Everybody kept deceiving my brother, yet I was the one left feeling betrayed
The phone rang in the middle of the night.
Darling, theres a fire. The house is burning, Mum said, her voice trembling between sobs, the crackling and shouting barely muffled on the other end of the line.
Sleep vanished in an instant.
Mums house was about ten miles outside the city, a big place but far from new. The outskirts of Birmingham gradually pushed forward, and the village, in its own way, was growing towards the city. I tried to recall how old that house was once was.
My great-grandfather started the foundations, his own father added a second floor for the summer, then came another update when someone decided it ought to be made warm enough for winters. Later, the house stretched out to the side, with a conservatory tacked on. From the street, it looked sturdy. I suppose thats what fooled us. It was damp in summer, icy in winter.
The place was quietly falling apart. Everyone knew it. What the house truly needed was tearing down, but Mum refused. She was the head of the family since Dad passed, and determined on repairs and repairs alone.
Weve only got enough for renovations, not to start anew.
But Mum, do you really need such a large house? I would plead. A smaller one would make better sense. You could have those rose gardens you love. There are some lovely two-storey designs that wouldnt cost the earth.
My brother, Edward, always joined in, You dont understand, Alice. This is our family home, our roots. We cant just get rid of it. Some proper work and itll last another century.
Edward always took Mums side, and she always backed him. My advice was forever unwelcome. Even when it seemed obvious mine was the only sane suggestion.
By then Id stopped trying. Whenever one of Edwards grand schemescheered on by Mumfell apart, I just shrugged. Their choice.
If you want to patch it up, then patch it up, Id say.
Love, we might need just a little help from you. Ive got funds from selling your aunts old flat in London, the one we inherited. Why keep it when its so far away?
You sold the flat in London? To restore this house? You could have bought a new place altogether!
I only owned half the flat, my dear. The other half is your cousins. He bought my share, barely managed it. I sold a bit cheap but it was all he could afford.
I wanted to protest but could already foresee the circular argument. You do what you think is best, Mum. If you dont need my help, Ill go now.
A month went by before the dreaded late-night call. By the time my husband, Michael, and I arrived, the house was nothing but a smouldering wreck. Nothing left to salvage.
Alice, Michael said, Why not have your mum in one of our flats? The one-bedroom on Shakespeare Street is empty now the tenants have moved out.
Id thought of that, but its yours
Nonsense. Everything we have is ours together. Your mum needs somewhere. Well lose that rent, but its worth it.
We moved Mum in and bought whatever she needed. One afternoon, I decided to visit her unexpectedly, bringing groceries and just wanting a chat. The TV was on in her flatnot the set Id left, but the modern one wed given her for her birthday. The scent of fresh coffee filled the place.
Mum, you told me everything burned down. Isnt that the coffee maker we gave you too? And this telly?
She bristled. Do you think I stole them? We took everything out before starting the renovations. The house was stripped bare. The insurance was sorted. Edwards got the furniture.
Hes just bought a new flat, hasnt had time to get wardrobes or sofas yet. He can use whats here, and Ive already moved my old things out. He has no use for my faded sheets.
Edward has a new flat? How did he manage that?
No idea. He bought it, thats all I know.
It was plain Mum was hiding details from me. Shed never say, but time would tell. She had always bent over backwards for Edward.
He was never lucky, always tricked, always on the losing end. Yet somehow, I was the one left short-changed, left with a sour taste again and again.
What will you do with the empty plot? Its a good bit of land, and youve money from the insurance
Oh, Ill sell it. Ive a roof over my head. Youre lucky to have done so well, Alice. Your poor brothers always in debt
Why not use the money to get yourself a proper flat, instead of this one?
And whats wrong with this? Would you toss your own mum out?
Well, technically, this flat is Michaels.
Youll both manage!
Perhaps we could build a new house, something comfortable and warm; everyone else around has lovely houses these days.
