SO WHAT IF SHE LOST HER TEMPER…
“Who even needs you, you old bat? You’re a burden to everyone. Wandering about, stinking up the place. If it were up to me, I’dwell, never mind. But we all have to put up with you. I hate you!”
Julia nearly choked on her tea. She had just been speaking to her grandmother, Edith Stafford, over a video call. Edith had popped out for a moment.
“Just a sec, darling, I’ll be right back,” shed said, groaning as she heaved herself from the armchair and shuffled into the hallway.
Her phone remained on the table. The camera was still on, as was the mic. Meanwhile, Julia had switched to her computer screen, but then it happened. She heard a voice coming from the hallway.
At first, Julia thought shed misheard. She might have convinced herself of that, too, if she hadnt glanced at the phone. Judging by the sound, someone had just entered the room. A strangers hands appeared on the screen, then a side, then a face.
June. Her brothers wife. Yes, that voice was definitely hers.
June came up to Ediths bed, raised the pillow, then the mattress, and rummaged under it with her hand.
“Sits around sipping tea… If only shed kick the bucket already, honestly. Why drag it out? You’re just a waste of space, soaking up air and taking up square footage…” June muttered.
Julia froze. For several seconds, she even forgot to breathe.
Soon, June left, never noticing the camera. Moments later, the grandmother reappeared and smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“There I am again. By the way, I keep forgetting to ask. Hows work for you, love? Everything going alright?” Edith asked as though nothing had happened.
Julia nodded brusquely. She was still struggling to take in what shed just learned, fighting the urge to turn up and toss that cheeky woman right out the door on the spot.
Edith Stafford had always seemed indestructible to Julia. She never raised her voiceshe had that unmistakable teachers authority, honed over years in schoolrooms and staffrooms, with children and their parents.
She taught English literature for forty years. The kids adored her: Edith could make even Shakespeare enthralling.
When Granddad died, she didnt fall apart, but her once-perfect posture slouched, just so. She went out less, became more prone to bouts of illness. Her smile dwindled, but her bright spirit never did. She believed all ages were beautiful, still relishing life despite everything.
Julia had always loved her grandmother for making her feel utterly safe. Nothing was too much for Edith; shed sort any problem. Once, she sold her summer house so her grandson could pay his uni tuition, and gave Julia her last savings for a mortgage deposit.
When Julias brother, Christopher, complained about Londons high rents after his wedding, Edith offered a room herself. After all, a three-bedroom flat had more than enough room for everyoneplus it meant a bit of company, and someone to keep an eye out if anything happened.
It gets lonely on my own anyway. Besides, young people can always use a hand, shed say with a little laugh.
Christopher was to be the carer, while Julia continued to help with groceries, medicines, and even bills. Her salary allowed for it, and her conscience didnt allow her to do anything less. Sometimes shed give cash, sometimes a bank transfer, and knowing Ediths habit of saving for a rainy day, she’d often bring food herself. Shed buy fish, meat, cheese and fruiteverything to keep her grandmother healthy.
“Its for your wellbeing, especially with your diabetes,” Julia said.
Edith would thank her, but always look away, embarrassed to be a burden.
June, Christophers wife, had always struck Julia as rather sly. Too-sweet talk, forced politenessyet nothing but coldness in her eyes. A calculating glance, devoid of warmth or respect. Still, Julia kept her distance. Other peoples marriages werent her business. She just checked with Gran from time to time to see if everything was alright.
“Were fine, sweetheart,” Edith would reply. “June cooks, keeps the house tidy. Still a bit green, but shell get there. Experience comes in time.”
Now, Julia realised that was a lie. In front of others, June appeared to be the picture of kindness. But when no one was watching…
“Gran, I heard everything What was that just now?”
Edith flinched for a moment, almost as though she hadnt heard, then averted her gaze.
“Its nothing, Julia love,” Edith sighed. “June’s just tired. Things are rocky at the moment, Christophers away most of the time for work. Shes just… on edge, thats all.”
Narrowing her eyes, Julia studied her grandmother as if seeing her for the first time. Each new wrinkle stood out, and she saw that Ediths eyes had lost their former sparkle. Her stubbornness was there, but so was exhaustion. And something new: fear.
“On edge? Gran, did you even hear what she said to you? That wasnt just stress. That was”
“Julia, darling,” Edith interrupted softly. “I can put up with it. So what if she lost her temper? Shes young and fiery, I really am old. I dont need much.”
“Thats enough, Gran. Dont play dumb with me,” Julia cut in, unable to hold back. “Either you tell me everything right now, or I get in the car and drive over. Your choice.”
Edith hesitated for several seconds. Then she sighed heavily, slumped her shoulders and straightened her glasses. The façade cracked. Now, Julia was looking at a vulnerable old woman, not the endlessly cheerful fighter.
“I didnt want to worry you,” she began. “Youve got so much on, work and all. No need to trouble yourself with my squabbles. I thought things would settle down…”
It turned out the story with June was longer, and far dirtier, than Julia had ever realised.
