Hey, you wont believe what happened at my inlaws place last weekend, I started, chuckling as if we were on the sofa together. Simon asked to borrow our flat while theyre doing a fullon renovation I said no straight away.
Pass the herring under a coat, will you? Simon said with a wide grin, loosening the belt on his trousers. Mums cooking is proper delicious, not like my wife Blythes. She could only manage frozen dumplings.
Blythe, sitting opposite him, shot him a scorching look but stayed quiet, just clinking her fork against the plate. The dining room in my motherinlaw Noras house was buzzing with the usual Sundaylunch chaos: clatter of cutlery, the TV murmuring in the background, and the unmistakable scent of roast meat.
Olivia nudged the salad bowl toward us, careful not to elbow her husband David. He sat silently, eyes fixed on his plate, chewing a piece of bread with a guilty, nervous look the same one he gets when he forgets to pay the broadband bill or scratches the car bumper by accident.
By the way, Dav, Olly, Simon boomed, piling a massive spoonful of salad onto his plate without even pausing for a bite. Weve been talking with Mum and Blythe, and weve decided its time for a major overhaul. Our threebed flat is a nightmare leaking pipes, sparking wiring, and the wallpaper is still from the previous owners. The builders start next Monday, so well have to crash at yours for a while.
Good for you, Olivia replied politely, sipping her homemade compote. Renovations are a pain but theyre necessary. Congrats.
Exactly! Simon waved his fork. Well be tearing down walls, pouring new floors. Its impossible to live there with kids dust, cement, the lot. So well be staying with you.
Olivia choked on the compote, coughing as David pat her back anxiously. The room fell silent except for Simons chewing.
Excuse me, did I hear that right? Olivia wiped her lips with a napkin and stared straight at David. You want to live in *our* twobedroom flat? The one where David and I sometimes bump into each other?
No, not your flat, Simon brushed off the question like a fly. Why would we cram in there? Youve got that spare place, Grandmas old onebed on Maple Street. Its empty, right? Well move in for three or four months until the mess is cleared out.
Olivia placed the napkin down slowly. That flat on Maple Street was hers outright, inherited from her grandmother in a derelict state. Shed spent three years pouring every spare pound into it, doing the work herself on weekends, ripping down old wallpaper, painting, sanding the parquet. Just a week ago shed finally finished, bought a new sofa, hung curtains, and was about to let it go on the market to clear her car loan.
Simon, Olivias voice turned icy, the Maple Street flat isnt vacant. Ive already listed it, and viewings are booked for Tuesday.
Come on, cancel those viewings! Nora interjected, adding a side note for her son. Family needs help. Its not about money. You cant earn everything, but a brothers a brother. Where else would they go with two kids, the train station?
Why the train station? Olivia asked, puzzled. Theres rental housing, daily or monthly. The property markets huge.
Youve seen the prices? Blythe shrieked, finally speaking up. People are asking thirty pounds for a tiny studio on the outskirts! And we still have to buy building materials, pay the crew. Our budget is tight to the last penny. We cant afford rent when the flat sits empty!
Olivia glanced at David, who curled up, trying to become invisible.
David? she called. Did you know about this plan?
David flushed deep red and muttered without looking up, Ol, they asked I said wed talk about it. I didnt promise anything. Its just the situations tricky. The kids need a good school, the areas convenient. Maybe we could let them stay? Theyre family, after all.
Inside Olivia, everything boiled over. Theyd already discussed everything behind her back, earmarked her property, solved their cash problems using her flat, and now she was left with a plate of herring and a choice.
Alright then, Olivia sat up straight. The flat is for rent. I need the money to clear my car loan £250 a month. If you, Simon, are willing to pay market rate, Ill give you a family discount, but I wont lower the price any further.
Simon stopped chewing, his eyes widening in genuine outrage. Youre going to charge us for using your brothers place? Have you no conscience? Were doing the renovation! We need help, not your rent!
I have a loan to pay. My bank doesnt care about your work, Olivia retorted.
Nora! the motherinlaw bellowed, slamming a wooden spoon onto the pot. How could you be so selfish! I took you in like a daughter, and youre acting like a mercenary! Blythe and Simon have two kids they need comfort! Youre being stingy about your little flat. What will happen to it? Theyll move in and then move out.
