Uninvited guests filled the house, as always.
Do these lovely people really have nowhere else to live? Emily asked, doing her best to keep her voice neutral but failing. There are plenty of inns and B&Bs in the village, surely!
But theyre not just holidaymakers come to take over, replied James, her husband. Theyve got hardships to sort out. Once thats done, theyll be off.
And then someone else will move straight in! Did you hear what I did yesterday? Apparently, theres a William Henry no idea who he is hes been here for over two years now!
Yes, how long can it possibly go on? Emily cried. It beggars belief!
James, still tucked under the thick duvet, called out, Whats happening out there?
There! Emily gestured with force at the frosted window. Theyre starting a volleyball tournament!
Thats brilliant! James stretched and yawned.
Are you joking? Emily snapped as she yanked the curtains shut. Dont tell me you actually want to join in!
Absolutely not. Id much rather stay here in bed, he said, grinning. In fact, I recommend it for you too!
Emily sat on the edge of the bed, scowling. Tell me, what sort of sane person organises a volleyball match outdoors in the middle of December? Its madness!
Why not? James replied with a lazy shrug. Theres no snow, no ice. The grounds solid and dry enough. No harm in a quick game.
Theyll smash every window in the place, Emily fumed. None of them are professionals, so the ball will go wherever it pleases!
And when it does, well fit new glass. Its hardly the end of the world. James gave another sleepy stretch.
Emily shook her head and bit back a retort, when suddenly a familiar shout from below interrupted her thoughts.
Sweethearts! Breakfast is ready! Ive made scones! You can have your cuddles after down you come before it all goes cold!
Aunt Martha in her element! James chuckled to himself.
Thats supposed to be my privilege, making breakfast for my husband, Emily sniffed, annoyed.
You could always make the coffee, James teased.
Sweethearts! Coffees getting cold! Aunt Marthas cheery voice rang out again.
There you go! Emily indicated the door. It wont be long before Aunt Marthas taking my spot in our bed too!
Dont exaggerate! James burst out laughing. The beds all yours, always. Now, come on, lets get breakfast before its stone cold!
With an exasperated sigh, Emily threw on her dressing gown.
On the stairs and in the kitchen, the house seemed eerily quiet.
Incredible, Emily muttered. I was beginning to think Id never get my husband to myself in my own home!
Little surprises do happen, James said, grinning. But isnt it lively here? Well eat, then we can watch the volleyball tournament. And tonight, Arthur promised a barbecue in the garden!
A cloud of smoke, the stink of burning and something always gets ruined, Emily grumbled as she reached for a scone.
Talking about the guest cottage? James laughed. Theyve built a new one, three times the size, better than before!
Just so theres space for even more guests! Emilys tone was sharp. I cant even remember half of their names now! Maybe we should make them wear name tags, and list the relationso we know whos who!
Wed only get confused, love. It all starts with someones brothers wifes cousin and goes off from there, James mused.
Emily calculated in her head and smirked. Youd go mad working out the kinship before you manage to say hello.
The conversation faded into silence as Emily savoured her scone, surprised by how delicious it was. Later, in a slightly softer mood, she asked:
James, how much longer is this going to last?
What do you mean? he responded, though he knew full well.
These endless guests all right, I understand being hospitable, but theres got to be a limit!
Yesterday, I tried to count heads, for fun. James, I lost count after twenty-something! Thirty people, who dont even plan to leave!
This is not what I imagined married life would be like
But its family life! And in a way, these people are family too, James smiled.
Yeah, family by way of Uncle Ruperts second wife, twice removed and through three odd cousins! Emily snorted. Theyre not even related to your brother, who brought all this on us, but to his wife.
If you want to get technical, Im sure theres a proper name for whatever relation they are I just dont know it, James shrugged. Theyre nice folk, though.
And these nice folk cant find their own place? Plenty of good hotels!
Theyre not here to be a bother. Somethings gone wrong in their lives. When its sorted, theyll go.
No, they wont. As soon as one goes, another moves in! Yesterday I learned that William Henry, whoever that is, has actually been living here for two years now!
He even got himself a job working in the village shop! And Aunt Martha, whose scones were enjoying, works as a cleaner for three houses down the lane!
Well, look at them getting on! James smiled. Finding their feet!
If it carries on much longer, James, Ill be moving back to the city. My flats still there wed be better off, just the two of us, all snug and peaceful!
***
Marrying James had always been a bit of a gamble. He was ten years her senior, and Emily was no child herself when they met already twenty-five.
Of course, the questions came: So why didnt James marry sooner? Is something wrong with him?
But the same could be asked about Emily: Why wasnt she married at twenty-five? Whats her story?
Emily knew her own reasons. Shed qualified as an architect, but a degree doesnt pay the bills. She wanted not just experience, but also the clout to support herselfthen, shed choose her partner herself, rather than settle for anyone at hand.
She worked for the council, then moved to the private sector for better pay and more dynamic jobs. The downside? Clients, many of whom were impossible to please but a jobs a job.
