A single phone call from my daughter-in-law changed my plans to help a young family find a flat
I live alone in a lovely one-bedroom flat in the heart of London. My husband passed away five years ago, and I inherited another two-bedroom flat from my aunt, in a less glamorous part of town but still nicely appointed. I let it out to a young couplevery tidy peoplewho would come by each month to collect the rent and check on the place. For two years, they never caused me a spot of bother.
After my son got married, he and his wife opted to start their life together independently. They rented a place themselves and began putting money away toward a deposit for their first home. I didnt get in their way, although my long-term plan was to eventually give them the flat Id inherited from my aunt. They could do what they liked with itsell it, revamp it, or redecorate.
A year into their marriage, they were blessed with a baby boy. Becoming a grandfather firmed up my intent to put the paperwork in order for my son. Yet, just a week ago, I changed my mind.
It happened the day I turned sixty. I decided to celebrate in style, mainly for myself, so I booked a room at a restaurant and invited a large circle of friends and acquaintances, including my son and his wife, of course.
My relationship with my daughter-in-law has always been polite enoughshes quite emotional, occasionally erupting with outbursts, not always the nicest, even towards me. Ive always chalked it up to her youth and the daily pressures of life. But the way she handled things in front of all my guests completely changed my view of her.
My son and his wife turned up at the restaurant with their young child. The noisy atmosphere wasnt great for the baby, so my daughter-in-law let me know theyd probably be heading out after an hour or so, which I understood.
When it came time for them to leave, she realised shed misplaced her mobile phone. I followed her as she retraced her steps to look for it, and dialled her number to help her out.
Our guests watched us, chuckling a bit. The mood was a little awkward, but it seemed to lighten up a touchuntil, all of a sudden, an angry growling, barking, and howling erupted from the windowsill! Everyone turned to look, and my daughter-in-law, blotched red with embarrassment, dashed for the window, snatched up her phone, and ended the call.
My friends and family glanced at her, then at me. My brother quickly steered things back on track, cranked up the music and made a toast in my honour, but as the saying goes, the damage was done.
For the rest of the evening, I saw people whispering to each other, obviously talking about the, shall we say, distinctive ringtone my daughter-in-law had set for my calls. The following day, I asked my son for an explanationhe had to have heard that howling dog countless timesbut he shrugged it off as nothing to fuss about.
Since then, Ive kept my distance from them and postponed the matter of gifting them the flat until our relationship improves. At the very least, Id like to hear a simple apology from both my daughter-in-law and my son. If they see me as a nuisancewell, thats their choice.
