Make Space, Well Be Living Here for Ten Years
My mother-in-law paused for a moment, then declared,
Oh, Jane, Valerie is such a forceful woman… Once she gets something into her head.
You have to understand her, she just wants to give Natalie a proper education…
At my expense? Jane stopped in front of the mirror.
A pale woman with disheveled hair looked back at her from the glass.
Mrs. Thompson, please, stop them. Tell them to get off at the next station and turn around. Im not meeting them. I wont hand over the flat.
How am I supposed to stop them? her mother-in-law wailed. Theyre already on their way. Valerie took out a loan for Natalies university fees, they dont have a penny for somewhere to live. She was so counting on your help. Jane, please evict your tenants, cant you? Shes family, after all
Family? That niece of yoursIve seen her twice in my life! Im supposed to put people out on the street, cut off help to my own parents, and deprive my daughter of her classes, just because your sister decided I should?
Her phone beeped in her pocket. Without even removing her coat, Jane pulled it out.
A message from Valerie, her mother-in-laws sister.
“Hi Jane! Were already on the train. Got our tickets, well be at Kings Cross by eight tomorrow morning. Meet us there with Natalie.
Send over the address of your one-bed, we forgot to jot it down last time. Where do we collect the keys?
Jane froze, rereading the message three times, hoping it was some mistake. What one-bed? Which Natalie?
Mum, whats going on? Her daughter Chloe peeked from the hallway. Im hungry.
Just a minute, love, Jane replied, absently stroking Chloes head, her eyes unmoving from the screen.
She dialled Valeries number. The phone picked up on the first ring, laughter and the clatter of train wheels babbling in the background.
Jane! Hello! Got my note, did you? We decided to surprise you so you wouldnt fuss over making dinner, well buy everything ourselves!
Valerie, hang on, Jane interrupted. Whats going on? Where are you even headed?
Where? Into London, of course! Natalie got a place, I told you back in spring. Didn’t get funding, but never mind, well pay her way.
We packed up everything. Heading over to settle into your flat.
My flat what? Jane leant back against the wall. That flat Ive been renting out for six years? Are you out of your mind, Valerie?
Oh, take it easy! Valeries tone soured in a heartbeat. Six years ago, when you inherited that flat from your gran, remember we all sat at the table?
I even said: Thisll come in handy when Natalie goes to study in London. You didnt say a word! That meant you agreed. Weve been counting on it all these years.
I didnt say anything because it seemed a lunatics joke! Jane nearly shouted. I never planned to let you lot live there.
Theres a family with a child renting it. We have a contract, theyre never late with rent. That money goes to help my retired parentsand Chloes dance and swim classes.
Did you even think about any of this when you bought your train tickets?
We figuredwere family! Valerie barked back. Or have Londoners lost all sense of decency? Going to leave your niece at a station? Have you rung your husband? Does he know youre leaving his family on the street?
My husbands away near Newcastle, patchy signal. And thats my property, Val. Mine. Understand?
Bought by my grandmother, left to me. Richard has nothing to do with it.
Oh, thats how it is now? Natalie, hear this? Richards wife wants nothing to do with us! Never mind, well sort this when we arrive.
The signals patchysee you tomorrow on the platform.
A chorus of beeps. Jane stood aghast.
Chloe, go to the kitchen, theres casserole in the fridgeheat it up yourself, she called to her daughter, hands shaking as she dialled her mother-in-law.
Mrs. Thompson took a while to answer.
Yes, Jane, Im listening.
Did you know your sister and niece are on a train to London, planning to occupy my flat?
Well… Valerie mentioned something along those lines I thought youd made arrangements, her mother-in-law mumbled.
With whom? Jane paced the corridor. Ive been letting that flat six years.
Half the money goes to my mum and dad for their medicinesyou know how tight things are on just the state pension.
The other half pays for Chloes clubs.
Why didnt you tell them it was impossible?
Dont shout at me, Mrs. Thompson replied, insulted. Leave me out of this. Sort it with them yourselves. But dont ring Richard, dont upset him, his nerves are shot, hes got important negotiations.
Jane threw her mobile onto the sofa. Her husband always tried to keep out of family squabbles, but when it came to his mother or aunt, he turned oddly compliant.
Well, Jane, theyre country folk, they see things differently, hed usually say. Its easier just to let it go
She tried her husband. The person you are calling is out of range. Of course. When she actually needed him, he was always out of range.
***
The row was colossal. Valerie was already ringing at five the next morning, demanding Jane pick them up.
Were exhausted! Hungry! And its chilly, toowere frozen half to death! Still asleep? Get up! We expect you here in fifteen minutes!
Through sleep, Jane didnt even register who she was speaking to. Once she twigged, she snapped:
Leave me alone! Im not coming and you arent moving into my flat. Enough is enough. Goodbye.
On the tenth call, Jane blocked Valeries number.