James had a similar story, perhaps even more so. His brother Jack founded a business straight out of uni, married in a flash, and, needing less time at work, roped James in for help. Truthfully, he dumped everything on him. James had just finished his National Service.
So, James found himself building up a business and an education on the fly.
Credit where its dueJames coped. But personal life? Forget it. When Jack had a son, James was barely home.
Are you ever going to work? he once joked to Jack.
To be honest, Jamie, Ive lost heart in all this, Jack replied sheepishly. I dont want to be a businessman anymoreId rather work with my hands, do shifts, then come home to the wife and lad every night!
Will that pay the bills? James wondered.
Were thinking of moving off to Cumbria, Jack produced a sheaf of papers. Actually, Ive signed over everything the firm, the assets to you. Youre the one who makes it all run. Here you go!
At least leave me a bank account so I can send some profit your way, James stammered, stunned.
After that, life got even busier for James.
At thirty-five, he finally found his feet and thought, Now its time to think about family.
He and Emily felt a spark instantly. They cleared up the red flags, fell in love, and after six months, decided not to wait on ceremony. They got married.
It made sense to live in Emilys flat.
I do love you, but this is just so convenient, Emily explained, embarrassed. Only five minutes walk to the office, and I am hopeless at early mornings!
No worries, James said. I never bought a place easier to just rent, really. Now youre my wife, you get to choose. Name the place and well buy it.
Ive always dreamt of living in the countryside, Emily confessed, but Im not sure theyd let me work remotely! Even during lockdown, we had to be in the office.
Tell them its remote work or youll find a rival firm, James grinned. Or we can start one, ourselves. Compete with the best!
Ill talk to them first! Emily rolled her eyes.
I have a house in the country, James blurted out hesitantly. Thing is
The one request Jack had made before leaving for Cumbria was clear:
Jamie, listen, Natashas got family. If any come asking for a roof while getting sorted, take them in. Theyre good people, but dont let them take advantage!
And where am I to put them? Find rooms at the local inn? James sputtered.
Oh, I nearly forgot. I bought a house out there last yearnever moved in, though. Its yours now. Jack waved and drove off, family in tow.
Theres a few of Natashas relatives staying there. Huge place, mind you plus a guesthouse out the back. I doubt youll get under each others feet.
Emily never imagined the sheer crush of people waiting to greet her when she moved. It was overwhelming so many faces, all smiling, ready to help, eager to be involved in everything.
Within a month, Emily had heard a thousand tragic tales of how these extended relations found themselves in this country home.
One was wrangling divorce and dividing property, another had fled an abusive partner; some had been thrown out by their own children, while others left for affairs or had nowhere else to go after being cheated from their homes. Some were here for work or study, others simply with nowhere else to turn.
The guests spanned all ages, all professions, all walks of life. There was even a professor spurned by a student with whom hed had an affair, now waiting for his flat to be sold.
Yet, for all the chaos, the mood in the house was overwhelmingly kind.
For Emily, balancing work was hard. One client was all but impossible nitpicking over trivia.
Just then, old George, a family friend, poked his head in, overheard, and tapped her on the shoulder. With respect, sir, your comments are ill-considered. The young lady’s done a sterling job youll be over the moon once its built! If you must insist, then when your house comes crashing down, dont come crying to us!
The client caved, and Emily, bemused, closed her laptop. How did you know all that? she asked George.
My dear, I spent thirty-six years as an architect! he replied. Pop round if you need advice always happy to share a trick or two.
For all the warmth, the relentless crowd and endless bustle grated on Emily. This wasn’t the country life shed envisioned it was chaos.
***
If you want to go back to the city, Ill come with you, James said gently. But perhaps you dont see the whole picture.
What dont I see? Emily asked.
You bemoaned the guesthouse burning down but a new ones already been built. Guess how much that cost us?
I suppose a fortune?
Nothing! James said, making a zero with his fingers. They all chipped in, did the work themselves, and paid for the lot. All the bills everything for us and the guests its covered by them. They cook, clean, fix what’s broken. Were living here on their generosity.
Many of them have jobs. Some help out with side work. And their advice? Priceless! Weve engineers, accountants, lawyers, handymen, electricians even a professor of biological sciences!
And an architect, Emily remembered Georges help.
Just last month, I doubled my companys income thanks to a tip from one of them, James grinned. I should put them on the payroll!
And you know whats funny? James went on, answering himself. They dont ask for anything. They just live here with us one big, strange family.
Right then, a ball hurtled through the kitchen window, scattering glass. Young Oliver dashed in after it.
Dont panic Matthews already gone to town for a new pane! Well have it better than before in an hour or two. Sorry! he said, grabbed the ball, and dashed out.
James smiled. Thats just how it is.
I suppose Ill get used to it, Emily murmured, bewildered.
Yet, a month later, the guests no longer felt like guests, but like family. All of them, together.
