What a fine sense of fairness you have, Helen! Olga burst out, unable to hold back any longer. So, last summer, our children roasted in the garden while we spent the entire year slaving away to fix up your cottageand now Anastasias children get to enjoy all the comforts while ours sit at home? How terribly fair of you!
Well, I did say it was for the grandchildren, Helen retorted. But I never said it was only for *yours*! Do you think I dont have other grandchildren? Yours had their turn last yearnow its Anastasias. Thats only fair!
Olga exhaled sharply. Fair? Fair is when things are equal. Couldnt you take them for a month, then switch?
Good heavens, no! Helen protested. Id be worn out in two weeks. Im not as young as I used to be, you know. Besides, Ive already promised Anastasia. She and her husband have holiday in Julythey want time alone.
What about just two weeks, then?
I cant. Its settled. But you could bring them next Wednesday, just till Friday. A few days, no more.
Olga clenched her jaw. A few days? After all the money and effort theyd poured into that wretched cottage? It was nothing short of an insult.
Right. I understand perfectly. Goodbye, she said coldly, slamming the phone down.
She buried her face in her hands. What now? All year, the children had dreamed of going back to Grandmasof playing on the new swing set, splashing in the pool. And now? Now it all belonged to someone else.
It had started so innocently. Last summer, theyd visited Helens cottage for the first time in years. The place was a wreckpeeling wallpaper, creaking floorboards, a garden choked with weeds. The air smelled damp, musty.
Helen had sighed. Id love to have the grandchildren here, but what would they do? Dig in the dirt? At least by the seaside, theres something for them.
Olga had glanced around, remembering her own childhood summers in the countrysidechasing butterflies, weaving daisy chains. She wanted that for her children too.
What if we fixed it up? shed suggested. Little by little, as we can afford it.
Helens eyes had lit up. What a splendid idea! Far better than wasting money on foreign holidays.
And so theyd set to work. By summers end, new windows were in, the fence mended. The children had spent August there, returning full of stories about catching frogs and spotting hedgehogs.
Mum, can we go again next year? theyd begged.
Of course, Olga had promised.
The next twelve months had been a blur of labour and expense. Plumbing, a proper loo, a fresh coat of paint. Theyd even bought a paddling pool and a swing set.
Meanwhile, Anastasia had done nothingnot a single contribution beyond a bag of sand for the sandpit.
And now? Bring them next year, Helen had said.
Olgas hands trembled with anger. Theyd sacrificed their own holiday, poured their savings into that placefor what?
Mum, what do we tell the children? she asked her own mother later, voice tight.
Her mother sighed. Helens played you all for fools. She couldve been honest from the start.
But what do we *do*? Weve no money left for a proper holiday.
Rent a cottage, her mother suggested. Ill look after the children.
At first, Olga hesitated. But within a week, theyd found a little place on the outskirts of towncosy, with an apple tree in the garden and a barbecue out back.
One last task remained. Olga and her husband drove to Helens to reclaim the pool and swings.
So this is it? Helen cried, watching as they dismantled everything. Youd deny Anastasias children too?
Olga folded her arms. I bought those for *my* children. Anastasia can buy her own.
Helen opened her mouththen shut it again, turning away in silence.
The next month flew by. Weekends were spent at the rented cottage, grilling sausages, picking blackberries. The children splashed in their pool, swung on their swings, fell into bed exhausted and happy.
One evening, sitting on the porch with her mother and husband, Olga realised something: this humble little place felt warmer than Helens refurbished cottage ever had. Here, there was no sense of being usedonly family.
In the end, the rental had cost far less than a year of renovations. Olga couldnt fathom why theyd ever trusted Helen so blindly.
This was even better than Grandmas! the children declared as they packed up to leave.
Olga smiled. At least now theyd have something to write about in their How I Spent My Summer essays.
Let Helen and Anastasia sort their own affairs, she muttered on the drive home. Well manage just fine on our own.
Shed learned her lesson. Shed still move mountains for her childrenbut never again on empty promises.
