Family Arrived After I Built My Seaside Retreat.

Author Harlan CovingtonReading 3 minViews 1

22June2025
Dear Diary,

I was born in a tiny village in the Midlands. Im now twentytwo, and my mother and father passed away not long ago. Their funerals were modest hardly anyone turned up, even though they both came from large families.

When the services ended, the relatives all rushed off with urgent business to attend to. May the Almighty watch over them. I decided that after the graves were filled I should get out of the place that held only pain for me.

Back home nothing much ever improved. As a teenager I was constantly picked on by the lads at school. After university and my first job I became the perpetual boytodothedirtywork for the bosses. I mulled it over and thought it was time to try my luck elsewhere, so I sold the family cottage and headed for the coast. In Brighton I bought a modest plot and raised a house of about 1500sqft.

When the build was finished I snapped a few pictures and posted them on the usual social networks. During the construction I phoned a number of kin for advice, but they all claimed they knew nothing and offered no help at all not even a decent tip.

Come summer, the same relatives started ringing, saying theyd like to spend the holidays by the sea and asked if they could crash at my place. I could have said yes, but why should I?

After my parents were laid to rest, the family never managed to get here, and financially they were barely getting by. Now they were showing up for a holiday that, to be frank, wasnt cheap.

That summer I learned the truth: I have a lot of relatives, they say they love me and miss me, even old schoolmates began writing, praising me, begging for a visit. Their sweet talk soon turned hollow. I posted on the networks that it was a harmless fib or, if you like, a daydream, then shared a photo of the shabby shed Id bought, claiming Id squandered the whole inheritance on my parents old house and could only afford this tinny structure. I added that Id love visitors who might lend a hand fixing it up. As soon as I did, the relatives and friends vanished again, citing urgent matters, and it turned out they were as broke as church mice.

Now I lie in the sun on the beach, thinking of those pictures I might put on my site. I decided not to wave a red flag before the bull and stir up envy. Perhaps next year Ill post a proper photo of the real home and see how my family is doing.

Lesson learned: peoples words can be as thin as seafoam, and the world shows little mercy, so I must rely on my own steadiness rather than empty promises.

