These are not my children. If you want to help your sister, do it, but not at my expense. She broke up her family and now wants to foist her kids on us while she gets her life in order.
What a lovely home youve managed, little brother! Im honestly envious.
Joanna traced a finger along the edge of the tablecloth, casting her eyes around the kitchen with the air of a surveyor. Emily set the salad bowl down and sat opposite her husband. Stuart smiled at his sister, oblivious as his wifes hand clenched around her napkin.
We worked hard. It took us six months to find somewhere decent.
Theyd sold their London flat and moved here to Guildford, closer to Stuarts family. Their own patch of land, a proper vegetable garden, and some peace and quietEmily had dreamed about it for three years. Two months ago, theyd finally made it reality.
Not quite managed to keep my family together myself, Joanna sighed, staring into her plate. Three months and its all still a blur. I wake in the night, theres no one beside me. The children keep asking where their dad is. I dont even know what to say anymore.
Patricia, Stuarts mum at the head of the table, reached over to comfort her daughter.
Dont worry, love. These things right themselves. The important thing is that the children are healthy. That wretch will be sorry he left.
Her four-year-old nephew, Eric, slipped off his chair and shot into the lounge. A crash followedsomething had toppled off the shelf.
Eric, careful! called Joanna, still glued to her seat.
Alice, just three, whimpered on her mothers lap, fretting for attention. Joanna bounced her absently as she continued the conversation.
At least youre nearby now. Mums barely mobile after her operation, and theres no one to help her.
I could barely manage the taxi here, Patricia chimed in, massaging her knee. Fourth floor, and theres no lift. My blood pressure nearly finished me. I was gasping by the top. No hope with grandchildren right now.
Emily got up to serve the main. Tomato seedlings sat on the windowsilllittle green shoots in peat pots. In a month theyd go into the earth. Shed never had homegrown tomatoes before.
I hope you wont mind if I leave the kids with you now and then? Joannas voice reached Emily by the stove. Only in emergencies. Rarely. I need to find a new job, see doctors, meet with a solicitor about the divorce. Where am I supposed to put them?
Emily turned. Joanna was looking at her brother with that soft, vulnerable tone Emily knew all too well. Twenty-seven years old and playing it note-perfect.
Stuart gave his sister a sympathetic nod.
Of course, Jo, dont be daft. Well help, right Em?
All eyes were on her. Three pairs waiting, expecting the right answer.
Of course, said Emily. If its urgent.
Joanna beamed.
Youre lifesavers! Its only ever for a couple of hours, I promise.
They all went home near eleven. Stuart booked his mum a cab and helped her down the front stepsshe grunted and clung to the rail all the way. Joanna bundled two sleepy kids into her battered old Vauxhall and drove off, shouting from the window, Thanks for the evening, youre the best!
Emily washed up in silence. Stuart hugged her from behind, kissing her hair.
That was lovely, wasnt it? Mum enjoyed herself, Jo was almost herself again. Moving here was the right call.
Mmm.
Whats wrong? All tired out?
A bit.
Emily never said what was on her mind. Only if its urgent repeated round her head. She knew too well how that phrase gradually turned into every day, because its easier for everyone.
A week later Joanna rang early.
Em, help! Ive got to see the doctor urgently and Mum cant have the kiddies. Only three hours, pick them up by lunch.
Emily glanced at her laptop, at the open quarterly reports. Her client needed them for Friday.
Jo, Im up to my eyes in work…
Theyll be quiet, honestly! You just put the telly on and theyre sorted. Please, Em, honestly, its important.
Half an hour later, the kids were there. They had lunchJoanna didnt come; then suddenly it was evening.
Stuart came home at six and peeked in the lounge, found the kids glued to the telly.
Oh, Jo hasnt come back yet?
No. She said shed be here for lunch, then texted to say shell be late.
No big deal, he shrugged, reaching for a lager in the fridge. Theyre not strangers. Let them stay.
Emily said nothing. Eric had already spilled juice all over the rug, and Alice had run out of nappiesthere was only one in the rucksack.
Joanna finally turned up at nine. Fresh-faced, glowing, smelling like coffee.
Sorry! Lost track of time. Thank you so much, youve saved me!
Emily finished the report at three in the morning. Her head was buzzing, echoes of childrens shouting filling her skull.
Four days lateragain. An important job interview. Joanna dropped the kids at nine, promised to pick them up by three. Stuart was off after a night shift. He surfaced at lunch and shuffled to the kitchen.
Still here, are they?
See for yourself.
Ah well, he made himself a brew and turned on the football. Dont stress, Im here.
He was here. Watching football, while Emily ran back and forth between children and her laptop. Eric twice came and asked, Uncle Stuart, come play, but got only, Later, mate, Im watching the match.
Joanna arrived for the kids at eight.
By the end of the third week the visits were routine. Three times a week, sometimes four: doctors appointments, lawyers, job interviews, friends. A couple of hours, always stretching till late evening.
