The Country Cottage Conundrum The Daughter Took What Was Hers
Lucy, please try to understand, its a desperate situation, sighed my father, Malcolm Bennett, rubbing his temples. Sandras been at me day and night for two months now.
She got it in her head that theres some fantastic study programme for Thomas on Jersey. For our boy, you know.
She says the lad needs a leg up, must improve his English, all that. But where is the money going to come from?
You know Im not doing so well at the moment.
Lucy met my eyes, expression flat.
So your answer is to sell the cottage? she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
What else would you suggest? He leaned forward, hope flaring. The place just sits there. Sandra doesnt even like going bored, she says. Bloody mosquitoes, and all that
She doesnt even realise it hasnt been mine, on paper, for ages. She thinks, well stick it on the market and finally live a little.
Youre clever, Luce. Heres what I think: you handle the official sale. Take your money back every penny you lent me all those years ago!
And anything above that, just give me the difference. Keep it in the family.
Its not a loss to you, right? You get what you gave, and help your old man at the same time.
My dads always liked a dramatic entrance. Hed turned up at my place uninvited, but truthfully, wed barely seen each other over the last decade. Thered been a new wife, Sandra, and Thomas, and me the older daughter never featured in his daily troubles.
Id a feeling hed show up asking for money again, but his proposal was odd, even for him.
Dad, lets take a step back, I said. Ten years ago, you came to me said you needed the money for surgery and recovery. Remember?
He pulled a face, clearly uncomfortable.
Do we really have to rehash all that? I pulled through, didnt I? Thank goodness.
Old news? I laughed bitterly. Id saved up every pound over five years for a deposit on my own flat. Took on weekend jobs, skipped holidays, cut back on everything. And then you turned up, out of work, nothing put aside but with Sandra and little Thomas to think of.
And you took it all every penny I managed to stash away.
Lucy, I was desperate! What else could I do? Just lie down in the gutter and die?
I told you then Id help but honestly, I was terrified of ending up penniless if something went wrong.
You had a legal wife, Sandra. I knew I wouldnt get a look-in if anything happened. Shed toss me off the cottage doorstep.
Remember how we argued for a week? You wouldnt even sign an IOU; you acted scandalised, like I didnt trust you.
How can you doubt your own father! you said.
I just wanted some guarantee.
Well, and you got your guarantee! he interrupted. We did the paperwork, made it official the cottage was yours.
I basically sold it to you for peanuts, just what you paid for my operation.
But we agreed: I could use it, and when I got back on my feet, Id buy it back. Thats only fair.
Its been ten years, Dad. Ten years. In all that time, did you ever even mention buying it back? Even once? No.
You lived there all summer, grew your tomatoes, burned firewood I paid for.
I paid the tax, sorted the roof when it leaked three years ago.
You enjoyed it like it was still yours, never lacking for anything, while I slogged to pay off the mortgage.
He dabbed at his brow with a handkerchief.
Well, I couldnt work, Lucy You know how long recovery is after chemo, age gets you, no one wants to hire you.
Sandra shes delicate, an office job really drains her.
We get by on her flipping those bits and bobs online honestly, it barely covers the bills.
Delicate, is she? I got up and began pacing the little kitchen. And Im to be made of stone?
I managed two jobs, paid off my mortgage, and still forked out to keep your cottage running as some kind of country spa for you?
Now Sandra decides its time to sell to send Thomas off for language lessons on Jersey?
My cottage, Dad! Its mine!
Luce, well technically, yes But it was only supposed to be temporary.
Im your father, for heavens sake I gave you life! Are you really going to cling to a few square feet of land when your brother needs a boost?
Brother? I stopped dead. If you mean Thomas, Ive seen him twice. Hes never so much as texted for my birthday. Sandras never even asked how I was. She still thinks youre some secret millionaire, just temporarily out of circulation.
Youve lied to her for a decade, Dad.
He looked away, cheeks burning.
I just I didnt want to upset her. Shes emotional, wouldve kicked off about me giving away family property.
Giving it away?
Luce, dont pick at words! he snapped. This is business! The cottage is worth five times what it was. The markets soared.
You take your £30,000 what you gave for the operation. Fairs fair. The extra £70,000 that comes to me.
I need to help Thomas get set up, get Sandras teeth sorted, upgrade the car the old ones falling to bits.