The Real Son “Lena, you won’t believe it! Matvey and I have decided—we’re off to Turkey again next year!” My stepdad was practically glowing with happiness. “He says he needs that hotel with the sea view all over again. What can I do? My own son makes the call, you know?” That word—*own*—slipped out so naturally, as if it mattered. “I’m happy for you,” I answered, thinking back to better times, before Matvey appeared on the scene. “Your own son… And you always said we were a family. That there was no difference, whether a child was born to you or not.” He used to say that. That I was his daughter, and that’s all there was to it. “Here you go again… Oh, Lena! You’re my daughter, that’s not up for debate! You know I love you as if you were my own. But still, Matvey is my son…” He didn’t even realize he’d just proven my point. “Matvey’s your son. So I’m just…what, an acquaintance?” “Lena, what are you talking about? I just said, you’re like a daughter to me!” “Like a daughter… Did you ever take me to the seaside? In the fifteen years you’ve called yourself my dad?” Nope. Never did. Arthur was always saying there was no difference between me and Matvey, but I could hear it in how much he did for his son—there was a world of difference. “It just never worked out, Lena. You know money was always tight in the past. You’re not a kid, you know what two weeks in a five-star hotel costs… It’s expensive.” “I get it,” I nodded. “Expenses. It’s a bit much to take me there. But for Matvey, whom you only discovered six months ago, you’re already thinking of buying a flat, so he’s got somewhere to bring his wife?” I smiled thinly, “Guess that’s a minor expense if it’s for a son?” “I’m not buying anyone a flat. Who told you that, eh?” “People.” “Tell your ‘good people’ to stop spreading gossip.” For a minute, I felt a flicker of hope. “Really, you’re not?” “Of course not. Oh, by the way! Guess where we’re going with him this Saturday? Karting! Back when he was at uni, he did some sort of racing, and I just tag along.” “Karting?” I repeated, “Sounds thrilling.” “Doesn’t it just?!” “Can I come with you two?” The question popped out before I could stop it. Arthur, clearly not wanting me there, spluttered: “Uh… Lena… You’d be bored, honestly. It’s a guy thing, really. Matvey and I, we’ve got our… you know, father-son stuff to talk about.” Ouch. “So… it might be entertaining for you, but not for me?” “That’s not quite it…” Arthur fidgeted, “It’s just, well, we haven’t seen each other for a lifetime. We’re trying to make up for lost time, just the two of us, you understand?” Understand. “You understand” had become the cruellest phrase in our new family lexicon. I was supposed to understand that flesh and blood always comes first, that now my place is somewhere out in the cold. And to be fair, Matvey was a great guy. Grew up without a father—his mum never told Arthur she’d had a child. And yet he’d done well for himself: clever, good-looking, kind. Everything a father could want from a son. “Dad, I helped out at the animal shelter. Fixed up the dog kennels,” Matvey would say. “Dad, by the way, you know I graduated top of my class?” “Dad, look, I fixed your phone!” He wasn’t just a son. He was the ideal son. That evening, after Arthur left, I found myself flipping through old photos. Arthur and Mum’s wedding (Mum, gone five years now, just leaving Arthur and me). Us at the allotment… Me on my school graduation day… Nothing would ever be as it was. * “Lena, you up? I’ve got an urgent question.” Arthur turned up at eight on the dot the next morning. “What’s so urgent?” I pushed back my fringe and started the coffee machine. “It’s about the flat for Matvey.” “So it’s true, then?” I breathed out. “Sorry, but yes. True.” “And you lied to me.” “I just didn’t want to upset you. But I need your advice! I’m thinking I should move quickly. He’ll want to get married sooner or later, and it’s best to help him while he’s still young. Give him a roof over his head. You know what I went through…” “Take out a mortgage,” I said tightly, dreading this whole conversation. Matvey really had landed on his feet. “I know, I know. But you know my credit history is a mess… Matvey deserves help from a dad he never had before.” “So what exactly do you want from me?” “Here’s the thing. I’ve got £20,000 saved. That’s enough for a deposit. The bank will never approve a loan for me. But they’d approve it