SO WHAT IF SHE LOST HER TEMPER…
Whod have you, you old hag? Youre just a burden to everyone. Wandering about, stinking up the place. If it were up to me, Id… But I have no choice. I have to put up with you. I hate you!
Charlotte nearly choked on her tea. Just moments before, shed been video chatting with her grandmother, Edith Richardson. Edith had shuffled out to the hallway for a moment, saying, Hold on, love, Ill be back in a jiffy, as she heaved herself out of the armchair with a creak.
Her phone, camera on, mic live, had been left on the table. Charlotte turned to the computer, pulling up another window. Thats when it happened. The voice floated in through the corridorsharp, mean, unmistakable.
Charlotte told herself she must have misheard. But then a door creaked, footsteps shuffled, and someone entered the room, just visible on the phone: someones strange hands, then a side, thenface.
Emma. Her brothers wife. Of course, the voice was hers.
Emma strode to Ediths bed, lifted the pillow, felt under the mattress, searching with a seasoned hand.
Sitting in here, drinking endless cups of tea Would be better if you just carked it, honestly. Why drag it on. Useless, just taking up space and air, Emma muttered.
Charlotte froze. For a few seconds, her lungs forgot how to breathe.
Soon Emma slipped out, never noticing the cameras unblinking eye. A couple of minutes later, Edith returned, putting on a smileone that never reached her eyes.
There we are! Now, I never askedhows work, dear? Everything ticking over? she inquired lightly.
Charlotte nodded, clipped, still reeling, every muscle in her body demanding she march over and toss that insolent woman out by the collar, straight away.
Edith Richardson had always seemed an iron lady to Charlotte. She never raised her voice, but had that certain schoolmistress strictness honed from decades teaching English literatureher sharp glance alone enough to make the most unruly child behave. Kids loved her, all the same; Edith could make even Dickens sparkle.
When Granddad died, Edith didnt completely crumbleher perfect posture softened into a slight stoop, she ventured out less, and her smile lost its width, but her familiar pep stubbornly clung on. Edith believed every age had its joys. She refused to let the world get her down.
Charlotte adored Edith for making her feel safe: with Gran, no trouble was insurmountable. Edith had given her grandson the familys holiday cottage so he could pay his university fees, and handed her granddaughter her last savings for a mortgage deposit.
When Charlottes brother, James, lamented the cost of London rent after getting married, Edith herself suggested they move in. Its a three-bedroom, more than enough space. And you can keep an eye on meshould my blood pressure misbehave, or my sugar.
Its just as wellI get lonely, and you lot could do with a hand, shed said, cheerful as ever.
James owed a duty of care; Charlotte helped her gran with groceries, prescriptions, even the bills. Her job paid well enough, and her conscience wouldnt let her sit by. Sometimes she gave Gran cash; sometimes shed transfer money by bank app; or, knowing Ediths habit of squirreling money away for a rainy day, shed simply show up with bags of foodfish, meat, milk, fruit, whatever Gran fancied.
Thats your health, Gran, especially with your diabetes, Charlotte would remind her.
Edith would thank her, looking away as if ashamed for being a bother.
From the start, Charlotte had found Emma simply slippery. Honeyed words, sickly-sweet politeness, but frosty eyes, always judging, never warm. Still, Charlotte stayed out of itit was her brothers marriage. She just quietly checked Edith was all right.
Oh its fine, darling, Edith would always say. Emmas cooking, keeping the house neat. Shes still young, but shell learn, experience comes with time.
Now Charlotte saw those words for what they werea lie. In public, Emma played the dutiful lamb. When no one was watching
Gran, I heard everything. What was that just now?
Edith hesitated, as though not quite catching, and averted her gaze.
Oh, its nothing, Charley, she sighed. Emmas just tired. Its a rough patchJames is always off at work. Shes just a bit fraught.
Charlotte squinted at her grandmother as though seeing her anew, noticing each wrinkle, each lost trace of resilience. Ediths stubbornness stayed, but now there was something elsefear.
Fraught? Gran, did you hear what she said? Thats not fraughtness, thats
Charley let her be. Young peoplethey flare up. And I am old. I dont need much.
No. Gran. Dont play me for a fool. Either you tell me everything now, or I get in the car and drive straight there. Your choice.
Edith fell silent for some seconds, sighing as she drooped her shoulders and adjusted her glasses. Suddenly, she looked like a small, battered bird.
I never wanted to say anything, not with you so busy. Why trouble you? I thought it would blow over
The saga with Emma was far worse than Charlotte ever imagined.
