*”Hey, Natalie, can you come over? Im not feeling well.”*
*”Hey, Natalie, can you come over? Im not feeling well. Dennis and Stacey left little Kyle with me and went outI cant get hold of them.”*
*”Again? Bloody hell! Ill be right there, Mum.”*
Half an hour later, Natalie was at her mums place.
*”My blood pressures up, and I cant bring it down. My heads pounding”*
*”Should we call an ambulance?”*
*”No need, I just need to lie down. But Kyle wont let mehes bouncing off the walls, into everything. Hes too little to understand.”*
Natalie took her grandson into the other room.
*”Those two just swan off again, leaving a toddler with his poorly great-grandma. Makes my blood boil.”*
*”Mums getting onits hard for her to look after a child. But those two couldnt care less. All they think about is boozing and gallivanting.”*
An hour later, her son and his wife rocked upclearly worse for wear.
*”Dennis, Nan was ill, and you werent answering your phone! Why dump Kyle on her again?”*
*”Mum, relax! Nans just being dramaticshes tough as old boots!”*
*”Dont you dare speak like that! You two have no shame! First, you move in here, then you saddle an old woman with your kid!”*
*”Well, you wont sell your place and buy us a flatwhere else are we supposed to live?”*
*”How about you both get jobs? Kyles old enough for nurserythey take kids from two. Sort yourselves out!”*
*”We *are* workingStacey and I run a blog. Once it takes off, well be rolling in it. Just gotta wait. Weve put money into adsany day now.”*
*”Oh, pull the other one! The internets crawling with wannabe influencers! Dad and I cant afford to buy you a flatyou know that. Shouldve thought before starting a family.”*
*”Not my fault Stacey got pregnant so quick! Had to marry her, didnt I?”*
*”Oh, so its *not your fault*? Did I knock her up, then?”* Stacey slurred, reeking of booze.
*”Oh, dont start! I told you to use protectionyoure the one who messed up!”*
*”Ive had enough of your drunken nonsense. Im leaving. And show Nan some respect!”*
Natalie checked on her mumshe was asleep. The pills had worked.
*”Keep it down, Nans sleeping. Right, Im off.”*
Everything went pear-shaped after they found out Stacey was pregnant.
They had a quick, low-key weddingjust close family.
They refused to rent and instead talked Nan into letting them move in.
*”Nan, youve got two bedroomswell fit fine. Staceyll help outcooking, cleaning, shopping.”*
*”What, youd say no to your own grandson? Once were on our feet, well buy our own place. Wont be long.”*
*”Love, Im used to my peace. You two are noisymusic, mates over. And now a baby? My hypertension wont cope.”*
*”Itll be fine! Youll get to dote on your great-grandkid!”*
Natalie only found out after theyd moved in. Theyd begged Nan not to tell, knowing shed object.
*”Sweetheart, dont shout. Theyll stay a bit, then go. Better than the streets.”*
*”You shouldnt have agreed. Dennis needs a job, not this lazy act. Living off child benefit and handouts from Staceys parents.”*
Hed dropped out of unino degree, unfit for the army due to asthma. Now hes lost the plot entirely.
Natalie never refused to babysit, but when they started dropping Kyle off daily, she snapped.
*”Youre the parents*you* spend time with him! Off gallivanting, filming nonsense. Once or twice a week, fineIve got my own life.”*
So they left Kyle with Nan instead. It wore her out, but Dennis always promised it wouldnt happen again.
*”Natalie, did you know your mums gone viral?”*
She blinked at her colleague. *”What? She doesnt even use the internet.”*
*”Dennis films her answering daft questionsdead seriousthen they mock her. Comments are horrified. Bet they film her in secret.”*
Natalie saw red. This was beyond cheeky.
She stormed out and called Dennis.
*”Why are you filming Nan and posting it online? Have you lost your mind?”*
*”Whats the big deal? Its trending! She just answers questionswhats hard about that? Staceys idea. Walking contentthe views are mental!”*
*”I dont care! Take those videos downnow! Its cruel!”*
*”How? Shes helping us grow the accountfaster we earn, faster we move out.”*
*”Solve your own problems! Humiliating Nan for clicks? No conscience! Delete them, or youre out on the street.”*
*”Cheers, Mum. Real supportive. Not deleting anything. The blogs blowing upads are rolling in. Stay out of it!”*
He hung up. *Absolute reprobate.*
That evening, she told her husband. He was livid.
*”Lets goIll talk sense into him.”*
Dennis was home; Stacey was out with Kyle. Nan was resting.
*”Whats this about? Were finestop listening to busybodies. Everyone hustles these days!”*
*”Not by exploiting your nan! Delete those videosnow!”* Natalie shouted.
*”Mum, Im an adult. I dont need your permission.”*
*”Oh, an adult? Then move out! Stop leeching off Naneven asking for her pension! Shameless!”*
*”She offered! Besides, when shes gone, the flats mine. Why rent when we can wait?”*
Natalie and her husband froze. *The audacity.*
*”Its *my* flatIm her daughter! After this, Ill think twice about leaving it to you. Prove you can support a family first. And take those videos down!”*
*”Fine, whatever! Well gobut you wont see Kyle again!”*
But next day, Dennis stayed. Nan intervened.
*”Natalie, its my flat. I let them stay. Ive gotten used to them.”*
*”Mum, you need peace. Dennis is taking the mickdont defend him.”*
*”I watched the videosnothing bad. Let him film. Might earn something.”*
Natalie was stunned.
*”Your choice, Mum. But dont come complaining later.”*
Two weeks later, Nan took a turn. The ambulance came too late.
*”Mum Nans gone. They said her heart gave out.”*
*”What? So sudden? She was fine yesterday Were on our way.”*
Natalie was shattered. No goodbye.
At the funeral, Dennis weptgenuinely, she thought. Hed loved Nan, despite everything.
*”Mum Nan signed the flat over to me. A deed of gift. She decided herself. You should know.”*
Natalie was stunned. *Well thats that.*
Days later, she went to collect Nans things. The door was ajar. In the bedroom, Stacey was on the phone.
*”Marina, living with that old bat was torture! Always moaningKeep quiet, watch Kyle.”*
*”I want a proper life now*our* flat. Cant afford a mortgage, blogs peanuts. Denniss getting a jobwholl hire him? Weakling with asthma.”*
*”When she took ill, he was out. Asked for pills, an ambulanceI stalled. Gave her the wrong meds. Only called when she started gasping. Thats what finished her.”*
*”Shed already signed the flat overI guilt-tripped her. Dennis thinks it was her idea.”*
*”Only telling youyoure my sister. Now weve got our own place! If only my mother-in-law would sod off”*
Natalie burst in, livid.
*”You