for you. Clean record, you see? We put it in your name, make the payments together. All above board, I promise.” The illusion that “there’s no difference” between us was shattered forever. Oh, there’s a difference, all right. Not like he’d have put Matvey in this position. “So Matvey gets the flat, and I get the mortgage? Is that the deal?” Arthur shook his head, as if I’d just offered him an insult. “No, no! I’ll make all the payments… I’m not asking you to pay! Just need it in your name. Just think it over—” “I’m not thinking about the mortgage, Arthur. I’m thinking about the fact you don’t see me as your daughter anymore. You’ve got a son now. Him, you’ve known for six months. Me, for fifteen years. And only blood matters.” “That’s not true!” Arthur flared, “I love you both equally!” “No. You don’t.” “Lena, that’s not fair! He’s my real—” Curtain down. I wasn’t his daughter anymore. Just someone convenient to have around, until the real deal showed up. “Right then,” I said as politely as I could. “I won’t be signing anything, Arthur. I’ll need to buy my own flat one day. The bank won’t give me a second mortgage, will they?” Arthur seemed to remember for the first time that I’d be needing a place too. “Oh… I suppose you will, won’t you? But at least for now, before you buy your own, you could help me. I’ve got most of it covered, honestly. It’s just a couple of years—” “No. I’m not having anything registered in my name.” I didn’t expect Arthur to understand. “Fine,” he said, “If you can’t help me as a daughter… then I’ll have to manage by myself.” Whether he actually ever saw me as a daughter didn’t matter anymore. Now, Arthur existed only in the photographs. One evening, scrolling through my feed, I saw it. Arthur and Matvey at the airport, both in matching light jackets. Arthur’s hand, proudly on his son’s shoulder. The caption: “Off to Dubai with my dad. Family means everything.” Family. I put my phone down. A memory came back—me at five, years before Mum married Arthur. Life was tough then. My favourite doll broke, the one Gran had given me, and I sobbed and sobbed. My real father just shrugged: “Lena, why cry over a silly toy? Don’t bother me!” He was a man who never wanted to be bothered. His main interest was a bottle. I never really had a father, not until Arthur. Or so I thought. Arthur tried once more to change my mind. “Lena, we need to sort out this trust issue between us…” “What trust issue, Arthur? I said no, clearly.” “You really don’t understand. Matvey… he never knew his dad. Not ever! I have to make it up to him, somehow. He’s a grown man—he needs somewhere to live. And you wouldn’t have to do anything except sign! I promise, not a penny out of your pocket.” “Who’s going to make it up to me?” That hit a nerve. “Lena, enough! I don’t want any more arguments. I do love you, I do! But you have to understand—Matvey is my real family now. Maybe you’ll get it if you have your own kids one day. Yes, I love you both, but it’s different. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.” “You need me. As a resource.” “Lena, cool off! You’re being dramatic.” “You switched to him in six months, Arthur,” I said. “I never asked you to choose. There never was a choice. You’ve told the truth: Matvey is your real one. I never was.” Six months went by. Arthur didn’t call. Not once. One day, I saw a new photo in my feed. Arthur and Matvey, this time in the mountains, both wearing expensive skiing gear. The caption: “Teaching Dad to snowboard! He’s a bit old for it, but with a son by your side, anything is possible!” I looked at it for a long while. I reached for my laptop to finish my report, when I got a text from an unknown number. “Hi Lena, it’s Matvey. Dad gave me your number, but he can’t bring himself to call. He wanted me to let you know he sorted the flat without your help, and he’s worried about you. He also wants to invite you over for the May bank holiday. He can’t explain why, but he’s really hoping you’ll come.” I typed and rewrote my reply three times. “Hi Matvey. Tell Arthur I’m really glad things are going well for him. I think about him too. But I won’t be coming. I have my own plans—I’m off to the seaside.” I didn’t mention that I’d bought my own ticket, and that it was only Brighton, not Turkey, and I wasn’t going with my dad but with a friend. I hit send. And realized that happiness was still possible, even without him.

