“I need to explain everything to you, darling…”
“Enjoy your meal!” said Louise, sitting down at the table.
Everyone in the family had their favourite spot. Her husband always faced the window, their twelve-year-old daughter, Sophie, sat opposite, and Louise, as the lady of the house, took her place between them, her back to the stove and sink.
She adored these quiet evenings when the whole family gathered around the table. Mornings were always rushed—everyone hurrying off to work or school, no time for conversation. Louise and her husband ate lunch at their offices, while Sophie stayed home or visited her best friend, whose grandmother baked pies and made hearty stews with dumplings. So, the only real chance to talk, to share their day, was over dinner.
Louise had always wanted a close-knit family. She’d had parents, of course, then a stepfather and a younger sister, but she’d always felt like an outsider, separate from them. Some families just worked that way.
Her father was a vague memory—a quiet man who rarely scolded her but always looked at her with cold indifference. It made her wary of him. Her mother wasn’t much of a talker either, lips always pressed tight, never smiling.
When Louise married, she set her own rules: weekend lunches together, weekday dinners. Not just sitting at the same table, but actually talking, sharing, planning.
Once the plates were nearly empty, Louise asked, “Where should we go for holiday? We need to decide soon—book tickets, find a hotel, or we’ll miss out.”
“Maybe we could stay at my parents’ cottage? Dad asked for help fixing the fence and the roof,” suggested William.
“Oh, but I want to go south—to the seaside!” Sophie whined.
“That costs money, love. We’ve still got the mortgage to pay, and the car needs new tyres. The cottage would save us a fortune. We could always drive to the Cotswolds—it’s lovely in summer.”
Sophie and William both turned to Louise, waiting for her verdict.
“I agree with your dad. Though I do fancy the seaside too.”
“See! I told you!” Sophie beamed.
Just then, the phone rang.
“Yours,” William mumbled around the last bite of his roast dinner.
Louise set her fork down and headed to the living room. It was her mother.
“Mum? What’s wrong?”
“Am I interrupting? Louise, we need to talk. Come over,” her mother said briskly.
“Now? Are you unwell?” Louise’s pulse quickened.
“I’m fine. Just come.” The line went dead.
“What happened?” William asked as she returned to the kitchen.
“Mum called. She wants to talk. Probably something to do with Alice again.”
“Want me to drive you?”
“No, I’ll go myself. Can you pick me up if I need it?”
“Of course.”
Louise hurried out. They didn’t live far—just a few bus stops away. The whole ride, she wondered what urgent matter her mother had. She never asked for advice—why now? A knot twisted in her stomach. Nothing good ever came from these summons.
Her mother opened the door, and Louise knew immediately—she was deeply upset.
“Come to the kitchen. Fancy a cuppa?”
“Just ate, thanks.”
The kitchen was cramped, the table wedged awkwardly against the fridge so they couldn’t sit opposite each other. Instead, they took the corners. As her mother gathered her thoughts, Louise studied the new wrinkles etched into her strained face. Had there been so many last time? Her mother fiddled nervously with a loose thread on her sleeve until Louise covered her hands.
“Mum, relax. What’s this about?”
“Alice called…”
“I knew it.”
Her mother shot her a reproachful look.
“What’s the problem this time? Spit it out.”
“She asked for money.”
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand pounds.”
Louise scoffed. “What for? Thought she married that rich Turkish bloke? Remember how she bragged about him at this very table?”
“Something’s happened with Said’s business. He owes a huge sum. Either he was scammed or robbed—I didn’t quite follow. The money’s urgent, or… they’ll hurt him.”
“Wouldn’t be a great loss,” Louise muttered.
“Louise!”
“Fine, I’ll shut up. But where would we even get that kind of money? Has she forgotten how we live? She boasted about Said’s wealth, his family’s big business. Can’t his father help? They must have relatives to turn to. I always suspected something dodgy about him.”
