Everyone deceived her brother, but it was Faith who always felt cheated
The phone rang in the dead of night.
Darling, theres a fire! Were burning! Through her mothers sobs, Faith could hear the crackle of flames, shouts, and chaos.
Sleep vanished in an instant.
Her mothers house, fifteen miles out from town, was a large but aging estate. The town was growing, creeping into the countryside, and she found herself thinking about just how long that old house had stood.
Faiths great-grandfather had built it. The second storey was put in by her grandfather, first as a summer room, later fitted for use all year round. Bits were tacked on over the years: a conservatory here, a breakfast room there. The house looked sturdy, but it was all show. Winters were icy, summers damp with rising moisture.
Year by year it quietly decayed, rotting from within. Everyone knew it. The sensible thing would be to knock it down, but her mother adamantly insisted on yet another renovation. She was the landlady nowhusband long passed awayso her word was law.
Weve only money for repairs, not a new build, shed protested.
Mum, whats the point of such a big house? Youd have enough for a new, smaller place. Plenty of designs out there, and youd still have space for your precious flowers out back, Faith reasoned.
You dont understand, her brother Frederick would butt in. Its our family home, heritage, an estate. You just dont throw that away. One big renovation, and itll be as good as new.
Frederick always sided with their mother, and she with him. Faiths suggestions were met with suspicion, though she was usually thinking of everyones best interest.
She had learned to hold her peace. Each time one of Fredericks projects went up in smokewith their mothers blessingFaith simply shrugged. It was their choice.
If its repairs you want, then repairs it is.
But darling, well need help from youa small amount, just in case we fall short. Ive sold the flat in which your aunt used to livethe one we inherited. We didnt need something that far away.
You sold the London flat? Just to fix up this house? Thatd buy you two new houses here.
I only owned half. The other half went to her son.
And you forced him to sell his share? Drove your own nephew out.
No, no, he bought my half off me. I should have got more, but there was no way around it.
Mum! You dont need the money, nor do we, Faith protested, but her mother interrupted.
Ive my own family, thank you very much.
Maybe youre right. Do as you see fit. If you dont need me, Ill be off.
A month later, the dreaded night call came. The house was ablaze. Faith and her husband Michael arrived to find only charred ruins. There was nothing left to save.
Faith, I think we should give your mum one of our flats. That one-bedroom in Highgate is empty since the tenants just moved out.
Ive thought of that, but the flats yours.
Faith, all the flats are ours. Your mum needs help. Well lose a bit by not renting it out, but weve still two others and the one we live in.
But that one its especially yours.
Dont be silly. We share everything. Let her live there, all the furniture and necessities are in place. Well help her buy anything she needs anew.
They moved her mother in, replaced what was needed. One day Faith decided to pop by unannounced, bringing groceries for her mother. She found the television theyd gifted her on her birthday, humming awaythough it wasnt supposed to have survived the fire. The flat was scented with fresh coffee.
Mum, you said the fire destroyed everything. Thats the TV we gave you for your birthday. And the coffeesurely thats your coffee machine?
And am I meant to have stolen these then? We moved everything out for the repair works, the place was bare brick. The insurance company asked; I just answered accordingly. So what? The furnitures at Fredericks now.
He bought a new flat, but there was no time to get proper furniture. It was handier for them to use what we had. Ive brought my stuff over here now. They didnt need my old sheets anyway.
Fredericks bought a new flat? With what money?
How should I know? He just did.
Faith realised her mother wasnt telling her the whole truth, and never would. But the truth has a way of emerging on its own. She always knew her mother favoured Frederick.
He rarely had any luck; things never worked in his favoureveryone else cheated him, it seemed. Yet Faith herself always came away feeling deceived. Even now, there was a hidden catch.
So what will you do with the ruins? The lands valuable, youve still got the insurance, too.
Its all burnt down, Ill sell the plot. Ive got a roof now, thanks to a well-off daughter. Pity about Freddie, thoughhes drowning in debt
Why not buy yourself a home with that money?
What, and leave this flat? Would you see your mother out on her ear?
This flats Michaels.
Youll hardly miss it!
Why not rebuild, then? The neighbours have all put up lovely houses.