00

There Won’t Be a Wedding “Why are you so quiet today?” Tanya asked. “We agreed we’d go pick out bedroom furniture on Saturday, but you seem down. What’s wrong?” Denis knew: now or never. He had to say it now. “Tanya… I need to say something. About the wedding.” Tanya had waited so long for this conversation. They’d agreed on a simple celebration, but she could tell Denis wanted to throw her a proper wedding—with guests, a photographer, the whole lot. She’d been looking forward to him bringing it up! “Just skip the long intro; I think I know what you’re about to say,” Tanya smiled. But Denis said: “Let’s postpone it… Let’s postpone the wedding.” Not the conversation Tanya had prepared for. “Postpone?” she froze. “What sort of sudden decision is that? Why? We were just talking about ordering invitations… You picked them! We discussed who’d come! Have you changed your mind about marrying me?” She thought he’d announce that his feelings were gone, like in a movie. But Denis replied off-script: “Money’s tight right now,” he mumbled. “My salary’s late. We’re not saving. And… We’ve only lived together half a year. A bit soon, don’t you think?” “Too soon?” Tanya sputtered. “We’ve been together for three years! Three years dating, six months living together—and that’s too soon for you?” Denis no longer looked so scared. “Come on, Tanya. I don’t want an argument. It’s just… a pause. I haven’t changed my mind, but weddings are expensive.” “Fine… Let’s just sign the register, the two of us, then celebrate with friends.” “Tanya, then it won’t be a real wedding.” “Well, then let it go to hell!” “But you wanted—” “I’ll live!” He keeps making odd excuses. “Tanya…” “Be honest. Did something happen? Are you not sure you love me? Or did you meet someone else? Because ‘the wedding’s too expensive’ is not a convincing excuse.” Denis shook his head. “No, Tanya, honestly. I just want everything to be perfect, you know? And right now, I can’t give you the perfect wedding. And yeah, it’s only been six months—we’re still getting used to each other. We need to see if we’re right together…” There was logic in his words. He was convincing, but Tanya’s gut screamed warning. Rarely did Denis work so hard to persuade her. He’d been the one urging a quick wedding. But she pretended to believe him. After that, Denis became not just a boyfriend, but the perfect boyfriend. He paid attention to details he’d always ignored, as if making up for the cancelled wedding. In shops, he always asked her opinion; he always washed the dishes himself. But he walked around gloomy—not just thoughtful, but truly glum, sighing at night, staring at the ceiling, brushing off Tanya’s questions: “It’s nothing, just tired.” Tanya tried not to push. “Later, later, later,” her inner voice whispered. A couple weeks later, Denis’s parents invited them over. Tanya resisted; she didn’t want to go. Denis wasn’t talking about the wedding anymore, but his parents would surely bring it up—and that would be awkward. But she had to go. And of course, the wedding came up. “So, when will you finally bring us some good news?” his mum asked after his dad left to watch TV. “We’ve already picked a venue for the reception. Table for twenty. What date should we book?” Denis wore the same sour face as Tanya. What was there to book? There’d be no wedding. “Mum, we’ve talked. It’s postponed,” he croaked. “Postponed? How come? Short of money? Denis, as a man, why didn’t you plan ahead?” After dinner, while the men excitedly examined a dismantled, still broken speaker, Tanya headed to the bathroom to freshen up. It was spotless, like an operating theatre. Not a speck of dust. No toiletries except shower gel and shampoo—his mum kept everything else in her bedroom. Tanya always wondered how she had the patience to carry it back and forth. Wiping her face, Tanya listened… The bathroom walls always carried whispers of secrets. Denis was back in the kitchen, talking to his mother. Tanya heard… “Denis, are you planning to break up with Tanya?” Tanya froze, towel pressed to chin. What? She didn’t let herself pretend she’d misheard. Quietly, she pressed her ear to the tiles. “Mum, I told you. We’ve postponed. We haven’t broken up.” “Postponed is just an excuse!” Galina whispered. “I can see you’re in torment. Why do you need her? She’s not wifely. A wife should obey her husband—not behave like that. What’s the point if you’ll just get divorced in a year?” “I love her, Mum,” Denis insisted. Tanya almost melted. But his mother’s next words knocked any sentimentality away. “You say you love her? She’s sly, Denis. I warned you! She’s not even your wife yet and she’s already turning you against us. You’ve stopped helping your sister, you don’t visit the cottage… She’s changing you, and not for the better.” Tanya clung to the cold