The newlyweds had moved into Ediths flat with massive suitcases and wild schemes to save for a mortgage in six months. At first, Edith was delightedthe flat came alive: footsteps in the morning, someone always cooking, voices and laughter, even if a bit forced. Emma had made an effortbaked tarts, offered Edith tea, even took her to the GP a couple times.
Then James left for a work placement, and overnight, everything changed.
At first, she was just tetchy, said Edith. Then she started taking the food for herself. She said youd brought plenty, and she needed it moreshe was young, might start a family, that sort of thing. I dont need much, after all; losing a bit of weight wouldnt hurt.
Turned out Emma had borrowed money from Edithmoney Charlotte had given for medicine, which Emma spent on a mini fridge, put right in her bedroom, and locked the door. The tastiest treats Charlotte brought would disappear in there.
Of course, the money never came back. And Emma started searching out Ediths stashes, helping herself to whatever she liked.
She took the telly. Said it would ruin my eyes, Edith sniffled, dabbing her tears. Sometimes she turns off the internet, and then I cant even check the news or get calls. Feels like prison, some days.
Did you tell James? asked Charlotte.
Edith shook her head.
She said if I breathe a word, shell tell everyone she lost a baby from the stress I caused her. That everyone would pity her, and hate me. I dont even know if she was ever expecting. But she said Id be the villain.
Charlotte was speechless with rage, but only said,
Gran, no one has any right to treat you that way. No one. Young or old, family or stranger.
Edith burst into tears, and Charlotte soothed her, though inwardly she was steeling for a fightsilence wasnt possible any longer.
Half an hour later, Charlotte and her husband, Matthew, were driving across town to Ediths flat. Charlotte filled him in, and though at first he was incredulous, he had no reason to doubt her.
Edith opened the door, wringing a cloth between her fingers, eyes downcast.
Oh, you shouldve called. Id have put the kettle on
Were not here for tea, Gran, Charlotte replied coolly. Were here for justice. Wheres Emma?
Shes out somewhere. She doesnt tell me Well, come in, since youre here.
Edith shuffled aside. Charlotte made straight for the kitchen. The main fridge was nearly bare: a couple cartons of sour milk, a dozen eggs, pickled onions in a mouldy jar. The freezer, nothing but ice.
Charlotte glanced at Matthew. He nodded: time to act. Emmas room was locked, as expectedcheap padlock, easily dispatched with a screwdriver.
There it wasthe forbidden fridge. Inside, all the yoghurts Charlotte brought days ago. Cheese, homemade sausage, even fresh cucumbers and tomatoes.
Charlotte was furious, but kept her cool. She and Matthew disappeared to Ediths bedroom to wait.
Emma came home half an hour later.
Who messed with my door? she shrieked, fists balled.
Out stepped Charlotte, calm.
I did.
Emma froze, eyes darting. After a pause, she tried bluster.
Who do you think you are, poking around my room?
Charlotte strode closer, towering over her sister-in-law.
Im the granddaughter of this houses owner. Who are you? You have ten minutes to pack, or your things are going out the window. Understood?
Ill tell James!
Complain to whoever you like! James isnt here. If need be, Ill drag you out by your hair.
Emma sneered, but scuttled away to fling her things into a bag, swearing threats and insults as she wentbut Charlotte just stood by, stone-faced.
Edith stood in the hall, dabbing tears away.
Oh, Charlotte Must you make such a scene? People will hear
Only then did Charlotte move, embracing Edith.
Its not a scene, Gran. Were just taking out the rubbish.
That night, they stayed with Edith. The next day, they filled her fridge and medicine box to bursting. When they left, Edith criednot, Charlotte hoped, from shame or fear of being alone. Her granddaughter forbade her from ever letting Emma back in, even if she tried to sneak round.
Later that day, James rangyelling so loud the phone vibrated.
Have you lost the plot? Emmas in tears! Wheres she supposed to go? You think you can do anything just because youve got money?
Charlotte just hung up. After a while, she sent a voice message:
You ought to get your facts straight. Your Emmas been bullying Gran, starving her. Remember Gran gave you her last savings? If you try to bring that cow near her again, I swear Ill have your ears off.
James did not reply. Nor did he need to.
Emma found a friend to stay withfor now. She posted dark statuses online about toxic family and two-faced relatives. James liked them. Charlotte heard nothing more from either.
Ediths flat grew cosier, even if a little quiet. A few weeks later, she asked Charlotte to show her how to stream dramas on her phone. She started with Pride and Prejudice, then tried comedies, sometimes watching with Charlotte.
Oh, I havent laughed like that in years, Edith admitted one evening, cheeks sore from smiling.
Charlotte simply smiled. Her soul felt settled at last. Once, her grandmother had kept her safe; now, it was her turn to protect Gran.