My little flat, as you put it, has brandnew designer finishes, modern appliances, and a white sofa, Olivia shot back. I know how your grandchildren behave. Last New Year at your place ended with a broken TV and paintedover hallway walls. Who paid for that? Nobody. Just kids. I wont let them move into a flat I poured my heart and a thousand pounds into.
Thousands, you say! Simon leapt up. David, can you hear this? Your wife thinks a sofa is more important than blood! Are you a man or what? Tell her!
David looked pitifully at his wife. Ol, maybe maybe theyll be careful. Blythe will keep an eye on things. Its awkward to say no, Mum will be upset.
Olivia stood, grabbed her purse, and said, Im not happy sleeping on the ceiling, David. Deciding what to do with my own property is exactly what Im doing. This conversation is over. My flat isnt a charity. Thanks for the lunch, Nora. It was tasty, but Ive lost my appetite.
She walked out, the room echoing with Noras angry shouts and Blythes muttering. David chased after her a minute later, just as she was calling the lift.
Ol, wait! You cant just walk out like that! Theyre hurt! he pleaded.
Let them be hurt. David, get in the car, or stay here and argue how Im a monster, Olivia snapped, heading for the door.
The drive home was silent. David was fuming, Olivia was seething. Later that evening, after the heat had died down a bit, David tried again.
Ol, I get that youre worried about the renovation, but we could draw up an agreement. If anything gets broken, well replace it.
Olivia laughed, a bitter laugh. David, you hear yourself? What agreement? Your brother cant even remember the fivethousand pounds he borrowed for a birthday cake two years ago. He still says he forgot. And now you want to hand over your flat for a week of dust and cement? No, thanks. Thats it.
The next week turned into a cold war. Nora called daily, sometimes crying, sometimes threatening a heart attack, sometimes shaming Olivia. Blythe sent nasty messages about greedy Londoners, even though shed lived in the city for ten years. Simon just ignored everything, hoping David would pressure his stubborn wife.
On Tuesday Olivia showed the Maple Street flat to a young couple two IT freelancers who loved the bright interior, fast broadband, and none of the old granny rugs. They signed the tenancy on the spot, paid the deposit and first months rent, and Olivia finally could say, Flat let, people living here.
Wednesday evening, when Olivia got home from work, she found a bizarre scene: two huge checkered duffel bags in the hallway, and David and Simon lounging in the kitchen, a halfempty bottle of whisky on the table.
Look whos arrived, the lady of the copper mountain! Simon slurred, already merry. Were celebrating a fresh start.
Olivia stared at David, who looked guilty yet oddly determined the alcohol had given him false bravado.
Ol, we talked, he began, words tangled. Simon explained the situation. Their crew starts tearing down walls tomorrow. They really have nowhere to go. I gave him the spare keys that were in my bedside drawer. Theyll just drop off some stuff, stay at your mums for a couple of days while they sort things out. Ill pay any penalty later.
What keys? Olivia asked quietly.
The ones to your flat. The spare set. Dont be angry. Theyre only bringing furniture, staying at Noras for a few days. I told them youd sort the tenancy. Cancel the deal, Ill cover the penalty later.
Olivia turned to Simon, who was grinning like a cat who got the cream. Hed outmaneuvered his brother, ignored her wishes, and now celebrated in her kitchen.
Give me the keys back, Olivia said, reaching for them.
No way, Simon laughed. Theyre already with Blythe. Shes off to the flat to wash the floors, hang the curtains. Your place is a mess, isnt it? Kids love it.
What?! Blythe is in my flat? Olivia blurted, feeling heat rush to her face.
Yep. Weve already taken a couple of boxes. David helped.
Olivia turned to David. You moved their stuff into my flat knowing Id already let it go? Knowing tenants move in tomorrow morning?
Ol, the tenants will wait! Theyll find another place. My brothers family needs a roof! David tried to grab her hand, she recoiled.
She fished out her phone, hands shaking, and dialed the police.
Hello, police? I need to report an illegal entry. I have the title deeds, the spare keys were stolen. My address is 12 Maple Street, London, she said, eyes never leaving David.
