My mother-in-law announced loudly, “Listen, youre not getting this flat.”
She was the loudest of them all, my mother-in-law, and she bellowed, “Youre not having this flat. I dont know how you took care of Grandad, what kind of trick you played to make him sign it over to you, but its not happening. And another thingyoure disappearing from my sons life. Hes finally met a lovely girl from a respectable family. So you and your kids? Gone from the picture. Do you understand me?”
For ten years, I looked after my husbands grandfather, living in a rented flat with the kids. My husbands sister, Lily, lived with Grandad too. His own mother never had time for her husbandthey barely spoke the same language. I never got a degree, never built a career. Every spare minute went to caring for the old man and the children.
My husband cheated on me constantly, and his family situation stressed him out. The other women never stuck aroundman with kids and no money? He always came crawling back. I forgave him, for the kids sake. We never bought our own placemost of our money went on rent and Grandads care. If Lily ever visited, it was just to beg for a bit of his pension, moaning about her money troubles. But somehow, despite everything, they still managed holidays and even a new car every few years.
Five years ago, Grandad left me his flat. He said, “Youve been more family to me than all of them put together. My grandsons a traitorhed hand the flat straight to his mum or his sister. Let my great-grandkids have a better life. Youve earned this.”
No one knew about the willthe fewer people who know, the better they sleep. When Grandad got really poorly, the family suddenly got involved. They started visiting, asking after his health, even offering to help care for himfirst time in years! Grandad wasnt stupid. He knew what they wanted. He played along with a smile and winked at me.
For the first time in ages, I had free time. You cant imagine what its like, walking through town aloneno kids, no pushchair, no wheelchair. Just me. I cherished it. Grandad didnt last long. I still miss that brave old man.
The inheritance battle started almost straight away. His mum and Lily piled the pressure on my husband. “Youll give Lily the flat. Shes lived here for yearsits her home. Then youll get Mums place later. Just give up your claim. Youll have everything in the end.”
My husband believed his mums promises and agreed to walk away. I didnt trust her for a secondshe never cared about anything except Lily and her kids. It hurt, spending ten years caring for Grandad, only for them to swoop in and fight over what he left behind.
I respected Grandads wisdom. Hed gone to the solicitor early and sorted everything.
That evening, my husband came home from work and started packing.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Im done. Im leaving you and the kids. I only stayed to help with Grandad. Now hes gone, hes your problem. Im sick of paying rent. Ive been seeing someone else for ages.” He gave me a smug little wave as he walked out.
Fine. I started packing too, job hunting, sorting our lives. A few days later, his whole family turned upLily, her husband, their kids. They shouted over each other, hurling accusations. His mum was the loudest, of course.
“Everyone shut up! You listen here,” she barked. “First, youre not keeping that flat. I dont know how you tricked Grandad into signing it over, but well prove youre a fraud. Second, youre vanishing from my sons life. Hes finally with a proper woman, theyre expecting a baby. So you and your kids? Disappear. Got it? Hand the flat to Lily and leave my son alone!”
“You know what Ive got?” I said. “The power to kick you all out of my life.”
I shut the door on their noise. My kids and I will be just fineIve got a job, weve got a home. Ill always be grateful to Grandad. My ex can vanish. Well be happy without him. I know itll all work out.
