James brings his fiancée, Emily, to live in the countryside. Hes inherited his grandmothers old cottage in a quiet English village. The young couple soon settles in, getting to grips with looking after the place and starting up their own little holding. Out of the blue, Jamess sister, Charlotte, decides to visit from Londonbringing her three children in tow.
I used to live here too, you know! Charlotte says, grinning at her brother. Used to come stay with Gran during the summers. Now I fancy a break by the seaside! I think Ill leave the kids here with you two in the village.
What? Whos meant to watch them? James asks, taken aback. Were both at work…
Suddenly, a commotion erupts outside. James glances through the window, and what he sees makes him freeze.
James had brought Emily to the same village where hed grown up, and into the house left to him by his late grandmother.
Have a think, Emily, hed said, do we make a life here, or pack up and rent somewhere in the city?
It wasnt much of a choice. James had nothing in London, except a cramped box-room in Charlottes flat where he shared space with her eldest son.
Charlotte never made him feel welcome. Once a month, when he handed over almost all of his paycheque as rent, shed soften for an evening or two, but mostly shed nitpick about every little thing.
And she had plenty of demands.
Every weekend, James was expected to beat the dust out of carpets, fluff up duvets, and take three nephews and niecesaged one, three, and sixout for walks.
Charlottes husband was either away at university in Manchester, loitering with mates down the pub, or off hiding with his own parents to have some peace.
Emily knew it all. She knew that James, despite a decent job and a steady wage, rarely had cash to spare. It all went to his sister.
When he and Emily started dating and he kept a few pounds back for himself, Charlotte nearly chucked him out. He had to work an extra fortnight to appease her and hand over more money before he could finally leave.
For Charlotte, James was convenienta source of cash, free cleaning, and endless childcare.
She grumbled for a week when James said enough was enough, then turfed him out when he refused to give her his next paycheque.
James turned up at Emilys bedsit, suitcase in hand.
The village welcomed them warmly enough, though neither had family nearby. But James remembered plenty of faces from childhood summers with Gran.
His mother lived in another county altogether, and Emilys parents were even further afield. Help wasnt coming from anywhere else.
They quietly married, made a home for themselves. Emily got a job at the village nursery, and James took work at the sawmill.
The elderly lady next door gave them a goatshe couldnt look after it herself anymore.
The goat was a gift, as long as they remembered to drop off a pint of milk a day in return. Soon, they had hens and a few sheep as well.
Money wasnt great, but they got by, thanks to what they produced themselves and a few sewing jobs Emily picked up. Life, if not luxurious, was content.
Their little boy, Oliver, was three, and Emily had just returned to work from maternity leave. The hardest years were behind them.
Then, just as things were rolling along, Charlotte decided to visit.
Shed never called in since James moved away, the children much bigger now. As for her husbandhe stayed with his parents, as ever.
I used to stay here too, you knowId visit Gran, Charlotte said, looking around the cottage.
Not for long, though, James replied. Youd always kick up a fuss after the first week, and Mum or Dad would have to fetch you. Me, I stayed all summer.
What was there to do here? Boring, to be honest. Anyway, Im heading to the coast for a break now.
You always loved the seaside, James said. Mum and Dad always took you with them.
Ill leave the kids with you in the village while Im gone, then! Charlotte announced.
Whos going to look after them? James repeated, incredulous. Were both working. Sometimes Im gone for days.
Oh, its just the countrysidewhatll happen? Theyll look after one another!
You stay and look after them yourself. Emily wont agree to this.
Why do you have to ask her? Youre my brother! Tell your wife, shell manage.
And your husband? asked James. Is he coming with you or does he have other plans?
Hes not coming. He needs a rest from us. Hell stay at home.
You lot always seem to be resting from each other
As James and Charlotte argued, her brood ran amok inside and out.
Then, there was a peal of noise from the garden. James looked out to see disaster unfolding.
The children had released the piglet, which was now tearing around the vegetable patch with them in wild pursuit.
James barely managed to catch it and pen it back in, but not before the veg beds were trampled. Then the children chased the goats and their kids, who helped themselves to half the cabbage patch.
James scolded them; Emily looked like she might cry. But soon enough, the kids were racing outside again.
Theyre only childrenand its the countryside! Charlotte protested. Whats wrong with them playing with the goats?
Our three-year-old knows not to do that! said James.
Hell get around to it, Im sure.
He already knows its not allowed.
Another commotionthe children had found the chickens.
The hens, with their beautiful coloured feathers, laid all sorts of eggs. As soon as the children opened the coop, the cockerel made a beeline for them.
Honestly, what sort of place is this? Dont you keep an eye on your animals? Charlotte fumed.
Its not the cockerels fault. Tell your children to keep out, James said. And Emily wont take time off from work just to mind them. Heaven help us all if anything happens while youre away.
They havent even tried to go near the dog yet, James went on. And the neighbours have a nasty bull; their cows come past morning and evening. There are loose dogs out, too. The other neighbours keep geese more vicious than our cockerel. I wouldnt step outside at night if I were you.
Youre just making all this up to frighten me!
Im warning you, thats all.
Right then, the neighbour led Charlottes eldest back by the hand. Hed been caught trying to set something alight behind the old shed.
If that had gone up, wouldve been disaster, the neighbour scolded, shaking his head. Who are you lot, anyway?
No, Charlotte. Im not taking this on. You see what its like. Take them with you to the seasidejust try not to let the kids terrorise the sharks.
Youre all bonkers in this village! And I helped you when you had nowhere to live! Charlotte shouted.
I was only there a year. Had no choice. And you took every penny I earned. You remember.
Were leaving. Im taking you to your gran and grandad, she told her children.
We dont want to go! We want to stay with you!
No. Thats final.
By morning, Charlotte and her children had gone. James and Emily are left to reminisce about Charlottes whirlwind visit, grateful for the peace that settles back over their cottage at last.
