“Dont forget, youve lived in my flat your whole life.” “Youre starting this again. Now youll hold it over me forever.”
Tanya and Oliver had been married ten years. Tanya had a mother and a stepfather whod raised her since she was three. Her younger brother, Arthur, wasnt his by bloodonly her sister Natalie was. But he never treated them any differently.
When Tanya married and moved in with Oliver, Natalie was just eight. Oliver got on well with her stepfather from the startno surprise, really. Nicholas could talk to anyone, from the neighbours children to grown men, as if they were equals. He found common ground with everyone.
Oliver had nothing bad to say about his mother-in-law, but he grew close to Nicholas, calling him “Dad.” His own father had passed, and his mother had gone to stay with his grandmother when she fell illand never returned. She left the house to him.
Tanya and Oliver made it their own, with Nicholas helping out. Tanyas mother grumbledwhy would anyone leave the city for a village?
“Its a town, Mum. A proper town. There are even five-story buildings in the centre.”
“Youre in a cottage, in the countryside. That makes it a village.”
Ten years passed. Their son and daughter grew up. Arthur stayed in the city after university, far from home. Natalie married but had no place of her own, so her parents paid her rent.
“Let them live with us,” Nicholas told his wife.
“I dont mind, but we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“Why did you change jobs?”
“Weve talked about this. The children earn their own keep now. I cant manage two jobs anymorenot since I fell ill. Expenses are lighter.”
“Natalie needs a flat.”
“She has a husband.”
“Dont forget, youve lived in my flat your whole life.”
“Youre starting this again. Now youll hold it over me forever.”
“Choose! Youll work for our daughters flat!”
“What choice? Work myself to death?”
“Or leave.”
“I cant work like thatyou know I cant.”
“Then Ill file for divorce. Go. Youve got that house.”
“That house? Have you seen it? Whats left of it after all these years?”
“I dont care. You never wanted to sell.”
Nicholas packed a few essentials in silence.
“Take it all, or Ill toss the rest.”
“Weve lived most of our lives. You retire next year. Im sixty-three.”
“Shouldve married younger. I only took you because no one else wouldtwo children in tow.”
“Youre calling them burdens?” he said quietly. “Ill go. Ill fetch the rest in a week. Just wait”
“Mum, wheres Dad?”
“You know hes not your father.”
“So? Hes the only father Ive got.”
“Weve separated. Natalie and her husband are moving in.”
“What? Wheres Dad?”
“At his cottage.”
“And Natalie agreed to send him there, weak as he is? How could you?”
“Why do you care?”
“Its cruel. Does Arthur know?”
“Why tell him? Hes far away. Why are you here?”
“Just visiting. Were on holiday tomorrow, then stopping by Arthurs.”
“What do you want from me? I need money for repairsyour sisters pregnant, theyre moving in soon. Dont expect anything. Brought the children? I wont mind them.”
“We dont need anything. Weve money, the children are coming with us. We didnt come for that. When were you going to tell us about the divorce?”
“Why should you care? Hes only Natalies father.”
“When he loved and provided for us, he was familynow hes not? Thats not right, Mum.”
“Dont judge me! I did my best!”
Oliver stepped back inside. Hed left when Tanyas argument began, realising Nicholas was gone for good. Hed barely reached himNicholas never carried his phone, but this time, he answered.
“Of course its not my place to judge. He was the one who did his best. Time will tell.”
“Tanya, come on.” Oliver took her hand. “Ive found out everything. Childrenin the car. Were going to Grandads.”
“You found him? Lets go.”
“I did. Had to pry it out of him. He didnt want to say.”
“Youre brilliant. I never knew the address. They never told us, and we never visited.”
Nicholas met them by the old cottage.
“Grandad, does a mean granny live here?” the grandchildren asked cheerfully.
“No. She stayed in the city.”
Tanya and Oliver laughed. The joke landed, though Nicholas was clearly low. He was glad to see them but couldnt hide his sadness.
“Why did you come?”
“How can you live here? We came to sort things out. Why didnt you tell us?”
“Why trouble you? Your mother said her pieceI understood.”
“So did I. How will you manage? Its summer now, but winter? Did you bring everything?”
“All I could. Theres nothing here but old pots. But Ill manage.”
“Of course you will. Pack your things, Dad. Youre coming with us.”
“Yes, Dad, come on. Well fetch the rest later. Just take what you need.”
“I cant. Im not alone.”
“We can see that. We never got round to getting a dog. The children have been asking.”
“Someone dumped himstill a pup”
“Bring him too. Hell guard our home.”
Nicholas didnt crybut tears fell anyway.
“Dad, were leaving tomorrow for ten days. Youre in charge. Heres your room. Theres food, shops nearby, weve left money. Well stop by Arthurs. Just stay in touch”
“Dad, were back!” Tanya called as she stepped inside.
Oliver and the children followedbut no one answered.
Instead of Nicholas, Tanyas mother appeared.
“Mum, what are you doing here? Wheres Dad?”
“I came to check the houseyou were away,” she said, as if nothing were wrong. “Then I find a stranger herewith a dog!”
“Wheres Dad?” Oliver demanded.
“Natalie and her husband have moved into my flat. Ill live with you. Its close to town, and comfortable.”
“Listenwhere is he?”
Tanya and Oliver were baffled.
“How should I know?” She scowled. “Where he was, I suppose.”
“Darling, Mother-in-law. Youve overstayed. Were home now, so”
“Tanya! How dare he speak to me like that?”
“Mum, its time to go. Dont bother bringing your things. Pack up.”
They found Nicholas back at the cottage, lying on the sofa, the dog asleep on the rug.
“You again? Why? Im fine here. Just resting after lunch. Theres someone else in your house now.”
“Your ex-wife wont live under my roof. Even if you wont come with us, shes not staying.”
“She thinks otherwise. Shes freed the flat for Natalie.”
“Come on. Get in the carthe children brought gifts. Dont forget the dog. Leave the rest for now. Well sort it later.”
“Hes already waitingjumped right in.” Oliver nodded. “Tanya, Natalies callingyou left your phone in the car.”
“So Mums made her complaints. I wont answer yet.”
Nicholas stayed with Tanya and Oliver. His ex-wife never reappeared. Arthur preferred visiting them over his motherthere was no room for his family there.
“Weve decided to move,” he said one day. “Want to be closer.”
“Brilliant.”
“Buying a flat?”
“No. A house. Ill get land.”
“Ive got land, son. If youre interested, well see.”
“Land?”
“Yes. The cottage is gone, but the plots there. If you dont like it, sell it and buy elsewhere.”
“Your land, my houseso youll live with us,” Arthur said.
“No. Dads ours.”
“Enoughyouve had him. Now its our turn.”
Tanya, Oliver, and Arthur laughed, arguing over whod keep him. All was wellexcept his own daughter never visited.
She came much later, sent by her mother. Arthurs house already stood on their fathers land.
“Dad, Im your only daughter.
