I’ve looked after my husband’s grandfather for ten years. All that time, we were renting a flat with our children. My husband’s sister, Emily, was living in the grandfather’s flat back then. No one ever seemed to care about himnot his daughter, nor his grandchildren. My life hadn’t exactly gone to plan; I never finished university because I became pregnant, and any hope of building a successful career slipped away.
Each day seemed to blur into the next, balancing caring for Granddad and raising my children.
My husband barely tolerated the tension at home and would often disappear for a drink. He never attracted the attention of other womenafter all, he had a couple of kids and no house of his ownso in the end, he always came back to me. I forgave him, even though the love was long gone. I did it so he’d hand over some money for the children and the old man. Emily visited us rarely, and only for one reason: to ask Granddad for his pension or to moan about her financial woes. Though truth be told, she and her family werent strugglingthey didnt pay rent and managed holidays abroad now and then.
Five years ago, Granddad left his flat to me in his will: “Youve become more precious to me than the rest of my family put together. My grandson is spinelesshed just pass the flat off to his mother or sister. Let my great-grandchildren live here instead; its a token of gratitude for your care. At least you wont be cursing me for wasting your life away.”
No one else knew about this. Once Granddads health took a turn, both his daughter and granddaughter suddenly started visiting regularly. They saw which way the wind was blowing and put on a real show of concern. Granddad, however, wasnt dafthe knew exactly what they were up to.
After he passed, the family started arguing over the inheritance straight away. My mother-in-law and Emily managed to talk my husband into giving up the flat, stating that Emily was the one who lived there. He agreed, but none of them knew about Granddads will.
The very next day, my husband started packing and told me hed found another woman, that hed only stayed with me for his grandfathers sake. He left, and I felt this incredible weight lift from my shoulders. When my in-laws found out about the will, all hell broke loosethey bombarded me with threats.
“Listen, youll never get that flat. I dont know how you looked after Granddad or how you tricked him into changing his will, but youre not getting it. Youre a real con, and well prove it in court. Leave my son alone, hes finally got himself a beautiful new girlfriend!”
But you know what Ive realised? I can finally tell all of them to get lost and not look back. So thats what I did. Their words didnt hurt in the slightest. Now I have a job, a home for me and my children, and most importantly, Ive got nothing to do with that family anymore.
What would you have done in my place?
