What kind of mess have these people left behind? Call your relatives and make them come back to clean up, Lily fumed, her voice sharp with irritation. I wont tidy after them. Its bad enough Im constantly washing the bedsheets after your friends crash at our cottage. Theyve made a habit of it.
Listen, Mum called earlier, her husband, James, said over dinner. She and the relatives are planning a barbecue this weekend.
Good for her, Lily replied flatly. Let them go. Whats it got to do with us? She never hid her dislike for her mother-in-law.
Well, they want to use our cottage, James explained, as if it were the most natural thing. They dont have their own, and Ive got to be at the garage on Saturday. I told her we couldnt go, so she asked for the keys.
Lily had no choice but to agree, though shed regret it. When they visited the cottage the following weekend, she froze at the sight. The place looked ransacked.
The berries had been picked, the floors were filthy, and a lonely pot of stale soup sat on the stove. The kitchen curtain had been taken down. Lily refused to imagine what had happened. His parents were in their sixties, for heavens sake.
She laid into James.
What kind of people leave a place like this? Call your family and make them come back to clean. I wont do it. Im already sick of washing sheets after your mates treat the cottage like a hotel.
Its not the end of the world. Just chuck it in the washing machine and hang it out.
How about you do it next time? Are you happy with the state of our cottage?
But James never made the call. Lily gave him the silent treatment before they eventually made up. Theyd only been married two yearsa love match, though lately, Lily wondered if shed rushed into it. No children yet.
Life rolled on as usualwork, home, home, work. Weekends were for walks or trips with friends. Then everything changed when Lilys mother remarried and moved to another town, leaving her the family cottage.
Suddenly, Jamess relatives adored her. Everyone wanted an invitecousins, aunts, uncles, even his grandmotherall eager for fresh air, riverside picnics, and barbecues. And Jamess friends, of course.
They all stayed over. James happily fired up the grill. Lily bit her tongue, not wanting to sour relations, but something had to give.
Now, weekends filled her with dread. When theyd married, Jamess mother was already elderlyshed had him late. His sister, Mary, was ten years older. Raised in the countryside, his mother treated everything as communal property.
She and Mary helped themselveslotions, shampoos, even Lilys slippers. Then came the call: Jamess mother wanted the keys again. This time, Mary was bringing her boss for a barbecue getaway.
As usual, no one asked Lily.
Well give Mum the keys, James said, ignoring Lilys reaction from last time.
Lily knew she had to actand that James wouldnt back her. Running through options, she phoned her mother.
Ill call you back, came the brisk reply.
Twenty minutes later, her mother rang. Her sister and husband would be staying at the cottage. Dont worry. Aunt Helen will handle it.
Lilys breath caught. Shed always been afraid of Aunt Helen, whod been strict during childhood summers spent at hers. Helen knew how to lay down the law.
That evening, Helen called.
Youve gone quiet, niece. Shouldve called sooner. How do you want this handled? A scare or something stronger? She laughed, relishing the thought.
Lily shivered. Did you tell them the cottage is in your name?
I dont remember, but they all act like its theirs.
Dont fret, dear. Well sort it.
On Sunday, Jamess furious mother called. Did you sell the cottage? Wheres the money? Why werent we told?
Turns out, Mary, her boss, and Jamess parents had arrived to find five strangers barbecuing.
Who are you? his mother gasped.
And who, pray tell, are you? The imposing woman stepped forward. This is my cottage. How did you get in?
Jamess family floundered. Mary stammered about family ties and borrowed keys. The womanHelenfixed her with a stare until she trailed off. His mother kept silent.
The keys were confiscated. They were politely told to leaveor face questions about how theyd obtained someone elses property.
From across the room, Lily heard her mother-in-law shrieking into the phone. James stood dumbstruck, unable to get a word in.
Pass the phone to your wife. James handed it over.
The cottage isnt yours! his mother spat.
Did you ever ask? Lily kept her voice steady. Or did you just assume everything was yours for the taking?
Do you realize Mary invited her boss? There are layoffs comingshe was trying to save her job! If shes fired, its on you!
Not my problem. Aunt Helen owns it. You never consulted me. Buy your own if you want to barbecue.
Im never going back, and neither is my family, James snapped.
Their first real fight. James sulked. Mary was fired. Ill never forgive you for this, he said. My family loved you, and you lied to us.
Lily was sure Marys sacking had other reasons. Strangely, she felt no guilt.
Mum, I think Im divorcing James.
Your choice, love. But where will you live? My flats rented out. Stay with Helen.
Thanks for that, Lily said dryly. Ill find my own place.
She filed for divorce, moved out, and never went back to the cottage.