No, Ive decided. Ill sell the lot. The house always followed the men in this family, and Freddie isnt interested in a village life. He wants London comforts.
I wont argue.
Michael, Mum wants to sell up.
Its her right. Still, its a good spot. I always liked itthe big old lime tree, remember? Your father loved spending time there.
I was sad when it died, it felt like a sign somehow. Maybe we should build there ourselves?
Id love that. We always wanted to move to a house. The children would have space, we could bring the grandchildren to visit one day.
Youre such a dreamer.
Why not? Your mother could move in, too, if she wanted.
But the land is hers. If you want to do this, it must be fair and legalso theres no room for dispute later, especially since Ive got an unlucky brother.
Leave it to me. Shell put it on the market soon, Ill snap it up before anyone else. Or perhaps we could ask her directly?
Shed never agree up frontshell be clever about it.
Then well just buy it.
And why didnt you come to me first? her mother piped up.
Mum, you need the cashthis way you could buy yourself a really nice flat.
Her mother said nothing, but she made no move to buy a new place.
Faith and Michael built a new house there. They put in all their savings, even took out a loan, but with their combined salaries and the rent from letting their flats, it was manageable.
Once they moved in, life got easierthey rented out their old flat too. Her mother still hadnt bought a place; shed given the money to Frederick, who couldnt keep up with his mortgage payments.
The insurance money never arrived. The investigation revealed the fire wasnt accidental. Theyd moved out the most precious items, and someone had set it alight on purpose. They gained little from it all.
Her mum would visit from time to time.
Its lovely here, spacious too. Freddies place is so crampedhis kids all need their own rooms, but there are only two.
I did say theyd need a bigger place, but they wouldnt listen. And look at this houseI should never have refused to build new.
Mum, I suggested we build years ago, even before the fire. It wouldnt have been perfect, but it would be comfortable and cosy. Wed have helped you, as always.
You did suggest it. Well, Im offering something now. Move back to the city, have your flat again. Ill take this house for myself. Perhaps Freddie would even join me. The house was always meant for the men in the family, so in time it should be Freddies.
Are you serious? We built this home, and now you want it to pass to Freddie because hes a son? If the old house hadnt burnt down, hed have sold it anyway.
Thats his prerogative. Its been that way for generations.
Dont exaggerate, Mumthe house isnt even a century old.
No use arguing. When do you want to swap?
You mean swap our house for the flat? Mum, youre only registered to live in that flat nowand only because we allowed it. We didnt have to.
You must know by now youll never get the money backevery penny has gone to unlucky Freddie. But this house now will have different heirs. Not Freddie.
You have so much, but he has no luck at all!
No luck? He got the proceeds from the London flat sale, and wouldve had the insurance if itd been paid. He got Dads savings, the car, everything. Is it so awful that we worked for our own fortune? This housethis landwe bought for ourselves, fair and square. Freddie wont be inheriting it, and youre welcome to visit as often as you like.
One day, cousin David came down from London.
Came to see how the poor relations are doing. Aunt said youre barely scraping by, desperate for cash. But this place is huge!
Mum told you that? Yes, well
We took a mortgage only just paid it off, in fact. Here, Faith, I brought some earrings. Mum told me to give them to you.
The rest? Aunt claimed straight away, even at the funeral, shed been promised all my mothers jewellery. But I managed to hide the box in time; she looked but never found it. I didnt believe her then, but now heres whats left. Mum said these earrings had to go directly into your hands. Aunt wanted you to have them.
Good thing you did. Otherwise, Freddie would have everything. He expects a lot. The rest of us just work hard, and Mum brings the world to him!
Keep them, dont let her guilt yousell them if you need to. No doubt she was lying back then too.
Youre serious? Will you tell me the whole story?
Yesone day I will
Her mother rarely visits now; her legs arent what they used to be. Fredericks too busy with his woesalways being conned as he puts it. Faith and Michaels life is quiet, their children thriving, and cousin David is a frequent, cheerful presence. Life goes on, and everyone shapes their future as best they can
And Faith? She learned the hard way: sometimes, the greatest peace comes not from whats handed down, but from whats earned and chosen with open eyes and a loyal heart.
