When family comes knocking: a tale of inheritance that can’t be split three ways
Oliver walked into the room where his wife was binge-watching a show and said carefully,
“My brother called. He and Emily want to come over on Saturday. Said we need to talk.”
“Lovely! You know I’m always happy to have guests,” Charlotte smiled.
“Thing is, he mentioned it’ll be a serious chat,” Oliver replied, giving her a wary look. “Just us, no spouses.”
“Any idea what it’s about?” Charlotte tensed.
Oliver hesitated, glanced down… and then it hit him. It had to be the inheritance.
Two months ago, Oliver and Charlotte had officially inherited everything from Aunt Margaret, their mother’s older sister. She’d never married or had children, living fiercely independent her whole life. When her health faded, she’d turned to her nephews for help. Only Oliver and Charlotte stepped up—arranging doctor visits, groceries, a carer, even a spa retreat. The rest of the family? Just a birthday card now and then.
No surprise Aunt Margaret left everything to them: a two-bed flat in the city centre and a cosy cottage in the Cotswolds.
Saturday rolled around. Emily and Robert arrived right on time, straight-faced and straight to the point. They sat in the living room and didn’t bother with small talk.
“Fine, Aunt Margaret left you the flat. But the cottage? That’s taking the mickey,” Robert started.
“We looked after it!” Emily shot in. “Mowed the lawn, watered the flowers. We stayed there every summer with the kids.”
“Did you ever take Aunt Margaret once?” Charlotte asked coolly. “Even once? She begged you to take her for fresh air—”
“We had our own stuff going on. Kids, jobs…” Emily muttered.
“Exactly. So Aunt Margaret made her choice,” Oliver said quietly.
“You manipulated her!” Robert snapped. “What kind of man doesn’t share with his own family?!”
“What kind of man fights over a rundown shack?” Charlotte fired back.
The visitors left fuming. But the next morning, the phone rang.
“Oliver, you changed the locks on the cottage?!” Robert barked. “We came to get our things with Dave, and we’re locked out!”
“I did. Because you didn’t warn us. Come next Saturday—we’ll clear it out. Take what’s yours,” Oliver said, then hung up.
“How’d you know?” he turned to Charlotte, amazed.
“You really didn’t know your own family? If you hadn’t changed the locks, they’d have taken the furniture too. No question.”
A month later, they sold the cottage and their own flat. Bought a spacious place by the sea in Brighton—quiet neighbourhood, good schools, easy commutes. Oliver got a job at the docks, Charlotte at a primary school.
Their daughter, Eleanor, stayed in Aunt Margaret’s flat while she finished uni.
Life was smooth. Until March, when the calls started flooding in.
“We don’t have the cottage anymore,” Emily said over the phone. “So we’re all coming to yours in July. Bringing little Timmy too!”
“Better book a hotel,” Oliver replied. “We live here—we’re not on holiday. And we’re not hosting.”
“But your in-laws stayed with you in September!” Emily spluttered.
“Because they’re my wife’s parents. Ours would’ve been welcome too, if they were alive. We don’t have space for your lot.”
“You’re selfish!” she snapped. “Remember this when you need help, and your family’s gone!”
“Funny how so much family pops up between May and September—like mushrooms after rain. Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of ‘family’ to spare,” Oliver smirked.
Then he hung up.