One evening, when the kids had finally left, Emily sat opposite her husband.
Stuart, this cant go on.
What cant?
Three times a week. I cant get my own work done.
He frowned.
Em, shes having a tough time. Her husbands left, two kids on her own. Were family.
I know. But she says lunch and comes at ten at night. Thats not helping, its…
What?
Emily wanted to say, using us, taking the mickey. But one look at him, and she stayed silent.
Mum called today, Stuart continued. Said Joanna needs time. Shes still young, whole life upended. Im her brother, I have to help.
What about me?
Youre my wife, he said, as if the answer was self-evident. Were one family.
Emily looked away, out the window. Dusk was falling, the seedlings on the sill had grown leggywaiting for transplant. Shed planned to tend to them Saturday.
No use arguing.
On Friday night Stuart came home from work and before hed taken his shoes off:
Joanna called. Asked if we could take the kids tomorrow. Two interviews shes got, cars playing upsays shell try get it to the garage.
Emily put aside the laptop and looked at him.
Stuart, weve already talked about this. I cant do this every weekend.
Dont be like that, he slung his jacket over a chair and headed to the fridge. Shes my sister. What harm is it? Youre at home anyway.
I dont just sit at home. I work from home, which is not the same thing.
You can work while the kids watch cartoons. Itll be fine.
Emily almost argued but saw his tired, irritable face and let it go. Tomorrow was Saturday. Shed planned to finally plant out her seedlingsthey were strong enough for the garden now.
Fine, she said. Let her bring them.
Saturday, eleven oclock. Joanna arrived dressed in a new frock, hair perfectly done, make-up immaculateas though off on a date, not to interviews.
Thank you SO much, youre stars! she cheerfully ushered Eric and Alice into the hall. Back by five, six at the latest.
Jo, wheres their bag?
Oh, in the car! One sec.
She returned moments later, handed Emily the rucksack.
Nappies, change of clothes, all in there. Got to dash, late already!
The door slammed. Emily was left standing with two children and a half-empty bag. Stuart was in the garage, tinkering with the car, helping the neighbour with something.
By one, Eric was over cartoons and rampaging from room to room. Alice whimperedhungry, then thirsty, then just wanted to be cuddled. Emily darted between kitchen and children, trying to cobble together lunch.
Stuart eventually poked his head in.
Everything alright?
Fine, she brushed her hands down her apron. Can you keep an eye on them? I need to get those seedlings in before its too late.
Give us a sec, just washing my hands.
Emily headed outside, collected the pots and her gardening tools, crouched by a bed and started digging holes. Ten minutes later, a crashthen a howling wail.
She threw down the trowel and ran inside.
In the sitting room, Stuart sat on the sofa, eyes glued to his phone. Eric stood among the shattered remains of a clay plant pot, soil scattered everywhere, broken shoots of tomato seedlingsher nurtured prizescrunched underfoot.
What happened?
He climbed on the windowsill, Stuart didnt even look up. Just didnt move quick enough.
Emily stared at the earth, at her carefully-grown shootsnow a twisted mess. Two months shed nursed those seedlings, watering, shifting them for light.
Auntie Em, are you cross? Eric gazed at her, big-eyed, fretful.
No, she crouched to gather fragments. Go sit with Uncle Stuart.
Stuart finally put down his phone.
Never mind, theyre just seedlings. You can grow more.
She didnt reply. Resentment pressed tight in her throat. They werent just seedlings. They were her hope for a normal life, always deferred for someone elses children.
Five oclockno sign of Joanna. At six, a text: Running late! Sevennothing. Emily rang herselfno answer.
At eight, car tyres on gravel. Emily peered out: a gleaming black Range Rover swung up to the gate, unmistakably not from the garage.
Joanna clambered out, flushed and grinning, teetering in heels. A man about forty, leather jacket, sat at the wheel.
Cheers, Alex! she waved. Speak soon!
The car drove off. Joanna turned and spotted Emily.
Oh, hello! Sorry Im late, bumped into an old friend after my interview, he gave me a lift.
Emily smelt alcohol, something sweetwine or possibly a cocktail. No interview, no garage. Joanna had just dropped her kids and gone off to have fun.
How was the interview? Emily asked, steady.
Sorry? Oh, fine. Said theyll let me know.
And the car?
Joanna hesitated.
Booked me in for next week. Long waiting list.
Lying, without even blinking.
By the way, Joanna checked her phone, are you free Wednesday? Ive got another interview.
No.
The word was firm, abrupt. Joanna looked up.
What do you mean, “no”?
I mean no. Im not free on Wednesday.
But why? Youre at home anyway…
Im working from home. And Ive got my own things to do.
Joanna scowled, then her expression shiftedher lip trembled, eyes glossed with tears.
