“Mum, are you seriously giving our flat to your sons brother? And then youll come live with me? I wont let you in!”
“Dont even think about it! Mum, are you out of your mind? Can you hear yourself? Hell kick you out the second he gets the chancehow can you not see that?”
“Sophie, dont argue with me! My minds made up!”
At first, her mother held firm, projecting independence, certainty in her decision. Then she burst into tearsbecause deep down, she knew she was being unfair to her own daughter.
The truth was, Matty, Sophies younger brother, had always been the favourite. Elena had had him in her thirties, settled, deliberate. Sophie had been the product of youthful recklessness.
So her attitude toward her daughter was simpleshe existed, and that was enough. Sophie was raised mostly by her grandmother while Elena finished her degree.
But Matty? Planned. Wanted. A second marriage, motherhood enjoyed properly.
Sophie saw it all. What she didnt understand was why her mother made no effort to hide the divide. Most parents at least pretended fairness. Not hers.
And then she had the nerve to wonder why Sophie and Matty had never been close. As if there werent reasons.
Matty got the best of everythingalways. Sophie made do, never allowed to complain.
More money, too. Hes the man, after all. Never mind that he was years younger.
“Remember thisMatty will provide for his own family one day. Until then, its my duty to help him!”
“And what about me?”
“You? Your job is to marry well and hold onto your husband,” her mother said flatly, setting the table.
Sophie argued backshe had no intention of depending on a man. She wanted to grow, to build a career.
“What nonsense! Are you even listening to yourself?”
“Whats so funny about that?”
“No one in this familys ever thought that way.”
“Then Ill be the first.”
Sophie didnt understand her mothers logic, nor did she want to. Soon after, she moved into a rented flata breath of fresh air. Living under the same roof had become unbearable.
Neither her mother nor Matty seemed to mind. More space for them.
Five years passed. Sophie bought a flat, paid off the mortgage.
Matty still lived at home. Brought his wife into the same flat. Then came a baby.
Elena had always been the type to make dountil she didnt.
“Can you believe it? The neighbours got a dishwasher now. Well, not herher kids bought it for her.”
“Thats nice.”
“Id love one, but I darent even mention it!”
“Why?”
“Mattys works gone shaky. Any day now, hell be let go, and Alicehis wifeshes on maternity pay. Its barely anything.”
Matty had another habithis money was his. He was perfectly content living off his mother, as if groceries materialised on their own.
“Matty, when are you going to grow a conscience?” Sophie snapped when she ran into him at the supermarket.
He was loading up on beer and crisps before a football match.
“Whats your problem?”
“You could at least help Mum! Her pension isnt endless. Do you even realise she buys all the food?”
Matty looked away, because he knew she was right.
“Whats it to you? You dont even live with us.”
“I feel sorry for Mum!”
“Feel sorry for yourself. No husband, no family. Who are you to lecture anyone?”
With that, he walked off. Sophie stood frozen. Matty knew exactly where to strike.
At thirty-five, Sophie had never married. The man shed loved for years had cheated. She wasnt ready to try again.
“You alright, love?” the cashier asked.
“Fine. Thanks.”
Sophie knew she was right. Matty wasnt a boy anymore. He was a man, a father. Time to take responsibility.
“Sophie, how dare you speak to him like that?” Elena hissed later.
“Mum, I was standing up for you.”
“Did I ask you to? Matty came home in a rage! Weve got a baby herehave you no sense?”
“Me? What did I do?”
Sophie didnt know how to respond.
“You shouldnt have said anything. You know how sensitive he is.”
Funny, how Elena always defended Mattynever once considering her daughters feelings.
Six months passed without contact. Then, out of nowhere, her mother called. Asked her to visit.
Nothing had changed. No dishwasher.
“Wheres Matty and Alice?”
“Anniversary party. Im minding little Alex. Tea?”
“No thanks. What did you want to talk about?”
“Ive made a decision. Im giving the flat to Alex.”
Sophie almost laughedsurely a joke.
“Youre giving our flat to Mattys son? Mum, are you hearing yourself?”
“Sophie, dont argue! Its decided.”
Sophie tried to explain the consequences. Elena wouldnt budge.
“So not only do you wait on them hand and foot, now youre signing over the flat?”
“Dont exaggerate. Im just helping.”
“And whats Alice doing?”
“Looking after the baby. Harder than any job.”
“Did she tell you that? Because all I see are social media posts.”
“You dont understand, Sophie! No children of your ownits easy for you to judge.”
Sophie regretted coming. Six months apart, nothing had changed.
“I see youve got a new car. On finance?”
“No. Paid outright.”
“Really? Couldnt help your brother? You know hes been laid off.”
Sophie marvelled at her mothers logic. Matty was a grown man. His family, his responsibility.
“What are you implying?”
“Im saying it plainly. You couldve bought Alex a proper bed. And I need a dishwashermy hands ache from scrubbing.”
“I should go.”
As Sophie turned to leave, Elena kept griping.
One last question.
“Mum, if you put the flat in their name, theyll evict you. Where will you go?”
Elena refused to listen.
“Oh, Sophie. So stubborn! Alex is my only grandchild! Youll never give me onenever marry, either. No surprise. That temper of yours! Always thinking of yourself!”
Sophie gave up. If they were so perfect, let them buy the dishwasher.
Shed made her own way. Hard, but what choice was there? Elena had made her decision long ago.
Well then. As you make your bed, so you must lie in it. Foolish womanold age isnt far off…
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