tile, heart racing. Turning him against his family? When? She’d always tried to be polite, even when Anatoly, his father, had torn apart her new haircut. It hurt, but she kept her mouth shut! Never had she deliberately turned Denis against his family. Quite the opposite—she encouraged him to keep close, knowing how important they were to him. And then it hit her: postponing the wedding? Not about money. His mum, lying to her face, was dead set against their marriage! Tanya hurried to rejoin them. “Ah, Tanya, you’re back! We were just saying you shouldn’t wait too long to make it official. I understand youth, but I don’t approve of living together without a marriage certificate.” How charming of her. “Of course, Mrs Smith,” Tanya smiled. “We won’t postpone for long. Once we’ve saved a bit, it’s off to the register office. Right, Denis?” “Yeah, Tanya, we’re basically already married,” Denis agreed. That night, driving home, Denis tried to put his arm around her but Tanya kept pulling away. She didn’t know how to start the conversation—or whether she should. If Denis hadn’t dumped her at his family’s demand, surely he loved her… but he had cancelled the wedding. “You acted odd when your mum started talking,” she said, watching the city lights fade behind them. “Me? Nah, she’s just rushing the wedding and—” “Don’t lie. She’s not rushing you. She’s completely against our wedding. She said I turned you against them, and that you should break up with me.” Denis’s hands jerked on the wheel. “So you heard? Tanya, my mum’s afraid her little boy will get married and forget her. Classic case. Don’t take it personally. She’ll get over it.” Tanya didn’t take his mum’s words to heart—what worried her was Denis’s reaction. He hadn’t stood up for her; he’d just agreed, rather than argue with his mother. The wedding question remained open. Denis continued looking like he’d bitten a lemon, and now, whenever Tanya mentioned future plans, he always said, “Maybe later…” Then, one day, Denis’s phone was left unlocked. “I’m just checking the time,” Tanya told herself. “I won’t look at his messages. Just a quick glance—” A notification from his sister, Vera, flashed up. Vera was only two years younger than Tanya but acted twelve. No job, no studies, lived off her parents. The message was blunt: “I see, no money for me. She’s got you under her thumb again. Go on, live with her then, if some girl matters more than your family.” Tanya reread it: “She’s got you under her thumb again.” It brought something back… Before the wedding was cancelled, when Vera had called Denis (again) asking for money, Tanya couldn’t help but say: “Denis, she’s twenty-seven, living at home, always asking you for spending money. Maybe it’s time she got a job? Our budget isn’t endless.” She wouldn’t usually butt in, but it was their shared money she contributed as much as Denis—and she hadn’t signed up to bankroll his family. Denis had reluctantly agreed: “Yeah, you’re right, Tanya. Enough’s enough.” Now she saw who was working to turn everyone against her. She copied the message, sent it to her own phone as evidence, and replaced Denis’s mobile exactly where she’d found it. Denis was dusting off snow in the hallway: “Got bread, got your favourite chocolate with hazelnuts. I was thinking, Tanya, maybe we should have—” “Denis,” Tanya cut him off. “What, expecting someone else?” he joked. But Tanya didn’t laugh. “What does Vera mean in her message to you?” she asked. Denis remembered that if you’re about to be cornered, attack first. He erupted, offended: “What, you’re snooping through my phone while I’m out?!” Classic defence tactic—shift the blame. “Doesn’t matter what I was doing, Denis. I want you to explain. Right now.” For a few seconds, his face cycled through all emotions: anger, panic. “Oh, Tanya, don’t worry. She’s still young, sulks about everything.” “She’s sulking because I asked her to grow up?” Tanya pressed. “Well, she’s used to asking me for money. Quite the habit. Hard to break. But don’t stress, she’ll get over it.” “Did she turn your parents against me?” “Well… yes,” Denis admitted. “I tried explaining it’s our money, that Vera should stand on her own feet… But Mum flipped out—Tanya’s got you under her control, you’ve abandoned us for her! But I don’t see it that way…” “But you cancelled the wedding… So she turned your family against me. Got it. I can’t be around them. But what about you? Do you want to marry me, or are you just putting it off because you can’t say ‘no’ to your mum?” “Of course I want to marry you! Just not now… maybe later, when everything’s settled…” That’s your answer. “You know what, Denis, I’ve realised something… I don’t want to marry someone who’s not sure about me and jumps at every whim of his little sister. It’s a good thing the wedding’s off.”