Emily, you know how hard this is for me. Alone with two kids. I thought you two would be there for me. Youre my only family. And you cant even do a day…
I have been there. For three weeks. But Im not a nanny. This isnt a creche.
Whats wrong with you? Joannas tone snapped. Its only a bit of babysitting. Theyre family!
Theyre not my children, Emily startled herself at how calm it sounded. Theyre yours, Joanna. Your responsibility.
Stuart appeared at the door, having caught the last of it; his face thunderous.
Whats going on?
Joanna immediately turned to her brother, her voice wobbling.
Stu, your wife wont help me. I asked for one day, just one…
She pressed her hand to her chest, on the verge of tears.
You know what Im going through. I thought at least my own family would care. But it seems…
She trailed off, gave a dismissive wave, and went out to her car. At the door, she looked back.
Try to be kinder, Emily. Just a bit kinder.
She sat, scrolling her phone as she waited for a taxi, not looking at Emily. Took her sleepy children and left without a farewell.
Emily stood in the porch, something nasty wriggling in her guta mix of guilt and shame. Maybe shed been too hard?
Stuart watched the car leave, then turned to his wife.
Did you have to?
Did I have to what?
She was just asking for a favour. And you… he didnt finish, vanishing inside.
A weeks silence. Then Stuart came in from work:
Jo called. Another interviewimportant this time. Let her go, will you? Dont be like this.
Stuart, we
Just this once, last one. I promise. If shes late again, Ill sort it.
Emily looked at him. Tired, lost. Stuck between sister and wife like a rabbit in headlights.
Fine. One last time.
Next morning, Joanna zipped through the door, pecked her kids, thanked Emily in a rush.
Thank you, thank you! Really got to run!
Door shut. Emily was alone with Eric and Alice.
By lunchtime she mechanically picked up her phone to check emailsand Joannas face popped up in her feed. A new photo: her in a café, wine glasses clinking, a mans arm draped across her shoulders. Caption: “Drinks with old school friends! Missed this normal life so much.” Uploaded twenty minutes ago.
Emily stared. All made sense. No interviews, doctors, garages. Joanna simply dumped her children to do as she liked. And the ex-husbandwell, maybe he wasnt the villain painted. Maybe hed just had enough.
She dialled Stuart.
Come home and mind your niece and nephew yourself.
Em, what? Im at work.
Then get your mum round. Im not doing this any more.
Emily, whats happened?
Log into Joannas socialsee where she really is. Then well talk.
Silence. Then a soft sigh.
Fine. Ill ask for an early finish.
Stuart came home two hours later. He looked at the kids, then at his wife.
I saw the photo, he murmured.
Well?
Maybe they are just old friends…
Stu, she staggers in half-drunk every time. Last week she was dropped off by a bloke in a Range Rover. How can you not see it?
Theyre my niece and nephew, his voice rose. Theyre innocent in all this.
And Im the guilty one? Emilys anger rose. Theyre not my kids, Stuart. Im not obliged to mind them. If you want to help your sister, do it yourself. But not at my expense.
Shes my sister!
Your sister ruined her own life. Now she dumps her children on us and goes out.
How can you say that!
Its the truth. She lies every timedoctors, interviews. Im done being the mug. Are you?
Stuart was silent, rubbing his face.
Right, he finally said. I hear you.
Joanna turned up late, the kids long since asleep under a blanket. She slipped in quietly, started to string together excusestraffic, dead phonewhen Stuart cut in.
Jo, this cant happen anymore.
What? she blinked dumbly.
Leaving your kids here all day then vanishing. Were not your babysitters.
Joanna and Emily locked eyes, and Joannas face showed she understood.
She got to you, didnt she?
No. This is my decision.
Joanna scoffed, grabbed Eric.
I see how it is. Family, right.
She left without a thank you. The door slammed so hard the windows shook.
In the morning, tea in hand, Stuarts phone rangMum flashed up.
He answered.
Hi, Mum.
Emily only heard snatchesPatricias voice sharp through the receiver.
Whats this, then? You cant help your sister? I cant do it right nowyou know that!
Mum, we cant either. Weve our own life.
Well, I never! Bought a house and lost your heart! I see.
Click, call ended. Stuart placed the phone on the table and looked at Emily.
Shes not happy.
I noticed.
They sat quietly. Sun poured through the window, where the pot from the ruined seedlings stood empty. Emily gazed at it, remembering: a month ago theyd come here for peace and quiet, their own space, their own smallholding, their own lives. Instead, theyd found themselves saddled with someone elses children, someone elses chaos, and relatives convinced they owed them something.
Stuart put his hand over hers.
Sorry, he said gently. I shouldve put my foot down much sooner.
Emily said nothing, only squeezed his fingers. It wasnt a victory. Her mother-in-law would stew, Joanna would rage, and ahead lay months of cold distance. But for the first time in weeks, Emily felt not exhaustion, but relief. Shed said no. And her husband had heard her.
The rest could wait.