That moneys nothing to you youve got a flat in London now! Youre sorted.
Help your family out, please!
I stared at him, almost wanting to laugh. Where was the story-telling father whod tuck me in at night?
No, I said sharply.
What do you mean, no? He looked stricken.
Im not selling the cottage. Im definitely not handing you any of the extra.
The cottage belongs to me legally and morally.
You lived there for free for a decade, rebuilt your health, enjoyed yourself. Treat it as my maintenance payments to you.
But thats where it ends.
Youre serious? His face began to flush a deep red. You want to take the last thing from your father?
If it werent for me, you wouldnt even have that cottage! Its been in the family since your grandfather built it!
Exactly, Grandad built it. Hed be spinning in his grave if he could see you trying to flog off the family home for some dodgy course on Jersey for a boy whos never done a days work.
Lucy, get a grip! My father rose to his feet, voice rising. You owe me! I raised you! If you dont help out, Ill tell everyone how greedy you are. Sandra will kick up a storm you wont forget!
Well go to court! Get the sale made void take you down for exploiting my illness, stealing the family property!
I laughed, almost pitying him.
Go for it, Dad. Ive kept every receipt from the clinic, every transfer to your account.
And the legal sale agreement you signed, fully compos mentis, at the solicitors, after you were already in remission.
And Sandra will be fascinated to hear you sold the cottage before Thomas even started school.
You told her it was your inheritance, didnt you?
He tried a new tactic, tone almost pleading,
Lucy please. Sandras in a terrible state. If she finds out, shell throw me out. Shes fifteen years younger only with me for the security.
If theres no cottage, no money Im finished.
Would you see your father homeless in his old age?
I could feel the anger boiling inside me.
Did that ever bother you before, Dad? During all those ten years you refused to work? While Sandra racked up debt? Promising her the world on my money?
So you wont help? He stood tall. Some daughter you turned out to be
Go home, Dad. Be honest with Sandra its the only chance youve got to keep some dignity.
Choke on your bloody cottage! he spat, storming past. And dont expect a father anymore. Do you hear? Dont call me again!
He slammed the door. I couldnt help but smile bitterly as if hed ever really been my father.
Hed walked out when I was seven.
***
The phone rang Saturday morning, number unknown.
Hello?
Is that Lucy? At once, I recognised Sandras voice. Who the hell do you think you are, you little madam?
Did you really think we wouldn’t find out how you tricked Malcolm? He told me everything!
You made him sign papers when he was off his face after surgery!
Good morning, Sandra, I said evenly. If you want to discuss this, can we please talk calmly?
Calm? Youll be hearing from our lawyer! He said that agreement wont stand up for a second in court. You profited from your fathers illness, took the family home for peanuts. Well ruin you!
Sandra, listen carefully.
I know Malcolm’s told you his version. But I have every scrap of evidence proving the money went to his medical bills.
And I have a decades worth of texts from him, thanking me for keeping up the cottage and letting him stay there.
Its all written down Thanks, love, for not abandoning me, for taking charge of the cottage.
How do you think a judge will view that?
There was stunned silence. Sandra hadnt expected me to be so ready.
You greedy little cow, she hissed. Cant you just leave your brother something? Thomas needs an education!
Thomas needs a job, I cut her off. Like I had at his age.
And maybe its time you heard the truth, Sandra. All those shares he claimed he owned? Did you ever see them?
What shares? There was a waver in her voice.
The non-existent ones the money he said was his dividends, was what I sent him, believing I was saving my dads life.
Check his bank records if you dont believe me. Hes been living off me, forever playing the sick card.
I only recently worked it all out myself.
She hung up, furious. That evening, my father sent one message.
Just three words: You ruined everything.
***
I didnt reply. A few days later, I heard through the cottage neighbours that Sandra had caused a right scene.
Screaming in the courtyard, chucking Malcolms things out the windows of the country cottage until the police showed up.
Turned out shed already racked up huge debts, expecting cash from selling the cottage and taking a monster loan at sky-high interest for Thomass future.
Malcolm had to clear off. Sandra filed for divorce when she learned how deep his lies went.
Thomas, whod never done an honest days work, had no time for Dad either he moved in with his girlfriend and announced, Its his own fault.
Where my father is now, I havent a clue. And honestly, I have no intention of finding out.