05

Real Son “Lynn, you won’t believe it! Matty and I have decided—we’re off to Turkey again next year!” My stepdad was beaming. “He says he needs that same hotel with the sea view again. What can I do—he’s my son after all.” He didn’t even realise he’d emphasised *real* son. “I’m happy for you both,” she replied, remembering the happier days before Matty appeared. “Real son… You always told me we were a family, that it didn’t matter who was actually related.” He had. He’d said she was his daughter, no matter what. “Not this again, Lynn! You’re my daughter, no question. You know I love you as if you were my own. But Matty…” He didn’t even realise he’d proved her point. “Matty’s the son. And I’m just someone you know, apparently.” “Lynn, don’t be like that! I told you, to me you’re as good as family!” “As good as… But did you ever take me to the seaside? Not once in fifteen years of being my ‘dad’?” He hadn’t. Arthur loved to claim there was no difference between her and Matty, but Lynn saw how much more he did for his actual son. The difference was enormous. “It was never possible, Lynn. You know money was tight. You’re old enough to know what two weeks in a five-star hotel costs… It’s expensive.” “I get it,” said Lynn. “Too expensive to take me. But Matty—who you only met six months ago—you’re willing to get a mortgage to buy him a flat so he’d have a place for a wife. I suppose that’s a ‘minor’ expense, as long as it’s for your son?” “I’m not buying him a flat, who told you that?” “Nice people.” “Well, tell those nice people to stop spreading rumours.” Lynn perked up a bit. “So, you’re really not?” “Of course not. Oh, guess where we’re going Saturday?” He answered himself: “Go-karting! He used to race a bit at uni, I’m just tagging along.” “Go-karting,” Lynn repeated. “Sounds thrilling.” “Exactly!” “Can I come with you?” The words burst out before she could stop them. Arthur clearly hadn’t wanted her along and stammered, “Uh… Lynn… You’d be bored. Honestly. It’s a… bloke thing. Matty and I need to have a father-son talk.” How much that hurt… “So… it’s fun for you, but not for me?” “Not quite… We just—we never spent any time together, and we’re trying to make up for it. Just us two. I hope you understand.” Understand. That was their new, most cruel phrase. She was supposed to understand that real was more important than adopted, and that she should now know her place outside the fence. Matty, in fairness, was amazing. Grew up without a father—his mum had never told Arthur—yet he’d done so well. Smart, handsome, kind. “Dad, I helped at the shelter today—fixing the dog runs.” “Dad, did you know I got a first-class degree?” “Dad, look, I fixed your phone.” He wasn’t just a son. He was the perfect son. That night, after Arthur had left, Lynn sat sorting through old photos—Arthur’s wedding to her mum (who’d died five years ago, leaving her and Arthur alone). Their holiday at the cottage… Lynn’s graduation photo… Nothing would ever be the same again. *** “Lynn, are you up? Got an urgent question.” Arthur turned up at eight in the morning. “What’s so urgent?” Lynn swept her fringe back with a headband and started the coffee machine. “It’s about Matty’s flat.” “So it’s true after all?” she breathed. “Sorry, but yes… true.” “And you lied to me.” “I didn’t want to upset you. But I need your advice! I really think I should hurry. He’ll want to marry someday, needs a place of his own. I remember what it was like for me…” “Just take out a mortgage,” Lynn muttered, who really did not want to discuss buying Matty a flat. What a cushy deal for Matty. “Yes, yes, I know. But you know my credit score… But Matty needs help. He deserves his dad to buy his very first home.” “And what are you getting at?” “Would you help? If I asked?” “Depends how.” “I’ll explain. I’ve got £20,000 for the deposit, but the bank won’t lend to me. You’d get approved. Your credit’s perfect. We’ll put it in your name, I’ll make all the payments. Promise.” The illusion that “there’s no difference” between them shattered for good. There was. They weren’t putting Matty’s neck on the block. “So Matty gets the flat, I get the debt—is that it?” Arthur shook his head, looking so wounded, it was as if Lynn had made the suggestion. “Don’t talk nonsense! I’ll pay. I’m not asking you to do anything but put it in your name. Think about it…” “You know, Arthur, I’m not even thinking about signing the loan. I’m thinking about how you don’t see me as your daughter anymore. Now you have a son. Known him for half a year, known me for fifteen, but that doesn’t matter—he’s *real*.” “That’s not true!” Arthur flushed. “I love you both equally!” “No. Not equally.” “Lynn, that’s not fair! It’s just—he’s my real son…” Curtain. She was done being his daughter. She was the stand-in, acceptable only until the real thing came along. “Fine,” she said politely. “I can’t, Arthur. I’ll need a place myself one day. Can’t take a second mortgage.” Arthur seemed to just remember she had nowhere herself. “Oh, right, you’ll need one too… But for now, before you want to buy your own place, you could help me. I’ve got most of the money, just need a bit more, only for a few years.” “No. I won’t do it.” She didn’t expect Arthur to understand. “All right,” he said. “If you can’t help me as a daughter… so be it. I’ll sort it some other way.” Whether he’d ever really seen her as his daughter no longer mattered. Now she saw Arthur only in photos. One evening, scrolling through social media, she saw it. A photo at the airport. Arthur and Matty, both in light jackets. Arthur, arm on Matty’s shoulder. Caption: “Off to Dubai with Dad. Family is everything.” Family. Lynn put down her phone. She remembered a moment from her own childhood, before her mum met Arthur. She was five. They had little money, and her favourite doll from Grandma broke. She cried, and her ‘real’ father told her: “Lynn, stop crying over nonsense. Don’t bother me.” You never could bother him. He was only ever interested in his bottle. Really, Lynn never had a dad. And thought Arthur had replaced him… Later, Arthur tried once more to persuade her. “Lynn, I think you’re overthinking this trust issue—” “What trust issue, Arthur? I said no.” “You just don’t get it. Matty grew up without a dad. I need to make it up to him. He’s grown up, needs somewhere to live. I’m not asking much—you just need to sign, I’ll pay every penny.” “Who’ll fix my empty spaces, Arthur…” That got to him. “Lynn, enough! I don’t want an argument. I do love you, that’s true! But you must understand—Matty is my real family now. When you have your own kids, you’ll see. Yes, I love you both, just differently, but you matter.” “Sure. As a tool.” “Lynn, cool off! You’re being dramatic.” “You dropped me the moment he turned up, Arthur. I don’t ask you to choose. There’s nothing to choose. You said it yourself—Matty’s your real son. I never was.” Half a year passed. Arthur never called. Not once. One day, scrolling her feed again, she saw a new photo. Arthur and Matty, standing in front of mountains. Arthur in trendy ski gear. Caption: “Teaching Dad to snowboard! He’s a bit old for it, but with a son—anything’s possible!” Lynn stared at the picture a long time. She turned to her desk to finish her report when a message pinged. Unknown number. “Hi, Lynn. It’s Matty. Dad gave me your number—he can’t ring himself. He’s sorted the flat another way, and he’s worried about you. He really wants you to come for the Bank Holiday. He can’t say why, but it matters.” She drafted a reply, deleting and rewriting several times. “Hi Matty. Tell Arthur I’m really glad for him, I’m thinking of him too. But I won’t be coming. I have other plans for the long weekend. I’m going to the seaside.” She didn’t bother mentioning she’d bought that trip herself, and the beach was in Cornwall, not Turkey—and she was travelling with a friend, not a dad. Lynn hit send. And realised she could still be happy, even without him.

