**Diary Entry – 12th June**
“No,” he said bluntly. “Weve decided its best if you dont bring your wife and child to this flat. We wont tolerate the inconvenience for long, and in the end, well have to ask you to leave. And then your wife will go around telling everyone we threw you out onto the street with a newborn.”
“Sophie, you look awful. Whats happened?” asked the neighbour.
“Daniel told me the landlady wants us out. Immediately. She rented the place to a childless couple, and now were bringing in a baby. Hell cry at night, the neighbours will complain, and she doesnt want the hassle.”
“Dont you have anywhere else to go?”
“Daniels parents have a three-bed in London, but his younger sister lives there too. My parents are in a villagetwenty miles from the city,” Sophie replied.
“Stay with the in-laws for a week or two while you find somewhere new,” the woman suggested.
“Daniels already looked. The moment landlords hear about a baby, they refuse.”
“Thats a problem. But youve still got two daysyour husband will think of something.”
But Daniel didnt. After a few phone calls ended in rejection, he simply moved their things from the rented flat to his parents house.
His parents and sister, however, werent thrilled. “Son, we agreed before your wedding that you and your wife wouldnt live with us,” his mother said. “Youre welcome in your old room, but we wont have strangers in our home.”
“Sophies a stranger? Shes my wife!”
“Your choice, not ours. We didnt pick her.”
“Mum, its temporaryjust until we find a place.”
“Nothings more permanent than temporary. A week becomes a month, then forever. No. We work, your sister studieswe need proper rest. A crying baby makes that impossible.”
“Ill find something soon,” Daniel promised.
“No. We wont endure it. And if we have to ask you to leave, Sophie will play the victim. We wont have our reputation ruined. Dont even try bringing her here.”
With that, Daniel went to the hospital.
“Sophie, could you stay with your parents for a bit?” he asked.
“Your mum doesnt even want to see her grandson?” she said, stunned.
“She said not to come.”
“Brilliant. Other women get flowers, gifts, family celebrating. Were treated like strays. Unwanted.”
That evening, she called her parents. When she and the baby were discharged, her father came to collect them.
“Pack up, love. Were going home. And you,” he said to Daniel, “bring Sophies things and the babys bits.”
The village was only half an hour away. Everything was readya cot with bunny-printed sheets, a changing table, a rocking chair. The dining table was set for a celebration, just family: Sophies parents, grandmother, and younger sister, Emily.
Daniels family wasnt mentioned. Over lunch, they discussed names and settled on Oliver.
Daniel left after the meal, promising to bring Sophies things the next day. When he returned, her father had news.
“Sophie, Danielweve decided to sell Grans cottage and give you the money,” he said. “Itll be a gift to Sophie, but on one condition: this house goes to Emily in the will. Agreed?”
“Of course.”
The cottage sold in three months. Sophie and Oliver stayed in the village; Daniel visited on weekends. Another six weeks passed before they found a flat, secured a mortgage, and finished renovations.
Moving day was a relief. A month later, they hosted a housewarmingSophies family, her friends, Daniels mates. His parents werent invited. They only heard about it later.
“Son, you invite your country relatives but not us? We havent even met our grandson!” his mother scolded over the phone.
“Turning us away with a newbornwas that family-like?” Daniel snapped.
“We need our rest! But now we can visit, cant we?”
“Why? Olivers nearly six months old. Funny how youre only interested now weve got our own place.”
“Nonsense! Babies all look the same at first. Besides, we thought Sophie and Oliver could stay at our summer housefresh air, no noise. She could tend the garden a bit.”
“Ah. You want a free housekeeper. No thanks. If we want fresh air, well go to Sophies parents.”
Daniels mother and sister first saw Oliver at two and a halfacross a shopping centre. They kept their distance.
Some “grandparents” they turned out to be.
**Lesson:** Blood doesnt always mean family. Sometimes, its the people who show up when you need them most.