“Alice said he sold their house—they’re living with his parents now. His father paid part of the debt, but they still need twenty thousand.”
“Pounds? Not euros? Dollars?” Louise laughed bitterly.
“Pounds. I’ve decided. I’ll sell the flat. But I’m scared to do it alone… that’s why I called you. I need your help.”
“Mum, are you mad? Selling the flat—and in a hurry! I’d understand if Alice was in real trouble, but this is for Said. Where would you live?”
“I thought… I could stay with you, if you’ll have me.” Her voice cracked, tears spilling over.
Louise sat frozen. Alice had truly lost the plot, forcing this burden onto their mother. What was she thinking?
“Mum, don’t cry. We’ll figure it out. Maybe Alice should come back here while Said sorts his mess. I’ll scrape together her ticket money.”
“She can’t. She’s pregnant.”
“Again?! Perfect timing.”
“I’ve made up my mind. There’s no other way. I won’t abandon her. I’m not asking for advice—just help to sell the flat quickly.”
“Mum, do you know how long that takes? Paperwork, buyers, moving—it’s not overnight! A rushed sale means losing thousands. Let’s think. There must be another way. I’ll talk to William—we’ll decide what’s best. Don’t work yourself up; you’ll make yourself ill.”
On the bus home, Louise seethed. Alice always got her way. Spoiled rotten, never thinking of anyone else. Twenty thousand—she’d find it somehow. Why drag Mum into it?
Of course, Louise would take her in—no question. Sophie would have to share her room with Gran. She wouldn’t be thrilled.
She’d never liked Said. Handsome, sure. Alice met him in Turkey three years ago on a girls’ holiday. Came back glowing, raving about his mansion, his wealthy family. Said he’d come for her soon.
Neither Louise nor their mother could talk her out of marrying him and leaving. Then Alice announced she was pregnant. Louise had smelled a rat—why would a rich Turk want a English girl, pretty or not? Alice didn’t speak the language, knew nothing of his customs or faith. But no one listened. They assumed Louise was jealous.
And what did Said even do? Big money didn’t come honestly, not even in Turkey. Probably something shady. Mum wouldn’t back down now—she’d end up homeless before letting her favourite daughter suffer.
Louise arrived home wound tight. She and William argued late into the night—where to find twenty grand?
“We’ll get a loan, sell Mum’s flat later, buy her a studio to cover some of it. No seaside holiday this year. No choice.”
“We’ll manage,” William said, squeezing her hand. “Tell your mum not to worry.”
This was why she loved him. No Turkish prince could compare—he stood by her, shouldered her sister’s mess, worried for her mum.
Sleep wouldn’t come. Memories swallowed her whole.
***
Her father left before she turned six. She barely remembered him—stiff as a newsreader, unsmiling. Mum, never chatty, became even quieter after he left, though she never cried. When Gran visited, they’d whisper in the kitchen.
When Louise started school, Gran fetched her after class, fed her, brought her home by evening. Sometimes she slept over, even stayed weekends.
“Am I living with you now?” Louise once asked.
“No, pet. Your mum’s got a new beau. Might work out. God willing.” Gran sighed, stroking her hair.
Then Mum introduced Uncle George—a red-faced man who joked constantly. Mum laughed more with him. They’d stroll in the park, he’d buy her ice cream, helped with homework.
They married, swapped flats with Gran, moved into her two-bedder. Louise got her own room—pure bliss. Short-lived, though. Mum had Alice when Louise was eight.
The world revolved around the screaming baby. Mum was always shushing, always busy. Louise felt forgotten. Gran took her in sometimes, sighing over her.
But Gran never took Alice, even when she grew older. The sisters shared a room, fought constantly. Alice was forgiven everything; Louise scolded for nothing. She vowed then—one child only. All her love, no favourites.
Then Uncle George died in hisLouise closed her eyes, finally at peace, knowing that despite the tangled past, she had built the loving family she’d always longed for.
