Everyone deceived my brother, yet it was Alice who always felt the most betrayed…
The phone rang in the dead of night.
Darling, the house is on fire, were burning, came Mums voice, trembling with sobs. Through her cries, I could hear the crackle of flames and the chaos behind her.
Sleep vanished instantly.
Mums house sits about ten miles outside Reading. It was a sizeable place but nowhere near new. The towns expanding, slowly creeping towards what was once the village. As I rushed to get dressed, I found myself wondering just how old that house was now… rather, had been.
My great-grandad built it, and his father added the second, summer floor, and then came modernising and insulation, turning that extra level into part of the proper home. Over the years, theyd built a new extension down one side, stuck on a veranda. Visually, the house looked sturdy, but that was only on the surface. Winter made it icy; in summer, it was always damp.
The place was quietly, inevitably crumbling. We all knew it. Realistically, it should have been knocked down, but Mum refusedinsisted, stubbornly, on repairs. Im in charge, your dads gone. Its up to me, shed say.
All I can afford is repairs, not a whole new build. Mum always said that.
Mum, why do you need all that space? You could manage with a smaller place. These days you get decent, two-storey houses at fair prices. More room for your roses and tulips, Id try to persuade.
You dont get it, Alice, my brother George would chime in. This house is the family seat, a bit of history, our ancestral manor call it what you want. It all needs preserving. Major renovation will do it.
George was always on Mums side, and she, on his. My advice was always met with resistance, even though it would have solved plenty, not just this.
Id stopped arguing long ago. Whenever another of Georges dodgy schemesbacked by Mumhit the wall, all I could do was shrug. Their decision, their mess.
Well, if you want to renovate, then renovate.
But darling, well need some help from you. Not much, just in case we havent enough. I have some money, anyway: I sold the Norwich flat your aunt left us. Why keep it all the way over there?
You sold the Norwich flat? Just for this? I was shocked. Thats more than enough for even two new houses around here.
Well, only half of it’s mine, and half went to her son, your cousin.
So you pressured him to sell, threw your nephew out?
I didnt throw him out, he bought out my share. Though I did let it go cheapcouldnt squeeze more out of them.
Mum! You didnt need the moneyneither do wecouldve just…
Given it away? Ive got a family to think about.
Perhaps youre right. Go on then, do the repairs. If you need nothing from me, Ill get going.
A month passed. Then, another call in the middle of the night: the house was in flames. My wife Alice and I arrived in time to see only the remains. Nothing to salvage.
Alice, I think we should let your mum move into one of our flats. The one-bedroom on Shakespeare Road is empty the tenants moved out only last week, I suggested softly.
I was thinking about that, but it’s your flat.
All our flats belong to both of us. Your mum needs our help. We’ll lose the lettings from one, but there are others. We’ve the two others and this one for us.
Still, thats your name on the title.
Dont be daft. Theres no yours or mine between us. Let her have it. It’s furnished. We’ll help out with anything she needs.
We moved Mum in, bought what was lacking. One day, I dropped by unannounced with groceries, simply meaning to check on her. I heard the telly blaring which shouldnt have been there, as the tenants never wanted one and smelt fresh coffee.
Mum, you said everything had burned. Thats your TV from your birthday, isnt it? And is that the coffee maker we gave you?
Do you think I stole them then? Mum snapped, shot me a look. We removed everything before starting renovations. The rooms were bare. Insurance was sorted, so I simply said it. Whats the problem? The furnitures at Georges place.
But Georges flat is brand new. He never had time to buy sofas, wardrobes. Youve given him your old things? Moved your sheets out too?
They needed them more. Ive already got my clothes here.
George bought a flat? With what money…?
How should I know? Im not his bookkeeper.
I realised then that Mum was keeping something from me. She never told me everything, not when George was involved. Growing up, everyone always coddled poor George. He was the unlucky one, forever on the losing side, used and fooled by everyone except, it seemed, me. It was always me, Alice, who felt most deceived in the end.
What will you do about the burned remains? Nice plot, youve got money, and the insurance payout.
Whats the use? she sighed. The house is gone. Ill sell the land. Ive got a roof over my head. Fortunate to have a daughter whos made her way. George has his debts and miseries to cope with…
Think about buying your own place with that money?