Valerie started ringing from her daughters phoneJane blocked that one too.
Throughout the day, Mrs. Thompson bombarded Jane with callspleading, cajoling, even threatening to tell Richard everything.
That evening, Richard himself turned up unexpectedly from his trip.
Jane, what on earths gone on? he asked as he came in. Mum called in tearsapparently youve thrown Aunt Val out into the street.
After kissing and hugging him, Jane explained:
They arrived without warning, instantly insisting I evict the tenants and let Natalie move in rent-free for no less than five years.
Richard, who acts like that? Its madness.
And, as far as I know, theyre quite comfortably settled at your mums. So, why did you come back so suddenly?
Mum called. And Aunt Val has been blowing up my phone
Jane, maybe we should let them? At least until they find proper student housing
Jane shook her head firmly.
Richard, there is no university accommodation. They didnt even applyValerie was certain they were moving into their own place. Mine.
Do you understand how cheeky that is? They didnt even look for optionsjust came here expecting a flat for themselves.
Mum says you promised, six years ago
I stayed silent at Grans wake, Richard. I just ignored her nonsense, I had enough on my plate.
Aunt Valerie is raging. She says were dead to her now. And they didnt stay at Mumsits too far from the college.
Ive sent her a thousand poundstheyve taken a room somewhere…
Thank goodness! Jane slapped the table. Best thing Ive heard today. I wont even argue with you over that money.
Let them get on with itfine by me!
Richard let out a long sigh and dropped his head.
Jane, its a room in a shared house. Aunt Vals fumingshe says there are cockroaches and the neighbours are all drunks.
Shell have to get used to it. If you want to live in London, you have to make your own waycant expect handouts from relatives who wouldnt even remember your birthday!
Jane turned and headed for the bedroom, her husband trailing after.
It just feels wrong, Jane. Its as though weve abandoned them to their fate.
What if something happens? What if the neighbours are rough? Or they get attacked?
Dont you feel even a bit sorry for Aunt Valerie?
Jane spun round.
Richard, I have a daughter, and parents to care for. And I have a flat my grandmother worked her whole life to buy.
I wont give it away simply because someone hundreds of miles away thinks they deserve it more.
Why should I feel sorry for them? Tell me!
Richard kept quiet, and Jane went on:
Are you hungry? Come on, lets get tea going. And lets drop the subject.
If you want to help themfine, do it from your wages.
But the flats staying tenanted. I am not chucking people out. Thats final.
All right. Youre right. I wouldnt be thrilled if your family rocked up at my parents cottage and said, Shift up, well live here for the next ten years.
After dinner, while Richard was in the shower, Jane checked her phone again. An unread message from Mrs. Thompson:
Jane, you cant behave like this. Valeries fallen ill from the stress. At least bring them some food.
Bring plenty, enough for a few weeks at least.
Meat, veg, fruit, chocolate biscuits. Coffee, tea, toiletries, olive oil.
Maybe some fish. Dont bother with tinsValerie doesnt eat those. The address is…
Jane blocked her mother-in-laws number, determined to keep it that way for a few days.
***
That night passed uneventfullyno more calls from the family.
Valerie showed up at exactly seven the next morning.
Jane was woken by forceful banging on the door.
Richard was still asleep, so she opened it herself.
Valerie pounced the moment the door swung open.
Sleeping now, are we? Warm under your duvet, clean sheets?
Dont you care where Natalie and I spent the night? Vile, it was! Cockroaches dropping on our heads, rooms freezing, filthy, floors icy!
One side belting out My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean all night, the other screaming their heads off.
Have you no conscience? Letting your closest relatives live in such disgusting conditions?
But listen, dearie, Im not here to argue. Dont want to evict your tenants? Fine! Then Natalie and I will move in with you!
Youve got a three-bedsurely you can spare a room? The biggest one, pleasetheres two of us!
Dont worry, we wont be any trouble. Ill only be here a few monthsthree, maybe four, half a year at most.
Then Ill go, once my daughters settled in.
Jane was stunned.
Find your own way. Id rather we cut ties altogether than have to call the police over this.
I will, if I must.
But why would you want that trouble?
Her mother-in-laws sister flushed beet redJane almost felt nervous herself.
You You Too good for the likes of us, are you? Rotten Londoner!
May your precious daughter have to scrub floors all her life!
Just wait, Ill remember this.
What goes around comes aroundand mud sticks!
The day will come when you need something from me. Ill never forget this, you mark my words!
Jane simply closed the door in Valeries face. Valerie shouted on the stairs for a few minutes more, then vanished.
***
That row destroyed Janes relationship with Mrs. Thompsonher mother-in-law never spoke to her again.
Richard still visits his mum, takes care of her, occasionally brings Chloe overbut Mrs. Thompson never sets foot in Jane and Richards flat.
Jane, for her part, was gladone less trouble to worry over.