02

There Won’t Be a Wedding “Tanya, why are you so quiet today?” she asked as she sipped her tea. “We agreed—we’re going furniture shopping for the bedroom on Saturday. But you seem down. What’s going on?” Denis knew this was the moment. If not now—never again. “Tanya… There’s something I need to say. About the wedding.” Tanya had waited ages for this day. She and Denis had already agreed to keep things simple, but she suspected he wanted to make their wedding special: guests, catering, a real event. She had hoped and hoped for this conversation. “No need for a dramatic build-up,” Tanya smiled. “I think I know what you’re going to say.” But Denis’ answer was not what she’d expected. “Let’s postpone it, Tanya. Let’s put off the wedding.” This was not the talk she had prepared for. “Postpone?” She was stunned. “Why? We just picked our invitations! You were the one choosing them…. We’ve decided who we’re inviting! Did you change your mind about marrying me?” It felt like a scene straight out of a melodrama. Any moment now, he’d say his feelings had faded. But Denis didn’t follow the script. “It’s just… money, Tanya. I’m short on cash, my payday keeps being pushed back. We haven’t managed to save up at all. Plus… we haven’t been living together that long. Six months isn’t much, don’t you think?” “Six months? Denis, we’ve been together three years! Three years dating, half a year under one roof—that’s ‘not long’ to you?” Denis looked more resolved. “Let’s not fight, okay, Tanya? I don’t want a row. It’s just… a pause. I still want to marry you, but a wedding costs a lot.” “Fine… Let’s just go to the registry office together, and celebrate with friends after.” “Tanya, that won’t be a proper wedding.” “Honestly, who cares anymore!” “But you’ve always dreamed of—” “I’ll survive, Denis!” It was such a feeble excuse. “Be honest with me. Is something going on? Are you not sure you love me? Or… is there someone new? Because ‘weddings are too expensive’ doesn’t convince me.” Denis shook his head. “No, Tanya. I swear. I just want our wedding to be perfect. And right now, I just can’t make that happen. And yes—six months together. We’re still learning about each other. Maybe it’s too soon.” His logic… almost convincing. Denis was never usually this desperate to persuade her. He himself had pushed to get married sooner, not later. She pretended to believe him. After that talk, Denis was the model boyfriend—attentive, careful, picking up on all the details he used to ignore as if to make up for cancelling the wedding. At the shops, he asked what she wanted, always did the dishes… But he was gloomy, not just thoughtful, but truly down, sighing at night and brushing off Tanya’s questions with, “Just tired, that’s all.” Tanya did her best not to push. “Later, later, later,” her inner voice insisted. A couple of weeks later, they were invited for dinner with Denis’ parents. Tanya wasn’t keen—she knew the wedding would come up. And Denis’ parents would ask questions. Awkward. But they had to go. Of course, the wedding came up. “So, are you two ever going to make us happy?” his mother asked, as the father disappeared to the TV. “We’ve already found a place for the banquet—table for twenty. Should I reserve a date?” Denis looked as glum as Tanya. What were they reserving a table for? There would be no wedding. “Mum, we’ve told you. We’re postponing it,” he mumbled. “Postponed? What for? Short on money, is it? Denis, as a man, shouldn’t you have thought of that sooner?” After dinner, while the men examined a half-dismantled radio, Tanya headed to the spotless bathroom to freshen up. Not even a dust mote, nor a spot of makeup—his mother always kept all that back in the bedroom. Tanya used to laugh at the ritual of lugging it all in and out. She dried her face—and suddenly tuned in. The bathroom walls could carry every whispered secret. Denis had returned to the kitchen, talking quietly to his mother. “…Denis, you’re not planning to break up with Tanya, are you?” Tanya froze with a towel to her chin. What? She pressed her ear to the chilly tiles, not daring to rustle. “Mum, I’ve said—postponed, not broken up.” “Postponed is just an excuse.” Galina snapped. “I can see you’re miserable. Why are you with her? You know she isn’t a wife. A wife should obey her husband, not constantly question him… Why marry if you’ll just divorce in a year?” “I love her, Mum,” Denis replied softly. Tanya almost felt moved. But the next thing his mother said wiped away any sentiment. “You say you love her? She’s cunning, Denis. I told you! She’s got you turned against us and she’s not even your wife yet. Stopped helping your sister, stopped visiting the cottage… She’s changing you—but not for the better.” Tanya stood frozen, glued to the wall. Turned Denis against them? She always tried to be as polite as possible with his parents, even when his dad had cruelly mocked her new haircut. She’d never, ever tried to come between them. In fact, she’d always nudged Denis to visit more—family was important to him. Then it clicked: postponing the wedding wasn’t about money. His mum was the one behind