Simon choked on whisky. David leapt up, chair crashing behind him.
What are you doing?! Which police? This is Blythe! he shouted.
I dont care who it is, Olivia replied into the phone, Im coming with a warrant. Evict the trespassers.
She hung up, then addressed the family. You have half an hour to call Blythe and tell her to clear out. If shes still here when I return with the police, Ill file a theft and burglary report. And you, David you can go back to mum, or the train station I dont care. Youre not living in my flat any more.
Silence fell. David looked like a stranger hed known for five years, pitiful and distant.
Pack your things. Leave, Olivia said, voice steady. Youre done.
Simon lunged, fists clenched. Youre tearing our family apart over some bricks! Ill smash your face!
Try it, Olivia stepped forward, fury blazing. Ill sue you. My solicitors topnotch. Ill ruin you legally. Call your wife. Fast!
Simon, muttering curses, grabbed his phone. Blythe? Tell her weve got the police. Get out of here.
Olivia slipped on her coat, stalked out of the kitchen, and David grabbed her arm.
Olivia, Im sorry! I was drunk, I didnt think! Cancel the police, please! Dont disgrace us!
Youve disgraced yourself, David. You stole my keys and handed them to people who dont respect me. You betrayed me, she said, slamming the door.
When she pulled up to her flat on Maple Street, a police car was already parked outside. Blythe sat on the steps with two kids, shouting into her phone so loudly the officers could hear, Your wifes a monster! Ill curse her! Olivia showed her ID and the title deed saved on her phone.
Thanks for coming. Looks like the occupants have left, but Id like to check the propertys condition with you, she told the officer.
Inside, the flat was a mess: the white curtains ripped off and tossed in a corner, a dark stain on the sofa where someone had stood in shoes, crumbs and sticky soda traces on the kitchen table.
Are these your relatives? the young constable asked, eyeing the chaos.
No, just strangers, Olivia answered firmly. Ive changed the locks tonight, called a locksmith, paid a premium for an emergency call, and now I can finally sleep easy.
The next morning the new tenants called. Olivia explained the brief incident with her relatives, offered a small discount for the first month because of a coffeestain on the sofa (which, luckily, washed out). They were understanding and moved in without a hitch.
David tried to come back. He slept in his car under the kitchen windows, sent massive bouquets to her workplace, wrote endless apology texts. Nora kept calling, shouting that Olivia had broken a mothers heart and left the grandchildren homeless. Simon sent threatening messages about the world being round, but after Olivia forwarded his words to a solicitor friend who called him out on blackmail, he fell silent.
A month later Olivia filed for divorce. In court David looked gaunt and older.
Olivia, cant we just fix this? All because of the flat isnt that silly? he asked quietly as they waited for the clerk.
It isnt about the flat, David. Walls are just walls. Its about you sacrificing my boundaries, helping your brother at my expense, stealing keys thats not silly, thats a breakdown of our relationship, Olivia replied, looking past him.
He tried to plead for sympathy, saying his brothers family was struggling, paying skyhigh rent in a tiny council flat, the renovation costs were crushing. Olivia simply said, Thats their life. My life is different. I need people who respect me.
The judge split everything quickly. The Maple Street flat stayed with Olivia, along with her car. David kept his mother and his brothers problems, which now became his own, as Simon had to stay with Nora for a while, turning her life into the very nightmare theyd warned Olivia about.
Six months later Olivia met a friend in a café, sipping cappuccino and laughing.
Guess what? I ran into an old acquaintance yesterday, the friend said. Your ex is still paying that car loan he took for his brothers renovation. The renovation never got finished, the money vanished, theyre squabbling daily. Blythe moved back to her mum, took the kids. And David lives with his mum, hearing every day how bad I was, but how nice it was when he lived with me.
Olivia smiled, stirring the foam. You know, I dont even feel sorry for them. I sometimes drive past that flat on Maple Street, see the lights on, the tenants happy, a little plant on the windowsill. I think, what a relief I didnt stay quiet. What a relief I chose myself.
She checked her phone the rent money had arrived, right on time, as always.
Heres to us, smart and brave! her friend raised her cup.
And to good locks, Olivia laughed, clinking glasses.
