My wife and I have been saving for years for a little house in the countryside, and we finally bought one. For the past year, weve been heading out there every weekend or even spending the whole summer away from the city.
We had some help from my mum and dad too, who wanted us to achieve this dream a bit sooner. We were so thrilled that we threw ourselves into repairs and renovations with eagerness. We built greenhouses by the garden so we could grow a few things in winter, and made a sandpit and some swings in the back garden for the children to play. From the very beginning, friendsboth mine and my wifeswould pop round nearly every day, and wed often stroll down to the river, just a short walk from our door. In the evenings, wed barbecue some meat, and when it got late some guests would head home, but quite a few stayed the night, as not everyone had a car to get back on their own so late. Generally, all our friends congratulated us on our new home.
A year on, most of the people we know have realised the importance of moderation. Over time, their visits have become less frequent. They mostly come for special occasions now, whenever we invite them. But theres one guest who just can’t seem to grasp the idea. If this woman hears anything about our cottage, she packs her bag and appearscompletely heedless of whether we want company. What matters is what she wants.
Its all well and good when Im there with my wife, but its different when my parents and young kids are around. Ive tried several times to suggest she go home, yet none of my hints worked. She stayed with us for two whole months.
She ignored every signal that it might be time to leave. I even tried persuading her by telling her my wifes parents would be visiting soon and it would be crowded. She just shrugged and said shed be happy to sleep on the chilly floor, so long as she had a mattress.
Her visits go like this: she turns up on Friday evening, then spends the weekend stretched out on the sofa, binging TV while my wife and I tend the garden, watering plants and so on. Any time we ask her to lend a hand, she replies, I came here to relax!
Neither my wife nor my parents have ever said a word about her; it seems Im the only one whos grown more and more irked by her behaviour.
Eventually, the cold set in and winter arrived. One day, as we sat drinking coffee with her in the cottage, she sighed, Ah, such a shame its winter. If it were summer, Id be here every weekend My heart sank at her words, and inwardly I wondered why I couldnt just tell her face-to-face that her constant visits bother me and make me anxious. But what if she takes offence and stops talking to me altogether?
I dont want thatyet I wish shed stop coming every single weekend. I just dont know what to do.