No. Ive made my mind up. The land passes down the male line, and Edward has no interest in the countryside; he wants city comforts.
I wont argue, then.
Later, I told Michael, Mums decided to sell the plot.
She can do what she likes. Shame, really. I always liked that place. Your dad loved his spot under the old linden tree.
It was sad when that tree died. Almost a sign. Maybe we should just build something, ourselves this time?
Id be thrilled. Weve both always wanted a place of our own. The kids would be happy, tooand eventually grandchildren as well!
Oh, youre dreaming.
Why not? Your mum could live with us, too.
Yes, but the land is hers. If we do this, we should do everything properly. I dont want regrets later. We ought to buy it from her.
But shes your mum!
Thats exactly why we need to be careful. So she cant contest anything later. Dont forget about my luckless brother.
Ill sort out the land. Shes bound to put it up for sale soon. Or shall I just ask her straight?
Shell only be awkward. Well have to buy it like everyone else.
So it went, and, after much wrangling, Mum agreed to sell. Now you can buy yourself a new flat, a fine one, Mum.
She stayed quiet, never got around to flat-hunting. Soon, Michael and I put everything we had into building the house, even took out a mortgage, but managed it wellboth our wages, plus letting income from the flats made things manageable.
After we moved in, things got easier still. We let out the last flat. Mum never did buy a flatshe handed her money to Edward, who soon fell behind on his own mortgage. Turned out the insurance company never paid out: because the house hadnt burned by accident, but was set alight after everything had been taken out. So her plan backfired.
Sometimes Mum would visit. Its lovely here, Alice, so spacious. It gets cramped at Edwardshis kids are getting bigger, need their own rooms, but hes only got two.
I tried telling them theyd need more space. Could have moved sooner. And the housewell, it would have been worth rebuilding, before the fire.
But you did offer. If only Id agreed before. Well, I have a suggestion. Why not swap back? You move to the city flat, Ill come out here. Maybe Edward would move in toohouses pass to the son after all.
Youre not serious. We built this place, and now it goes to Edward just because hes the son? If the old house hadnt burned, he would have sold it in a heartbeat.
So be it. Thats the way its always beendone for centuries.
Centuries? The house barely made it to eighty years.
Lets not quarrel. Whens the exchange?
You mean swapping our house for the old flat? Mum, youre only registered there. We could have not bothered. And you could have bought a flat ages agoyou just gave everything to Edward. This house has new heirs nowand they wont be him.
But youre well-off, and hes still struggling!
Is he? Mum, everything you hadfrom the London flat, the insurance, the savings, the carwent to him. Hes unlucky, but Im not rich. Michael and I did this ourselves. And yet, its always him who gets everythingyouve always brought it to him on a plate!
Hes just trusting, thats all. People take advantage.
Its always me left fooled, Mum. This house, this land, its ours, bought fair and square. Edward wont be living here. Youll visit if you like.
On one occasion, my cousin James, who lives in London, came to visit.
Thought Id see how my poverty-stricken relatives are faring. Aunt said youre all hard up, scraping by. Then I turn up to find youve a palace!
Did she now? Well
I had to take out a loan, only just paid it off. By the way, Alice, Ive got these earrings. Mum wanted me to give them to you.
What else Aunt insisted her sister promised her all the family goldeven told us so at the funeral. I managed to hide the jewellery box from her, she went searching. At the time I didnt believe her, but now I brought them directly. She wanted you to have this, specifically.
Good job you kept them. Otherwise, Edward would have ended up with the lot. He always needs more and more. We work, Mum just hands it over to him.
Dont give anything backkeep it or sell it, you need it more. Aunt lied, Id bet my hat.
Youre serious? Tell me everything
Now, Mums visits have grown rareher joints are giving her trouble. Edward, as always, is hard done by. Michael and I have found peace and happiness, the kids are loving it, and James pops over whenever he can. Life goes on, and everyone is left to shape their own happiness, after all.
