“Where are you off to? We’ve actually come to visit you,” smirked Louise, her hands on her hips.
“I can’t stand your sister!” grumbled Sarah, wrinkling her nose in displeasure. “She drives me up the wall!”
“You’re not alone there!” agreed John with his wife.
“She’s always poking her nose into everything, acting like she’s the smartest person in the room. You should see the triumphant look she gives when she manages to get under my skin,” Sarah said through gritted teeth. “One minute it’s my education, the next it’s my old mascara…”
“She’s always been that way,” John shrugged. “Unfortunately, it’s all Mum’s fault. She spoiled her rotten.”
“Thank goodness we live sixty miles away from your family,” sighed Sarah, rolling her eyes.
John’s mum, Mary, and his sister, Louise, lived in the city, while John and Sarah resided in a small village nearby.
Both women were widows and shared an apartment, so when John and Sarah visited his mum, it inevitably meant visiting Louise as well.
John’s sister had no tolerance for Sarah, and their interactions were rife with bickering.
Initially, Sarah held her tongue during visits, but eventually, she decided to stand up to Louise. Being passive only led to Mary joining in with the critiquing.
Subsequently, every visit turned into an argument, leading John and Sarah to stop visiting his family altogether.
Mary noticed their absence and started phoning John, demanding explanations.
“Why haven’t you visited? It’s been two weeks since we last saw you. Can’t you figure out that your mum and sister miss you?” she scolded.
“We’re busy with lots of things,” responded John curtly, not wanting to go into details.
“Like what?” Mary asked, skeptically. “Is your wife forbidding you? Last time she left looking like she’d swallowed a hundred lemons.”
“I told you, we’re busy,” John said, quickly ending the call.
Not long after, Mary called again to inform him that she and Louise were planning to visit them in the village.
“Why?” John asked, surprised.
“I wanted to drop by an old friend and thought I might as well visit you since you can’t make it here,” explained Mary matter-of-factly.
John’s face fell. He had purposely avoided visiting his relatives, and now they were heading his way.
“We might not be home,” he tried to deter them from visiting.
“Where are you going?” Mary asked, sensing an excuse. “Perhaps you just don’t want to see us. Is that it? If so, just be honest.”
“We’re going to a friend’s birthday party,” John quickly improvised.
“Well, off you go then, although your mum and sister visiting is a rare occasion,” she replied, hurt, and ended the call.
John felt guilty towards his mum and sister, but recalling their conduct towards Sarah made him less remorseful.
He didn’t mention his mum and sister’s intention to visit to Sarah, not wanting to upset her unnecessarily.
However, a few hours later, he regretted not doing so. When the doorbell rang, Sarah hurried to open it.
Seeing Mary and Louise at the door, grinning, Sarah was caught off guard. She hadn’t expected family guests.
John, reminded of the impending visit only by the ringing doorbell, rushed to the hallway.
“Sarah, are you ready? You’re not dressed yet?” John asked, pretending not to notice the uninvited visitors.
“For what?” Sarah looked at him, puzzled.
“The birthday party. Did you forget?” he forced a smile. “Oh, Mum, Louise, what brings you here?”
“We came to visit; I did call you, didn’t I?” Mary replied calmly. “Could you let us in rather than leave us at the door?”
“No, we can’t, we’re on our way out. Sarah, go get dressed,” John commanded, grabbing his wife’s hand.
Sarah shot John a questioning look, but realizing he was trying to usher out the guests, she caught on.
“Where are you headed? We’ve come all this way to see you,” Louise asserted, hands on her hips. “Isn’t it a bit late for a birthday party?”
“No, we’re expected there by eight,” John quickly added. “We should already be on our way.”
“You’re going in those sweatpants?” Mary smirked, noticing her son’s attire.
“Oops, forgot to change,” John turned red and dashed to the bedroom.
Louise and Mary exchanged skeptical glances. They didn’t buy John and Sarah’s excuse to leave.
“Can’t you postpone your plans for us?” Mary asked as John re-emerged in fresh clothes.
“No, we really can’t,” John adjusted his collar. “We accepted the invite ages ago, and they’ve already paid for our spots. Come by next week,” he offered, knowing his suggestion would be declined.
“Can we stay in your house while you’re out?” Louise asked, looking around.
“No, why would you?” John replied firmly. “You do have somewhere else to go, don’t you?”
“Sure, staying at our son’s is better than cramping with an old friend,” Mary chuckled. “Anyway, she wasn’t very pleased to see us last time.”
“Need a lift to the bus station?” John suggested, implying they weren’t welcome to stay.
“There’s no bus until morning, and you wouldn’t drive us, would you?” Louise grinned.
“I could book you a hotel for tonight,” John offered. “That’s all I can do, I’m afraid.”
Mary frowned, disappointed. She had hoped John would let them stay.
“So, the hotel then?” Louise asked pointedly. “Afraid we’ll rob you?”
“No, we just don’t want anyone here while we’re away,” Sarah interjected. “We prefer not to leave anyone in our home unattended.”
“Let me at least drive you to the hotel,” John suggested, trying to ease the tension.
“We’ll manage!” Mary said, abruptly heading out the door.
Louise trailed behind, cursing under her breath at her brother and sister-in-law.
Watching them leave from the window, John and Sarah sighed with relief.
Their fictitious birthday outing was now unnecessary. They no longer needed a cover.
Mary and Louise ordered a taxi and returned to the city, resolving to cease ties with their distant relatives.
John only thought of his family when he needed a medical appointment and sought somewhere nearby to eat.
Louise opened the door, greeting him sternly, informing him that she and their mum were about to leave and wouldn’t leave a stranger in their home.
John realized with frustration that his mum and sister were deeply offended by him.
After that encounter, his relationship with them deteriorated completely.