The couple had moved in with Edith, dragging enormous suitcases and grand plans to save up for a house deposit within half a year. At first, Gran was delighted. The flat came alive: footsteps in the mornings, the clatter of pans, laughter and conversationeven if a little strained. June, at the start, put on a show: she baked pies, brought Edith tea, even took her to the GP a few times.
But then Christopher left for work up north, and everything changed overnight.
“At first, she just became snappy,” Edith recounted. “I put it down to missing Christopher. Then she started helping herself to my groceries. Claimed you always brought too much. Said she needed it moreshes young, shes got the baby to think about And what did I need? Less food would be good for my figure, she said.”
It turned out June had asked Gran for a loan. Edith gave her the cash Julia had provided for medication. June spent it on a mini-fridge, installed it in her own room and padlocked the door. Everything nice that Julia brought ended up in there.
The money, of course, was never returned. Worse still, June began searching Grans hiding spots for stashed cash.
“She took my telly, said itd ruin my eyesight,” Edith confessed, wiping away tears. “Cuts the WiFi regularly too. And I I need it for calls, reading the news, recipes Some days it feels like prison.”
“Did you say anything to Christopher?” Julia asked.
Edith shook her head.
“She threatened that if I told him, shed tell everyone shed lost the baby through stress Id caused. I dont even know if she was pregnant. But she said people would pity her, and theyd hate me.”
Once again, Julia was speechless. She wanted to scream, curse her sister-in-law to the skies. Instead, she said:
“Gran, nobody has any right to treat you that way. Nobody. Not the young, not the old, not family, not strangers.”
Edith broke down. Julia comforted her as best she could, but inside she knew: enough was enough. She wasnt staying silent.
Within the hour, Julia and her husband, Michael, were on their way to Ediths. Shed explained everything during the drive. Michael was shocked, but had no reason not to believe her.
Gran opened the door right away, fidgeting with a handkerchief and avoiding their gaze.
“Oh, you should have called so I could at least put the kettle on…”
“Were not here for tea, Gran,” Julia replied calmly. “Were here for justice. Wheres June?”
“Shes gone out somewhere She doesnt tell me Well, come in now youre here.”
Edith stepped aside to let them in. Julia went straight to the kitchen. The fridge was almost empty: a couple of cartons of soured milk, a dozen eggs, and a jar of pickled onions covered in mould. The freezer, just ice.
Julia turned to Michael, and he nodded. Time to act. Junes room was, predictably, locked. The lock was cheap, easy enough for Michael to open with a screwdriver.
Junes mini-fridge was filled with the yoghurts Julia had brought just days ago, along with cheese, homemade sausages, even cucumbers and tomatoes.
Julia was boiling with rage but kept it together. With her husband, they lay in wait in Grans bedroom.
June came home half-an-hour later.
“Whos been in my room?” she shrieked, fists clenching.
At that moment Julia stepped out.
“Me.”
June fell silent, her eyes darting about. For a couple of seconds she tried to regain her composure, but then she reverted to her usual belligerence.
“Who do you think you are, going through my things?”
Julia towered over her. June was far shorter.
“Im the granddaughter of the woman who owns this home. And you? You have ten minutes to pack. Otherwise your bags will be on the street. Understood?”
“Ill tell Christopher!”
“Tell anyone you want! Hes not here. Touch my gran again and youll be out by your hair.”
June huffed but stormed to her room and started hurling clothes into a bag, muttering all the while, but Julia just watched, stone-faced.
Gran hovered in the hallway, wiping away tears.
“Julia, is all this really necessary? People will hear, therell be a row…”
Thats when Julia dropped everything, rushed over and hugged Edith.
“Its not a row, Gran. Were just taking out the rubbish.”
They stayed the night with Edith, and the next day filled her fridge to brimming and the medicine cabinet too. When they left, she criedbut Julia hoped it was tears of relief, not of guilt or dread about being alone. Julia sternly told her she was never, under any circumstances, to let June back in.
That very day, Christopher rang, shouting so loud Julias phone rattled.
“Have you lost your mind? Youve made June cry! Wheres she supposed to go now? Think you can do as you please just because you have money?”
Julia just hung up. Later, she sent a voice message:
“Maybe you should look into things first. Your darling June was tormenting Gran, keeping her hungry. Dont forget she once gave you everything she had. Turn up here with that cow and youll both regret it.”
Christopher never replied. There was no need.
June, as it turned out, was crashing with some friend. She posted endless statuses online about “toxic relatives” and “two-faced people.” Christopher clicked “like.” That was the last Julia heard from either of them.
The flat grew peaceful, if quiet. A few weeks later, Edith asked Julia to teach her to watch series on her phone. Gran started with “Pride and Prejudice” and soon moved on to comedies. Sometimes they watched together.
“Oh, I havent laughed like this in ages,” Gran confided. “My cheeks hurtIm not used to it!”
Julia just smiled. For once, her mind was at ease. Thered been a time when Gran had protected Julia, and now it was Julias turn to keep her safe.
