Just one request
It all started at the doorstep. Hannah always visited her not-quite-grandmother on her birthday, buying a Victoria sponge and a bag of plumsplums were her favourite. Standing outside the block, fumbling for her ringing phone, Hannah was startled by Mrs. Brown from the ground floor:
Hannie, is that you? The old ladys moved out, you know.
Actually, she wasnt Hannahs grandmother; she was the grandmother of Hannahs ex-husband, George. They met at university; George was still living with his grandmother back then. Hannah dreaded meeting her, knowing full well it was an inspection: George had no parents, only his grandmother, whod raised him since he was five. But it was all for nothinghis grandmother welcomed Hannah as if she were her own.
They married in their fifth year of university. On the wedding day, Grandma gifted them something unimaginable: a one-bedroom flat. Yes, it was on the edge of town, fifth floor, no balcony, but it was their own. Shed saved for it all her life, not wanting to interfere with the young ones.
Hannah never had anything of her own. Her stepfather always made sure she didnt eat more than his own children, rationed her water, and scolded her for wasting electricity. At seventeen she found work as a waitress, renting a cramped room barely big enough for a bed. She couldnt live in the student hallher council registration said so. So that one-bedroom flat seemed a palace.
She didnt live in it long. A year after the wedding, rushing home early from her shift (wanting to make breakfast for George), Hannah found a fair-haired girl smoking in her bed, blowing smoke rings to the ceiling, water running in the bathroom. The girl didnt bat an eyelid, merely pulled the duvetwhich had been a Christmas gift from Grandmaup to her chin.
Thats how the five-year relationship ended. Hannah didnt create a scene; the divorce was quiet. The flat, naturally, stayed with George; Hannah didnt push for it, even though the blonde, who attended every divorce meeting, hissed, Get a written note, or shell wind up pregnant by some cabbie and sue for the home!
Whered she move? Hannah asked, dismissing the call.
In your old flat! Georges babys on the way, so they swapped.
Hannah grew anxiousthe old lady struggled to walk after her hip fracture, and the flat was on the fifth floor, nowhere near a lift. How would she manage? After Hannah found the blonde in the flat, she and George had planned to move in with Grandma, to care for her. Now, Grandma would be alone, with no neighbours to help. Everyone knew her here; there was always someone she could ask for help.
News of the baby scratched at Hannahs heartGeorge had refused to have children with her, insisting he still had years to live for himself.
Thanks, Mrs. Brown.
So Hannah waited at the bus stop, clutching the battered handrail for the forty-minute journey, praying she wouldnt crush the cake.
Returning to the flatwhere shed once felt among the happiest on Earthwas sad. Hannah followed her old route, noting subtle changes: a new shop sign, a fenced-off piece of wasteland In the court, a new playground had been set up, and a little boy of about six was sitting by a puddle, his feet plunging into the water.
Im at the seaside! he announced cheerfully.
Hannah smiled, handing him a chocolate bar from her pocket.
Here, Robinson Crusoe!
Of course, Grandma put on a brave face, insisting it was her own idea.
George pops round to buy groceries, drives me to the surgery if I need it, Grandma explained.
And when was he last here? asked Hannah.
Just yesterday, actually.
Hannah knew that was a fibthe rubbish under the sink was bulging and stinking, and the bread on the sideboard couldve hammered in nails.
Ill pop down to the shops, she suggested. I need cheese, just remembered.
That was her own little lie.
Grandma protested, but Hannah insisted. When she left, she deliberately forgot her umbrella, so shed have a reason to come back and visit againshop for groceries, check in. Grandma resisted, reminding Hannah that George visited, but when Hannah caught a cold and stayed away a week, terrified of infecting her, Grandma phoned herself and shyly asked when Hannah would be back.
Travelling often was tough, so Hannah solved it her own way: she struck a deal with the seaside boythe same onefor fifty quid a week, hed take out Grandmas rubbish every day. Groceries were delivered, Hannah bought Grandma a smartphone and taught her how to use the apps. George insisted Grandma couldnt manage, but she did. Hannah visited once a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. Grandma seemed to forget George was ever Hannahs husband, bragging about his new baby, adoring the videos George sent on her new phone.
