, you couldnt be bothered. But now weve got our own place, youre desperate to visit. Sorry, but were not ready to see you.
So youre holding a grudge? his mother said. And here I was, about to invite your wife and child to spend the summer at our cottage.
Since when? Nicholas said, baffled.
The baby needs fresh air. Its sweltering in the city already, and summers worse.
Daisy can stay there, no disturbances. Your dad and Ill only come on weekends.
Ive got holiday in October, hes got November. We wont charge a pennyjust have her water the veg so they dont go to seed.
Got it, Mum! You just want a summer skivvy. No thanks. If we want Oliver to get some air, well go to Daisys parents.
Nicholass mother and sister first saw Oliver when he was two and a halfbumping into Daisy at a shopping centre. They watched from a distance but didnt approach.
Some “grandmas” and “mums” they turned out to be!