Whats wrong with this one? Would you drive your own mother out then?
This place belongs to Nick.
You wont go bust!
Perhaps we should rebuild on the old landa new, comfortable house like the neighbours.
No, Ive made my mind. Ill sell. Thats how its meant to bethe house was always passed from father to son, but George wants nothing to do with life in the countryside. Hes after city comforts.
As you wish.
Later, I told Nick: Mums putting the land up for sale.
She can do as she pleases, but if it was up to me, Id rebuild. Lovely spot I always liked it, your dad loved the old lime tree in that garden.
It was a shame when it diedalmost felt like a sign. Maybe we should try and build ourselves.
Id love to. We always dreamt of it, remember? Lovely place for kids, and one day, grandkids.
Youre such a dreamer!
Why not? Your mum could live there too.
But it would still be her land. Wed better buy it for our peace of mind.
But shes your mother!
Thats why we need to do everything proper and above board. Otherwise, itll all end up with George and his disasters, wont it?
Ill handle it. Shell list it soonmaybe I should just ask her directly?
She wont sell to us upfront, shell play games.
Then well just have to buy through the proper channels
Suddenly, Mum popped her head through the door: Why didnt you speak to me direct?
Mum, you need the money. Now you could buy yourself a nice flat.
She didnt answer but made no attempt to find another place either.
Eventually, Alice and I built that house. We poured in every penny we had, even took out a mortgage, but between our jobs and letting the other flats, we managed.
When we finally moved in and let the last flat, things actually got easier. Mum never bought anywhere for herself in the end, she passed all the cash to George, who botched the mortgage anyway.
The insurance didnt pay out either. When they dug deeper, it was more than a coincidence everything of value had mysteriously been removed before the fire. The house had been set alight on purpose, and things turned out quite differently than anyone expected.
Mum visited occasionally.
Its roomy here, and lovely. Georges place is cramped; the kids really need more space, only two bedrooms, shed complain.
I told them so, they wouldnt listen. Should have bought bigger. And we could have done up the old house for you, before the fire, remember?
You did. Well, now Ive got a solution why dont you two move back into town and take your old flat, and Ill move here? Maybe George will even agree to join me. After all, the house always goes to the son.
Are you serious, Mum? We built this. Is George just going to inherit by default? If the house hadnt burned, hed have sold it long ago.
His right. Its always been that way, for generations.
Generations? The old place was what, eighty years old at best?
No need to argue. When will the exchange happen?
What exchange you mean our house for the old flat? That was never part of the plan. All we did was put you on the lease, we didnt have to.
And we know youve given up ever buying yourself anything you gave the lot to George. From now on, this houses inheritance is somewhere else.
You already have everything, and hes always so unlucky!
Unlucky? All the money from the Norwich place went to him, the insurance would have if it came; Dads savings, his car, everything ended up with George. Hes not unlucky, and Im hardly rich. Weve earned everything with our own hard work.
He cant help being gullible people take advantage!
Ive always been the one let down, Mum, not him. This is our house, our land, all paid for honestly. George wont be getting any of it, but youre always welcome to visit.
One day, my cousin Edward came down from London.
I wanted to see how the poor relations are living. Auntie said everyones scraping by, that youre all desperate for money. Yet youre quite settled here.
Mum said that, did she?
I had to get a loan for myself, only just paid it off. Here, Alice, I brought you the earrings. Mum told me to give them to you.
What about the rest? Alice asked.
Auntie said, at the funeral, that all the gold was promised to her. I managed to hide the jewellery box before she could pinch it. She was rummaging everywhere. I didnt trust her at the time, but now Im sure. These earrings are for youa proper gift.
You did right. George wouldve ended up with the lot. Its always the wayhe wants everything. Some of us work; Mum does everything for him.
Dont give any of it backsell it if you like, youve more use for it. Auntie was spinning a yarn, believe me.
Honestly? Will you tell me more?
I will…
Mums visits became rare; her legs started giving her trouble, and George always had excuses claiming to be cheated again. Alice and I lived peacefully, with our children happy and content. Edward visits often, and life carries on. In the end, everyone forges their own happiness, the best way they can.
If Ive learned anything, its that you can waste your life waiting for inherited comfort or handoutsor you can roll your sleeves up, keep your eyes open, and build your future one honest day at a time.
