Oh, where are you off to? Weve come to visit you!
“I cant stand your sister!” Emily scowled, her face twisting in annoyance. “She drives me up the wall!”
“Youre not the only one,” replied James, backing up his wife.
“She sticks her nose into everything and acts like she knows best. You should see the smug look on her face when she thinks shes got one over on me,” Emily muttered under her breath. “One minute its my parenting, the next its my outfitnothings ever good enough.”
“Thats just how she is,” James shrugged. “Mum spoiled her rotten, always let her have her way.”
“Thank goodness we live miles away from your lot,” Emily sighed, rolling her eyes.
Jamess mum, Margaret, and his sister, Charlotte, lived in London, while he and Emily had settled in a quiet little village not far off.
Both women were widows and shared a flat, so whenever James and Emily went to see his mum, they ended up dealing with Charlotte too.
Jamess sister couldnt stand Emily, so arguments were bound to happen.
At first, Emily bit her tongue, but after a while, she started clapping backespecially when she noticed Margaret joining in with the snide remarks.
Every visit turned into a row, so eventually, the couple decided to stop going altogether.
Margaret noticed right away and rang James, demanding answers.
“Why havent you visited? Two whole weeks without so much as a hello. Dont you care that your mum and sister miss you?” she scolded.
“Weve been busy,” James replied flatly, not wanting to get into it.
“Whats so important, then?” Margaret pressed. “Or is your wife calling the shots? Last time she left looking like shed swallowed a sour grape.”
“Like I saidweve got things to sort out,” James cut in, eager to end the call.
But an hour later, Margaret rang again. She and Charlotte were popping over to the village.
“What for?” James asked, baffled.
“Just seeing an old friendand since you wont come to us, well come to you,” Margaret said matter-of-factly.
Jamess face fell. Hed stayed away to avoid this exact situation.
“Erwe might not be in,” he lied, hoping to put them off.
“Where are you going, then?” Margaret snapped. “Seems to me you just dont want to see us. If thats the case, just say so.”
“Weve got a birthday do,” James blurted out.
“Fine, go ahead. Not like your mum and sister visit every day,” she huffed before hanging up.
James felt a pang of guilt, but remembering how they treated Emily, he pushed it aside.
He didnt tell Emilyno point worrying her.
Three hours later, he realised that was a mistake. When the doorbell rang, Emily answeredonly to freeze at the sight of Margaret and Charlottes smirking faces.
James, suddenly remembering their earlier call, dashed to the hallway.
“Emily, are you ready? Youre not even dressed?” he said loudly, pretending not to notice their uninvited guests.
“Ready for what?” Emily frowned, confused.
“The birthday partydont tell me you forgot?” James forced a tense smile. “Ohmum, Charlotte, what are you doing here?”
“Were here, like I said on the phone,” Margaret replied smoothly. “Are you going to let us in, or are we staying on the doorstep?”
“Sorry, were actually on our way out. Emily, go get changed,” James said, grabbing her hand.
Emily shot him a questioning look, but when he winked, she caught onthis was his way of getting rid of them.
“Where are you off to? We came all this way!” Charlotte folded her arms. “Bit late for a party, isnt it?”
“Starts at eight,” James said dismissively. “Weve got half an hour.”
“Youre going like that?” Margaret scoffed, eyeing his casual clothes.
“Blimeyforgot to change!” James feigned embarrassment before dashing off.
Charlotte and Margaret exchanged doubtful glances.
They werent buying it.
“You cant cancel for us?” Margaret asked when James returned, now dressed smartly.
“Cant. Paid for dinner and everything,” James said firmly. “Come back next week?” (He knew shed refuse.)
“Or we could wait here till you get back?” Charlotte suggested, scanning the room.
“No, dont be daft. Youve got other plans, right?” James pressed.
“Your place is nicer than some old friends,” Margaret sniffed. “Besides, she wasnt exactly thrilled to see us last time.”
“Want me to drop you at the coach station?” James offered.
“No buses this late,” Charlotte said smugly.
“FineIll book you a hotel,” James said. “Thats the best I can do.”
Margarets face fell. Shed hoped hed cave.
“A hotel?” Charlotte gasped. “Dont trust us alone in your house?”
“Course we do,” Emily cut in. “We just dont like people here when were out.”
“Ill drive you,” James added quickly.
“Never mind!” Margaret snapped, storming out.
Charlotte followed, muttering insults under her breath.
Once they were gone, James and Emily exhaled in relief.
No more pretending.
Margaret and Charlotte hailed a cab and headed back to London, vowing never to speak to them again.
James only thought of them months later when he had a hospital appointment in the city and fancied lunch somewhere.
Charlotte answered the door, coldly informing him they were on their way outand no, he couldnt wait inside.
It hit him then: they were well and truly done with him.
After that, the ties between James and his family frayed for good.