it all, lying to Tanya’s face, against the wedding. Tanya returned to the kitchen. “Ah, Tanya! We were just discussing how you shouldn’t put off registering the marriage. Youth, yes, but I don’t approve of living together until it’s official.” How sweet. “Of course, Mrs Williams,” Tanya replied warmly. “We won’t leave it too long. Once we save a bit more, off to the registry office, isn’t that right, Denis?” “Absolutely, Tanya. We’re practically married already,” Denis picked up instantly. That night, driving home, Denis reached to hug her, but Tanya slid away. She didn’t know how to start the conversation. Should she? If Denis hadn’t dumped her on his mother’s orders, did he really love her? Yet he’d called off the wedding. “You acted weird when your mum started talking,” she said, watching the streetlights disappear into the distance. “Me? No, she just… wants the wedding to happen, that’s all—” “Don’t lie. She’s not in a hurry for a wedding at all. She’s completely against it. She says I’ve turned you against the family. She wants us to split.” Denis jerked the steering wheel nervously. “So you heard? Tanya, she’s just afraid her son will get married and forget about her. Typical, right? Don’t take it personally. She’ll get over herself.” Tanya didn’t care about a mother-in-law’s possessiveness. It was Denis’ own words that stung—he hadn’t defended her, just agreed to avoid a row. The wedding question hovered, unresolved. Denis remained gloomy, and now, whenever Tanya hinted at plans, he just said, “Maybe, in time…” And then Tanya got the chance to see Denis’ unlocked phone. “I’m just checking the time,” she told herself. “I’m not snooping. I’ll just… glance.” On the screen—a message from his sister, Vera. Vera was only a couple of years younger than Tanya, but acted as if she was still twelve. No job, no studies, living at home with their parents, on their dime. Her message was clear: “So I’m not getting any money then. Under the thumb again, I see. Go live with her then, if some girl’s more important than your own family.” Tanya read it again. “Under the thumb again.” And the memory came back… Before the wedding was off, when Vera had once again asked Denis for cash, Tanya had said, unable to keep quiet: “Denis, she’s 27, living with your parents and asking for pocket money. Maybe it’s time she started her own life? We’re not made of money.” She wouldn’t have cared, but they shared finances, and Tanya contributed as much as Denis. Denis had reluctantly agreed. “You’re right, Tanya. Enough’s enough.” So now it was clear—Vera was turning everyone against Tanya. Tanya took Denis’ phone, copied the message, and sent it to herself to keep the evidence. Then she put the phone back exactly where it was. Denis was shaking snow from his coat in the hall: “I got bread… and your favourite chocolate with hazelnuts. I was just thinking, maybe, we should have gone—” “Denis,” Tanya interrupted. “Yes? Who else were you expecting?” he joked. She didn’t laugh. “What did Vera mean in her message?” she asked. He tried to shift blame, tried to get angry first. “Did you go through my phone while I was out?” Classic defence, Tanya thought. Lay the blame elsewhere. “That doesn’t matter, Denis. I want an explanation. Now.” Denis stood there, face flickering between panic and anger. “Oh Tanya, don’t worry about it. She’s just a kid, always taking offence.” “Offence at what? That I asked her to grow up?” Tanya pressed. “She’s used to coming to her brother for cash. Not easy to break the habit. Forget it, don’t get worked up.” “She got your parents wound up, didn’t she?” “Well… yeah,” he admitted, “I tried to explain it’s our money, that Vera should stand on her own… Mum flipped out—accused you of turning me against my own family. But that’s not what I think…” “But you still called off the wedding. So, what—I can’t get along with your family, I get that. But what do you actually want? Do you want to marry me, Denis? Or are you just putting it off because you can’t say no to your mother?” “Of course I want to marry you! Just… not right now. Maybe later… when it all calms down…” There it was. “You know what, Denis—I finally get it. I won’t marry someone who isn’t sure about me and jumps every time his sister scowls. Maybe it’s for the best—the wedding’s off.”

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📌 Useful Social Services & Contacts in the U.S.

Stay informed and get help when you need it. Below are key national services with direct contacts that may support you or your loved ones:
🏥 Health & Mental Support

SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

What they do: Free and confidential help with substance use and mental health disorders.

Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – 24/7, anonymous support

Website: samhsa.gov

🧒 Support for Children & Families

WIC – Women, Infants, and Children Program

What they do: Nutritional and healthcare support for pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.

Federal Info Line: 1-800-522-5006

Find local WIC office: fns.usda.gov/wic

Family Arrived After I Built My Seaside Retreat.