Have you actually met the great-grandson yet? Hannah asked.
Goodness, hes just a tot!
But on his first birthday, they brought himGrandma asked Hannah to withdraw £300 for the present. In this way, Hannah kept track of Georges visitshis birthday, the childs birthday, Christmas, and April, probably the blondes birthday. Each holiday, Grandma withdrew a tidy sum as a gift.
Grandma tried to slip Hannah money as well, but Hannah always refused.
Ill be very cross with you, Hannah insisted.
One day, Grandma said,
All right. But then promise me, just one requestI wont try and force money on you anymore.
What is it?
Ill tell you later.
Later it was. And Hannah agreed.
When Patrick entered Hannahs life, Grandma found out first. Hannah barely spoke to her own motherher mother had begun drinking with the stepfather, always berating Hannah, calling her a failure.
You let a bloke with a flat slip awaydont come crying, youll spend your life squashed in a bedsit!
Patrick had no flat. But he promised hed earn one. He was five years younger, and Hannah turned him down for ages, but finally gave in. He was kind and cheerful, and his family embraced Hannah at once. They lived in a little house on the towns edge, and besides Patrick, there were five brothers.
I wasnt brave enough to try for a seventh girl, his mother said, smiling bittersweetly. Ill wait on a granddaughter. So, are you one of those career women, or do you want children?
Id love children, confessed Hannah.
Well, Ill expect a granddaughter then. Patricks our sensible one, the rest are terrors!
They married simply, no fuss; their savings took them travelling. Hannah worried about Grandma, but what could she do?
Her worries were justified. No one knew how it happenedmaybe Grandma felt unwell and tried to seek help, maybe she attempted the stairs for rubbish herself… They found her on the staircase, already cold.
Hannah knew she shouldnt cry, shouldnt fretshed just done a pregnancy test, been overjoyed, planned to tell Grandma But how not to cry? If she hadnt gone away, nothing would have happened! And she missed the funeral; George hadnt even told her, though he knew she still visited Grandma. Hannah didnt call him to quarrel.
Instead, Georges wife rang a few days later.
Think youre clever, do you? Well see you in court and show she was mad when she wrote it!
Hannah was cluelessthrough a haze of insults, she realized it involved some flat.
The next day, the solicitor called. He invited her to read the will. Grandma had even left a letter.
Hannah read it, tearfully. Grandma wrote so many warm words, so much gratitude, it made Hannah uncomfortableshe hadnt done it for thanks, but because she genuinely loved Grandma as family. She had no one else to love. Here is my request, the one I mentioned: please accept this flat, for I have nothing else to give you.
Hannah thought Grandma meant the one shed lived in, but the solicitor clarifiedit was the two-bedroom flat George and the blonde inhabited. The one-bedroom belonged to George, Grandma had gifted it to him.
Asking for time, Hannah discussed everything with Patrick. She didnt want the flat: she hadnt the energy for threats and calls, didnt want to risk her child. But not honouring Grandmas request felt wrong. Long debates led them to an answer.
They invited George and his wife to the solicitor, first consulting him. He called Hannah foolish, but didnt argue.
Georges wife launched herself at Hannah, would have thrown punches if Patrick hadnt stood beside her, showering her with threats.
Now, hush! George suddenly snapped. She earned it fair and square. Three years she looked after Grandma.
Hannah was speechlessshed rehearsed a speech for George.
Theres nothing to discuss, he said. Well shift our things, leave the flat. He avoided her gaze.
So Hannah shared her plan: she didnt want to upend their lives, she’d be content with the one-bedroom on the edge of town. The solicitor would arrange everything, it simply required Georges consent.
For the first time, George looked at Hannah, guilt in his eyes.
His wife calmed down immediately, demanding coffee and biscuits since she’d been kept waitingHannah couldve said earlier, instead of bothering her.
Hannah had a baby girl. She named her Grace, after Grandma. Patricks mother was over the moonthere would be more granddaughters, but Grace would always be the favourite…
