Yana signed the final document with a relieved sigh, leaning back in her chair at the solicitors office. September sunlight streamed through the windows, glinting off the fresh ink on the property deed. The cottage for her mother was finally herstime to move in.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Thompson,” the solicitor smiled, handing over the paperwork. “The house is now officially your mothers.”
“Thank you,” Yana said, carefully tucking the documents into a folder. “Mum will be over the moon. Shes always dreamed of having her own place with a garden.”
The cottage was perfect: two storeys, a generous yard, tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood just outside London. Margaret Thompson had spent years crammed into a tiny flat, complaining about noisy neighbours. Now shed have space to enjoy her retirement in peace.
The next day, Yana and her husband, William, began the move. Margaret fluttered around the boxes, clapping her hands in delight.
“Oh, Yana, love, youre an angel!” she kept saying, admiring the spacious rooms. “Just look at this placeand the garden! Ill plant roses, maybe an apple tree”
William lugged furniture in silence, occasionally shooting his wife pointed looks. Hed never approved of such an extravagant purchase, insisting a modest bungalow wouldve been enough. But Yana earned most of their moneyit was her decision.
“Mum, here are all the keys,” Yana said, handing over a set. “Front door, back door, garden gate. Make sure you remember which is which.”
“Of course, love,” Margaret nodded, cradling them like treasure. “Youre so good to me”
By evening, the essentials were unpacked. Margaret wandered the cottage, breathing in the space. Yana watched her, heart full.
“There you arehome sweet home,” Yana hugged her. “Ill pop round tomorrow to help sort the rest.”
“Thank you, darling,” Margaret sniffled. “I dont know how Ill ever repay you.”
On the drive home, Yana stopped by her mother-in-laws to pick up Williamhed left the car there that morning. Edith met her at the door with a sour expression.
“So, youve gone and bought your mother a palace, have you?” she snapped, bypassing any greeting.
“Its a cottage, yes,” Yana replied evenly. “She deserves a comfortable retirement.”
“Deserves it, does she? And what about us?” Edith huffed. “Weve been stuck in this crumbling house for yearsleaky roof, cracks in the walls. But youre out here buying mansions for outsiders.”
Yana frowned. Her mother was hardly an “outsider.” But arguing was pointlessEdith had grown increasingly bitter lately.
“Couldve at least done something for family,” Edith muttered as they left.
Yana ignored it. Edith always resented others good fortune. What mattered was her mums happiness.
A week flew by. Yana called Margaret daily, checking if she needed anything. Her mother sounded cheerful, settling in, meeting neighbours, planning her garden.
“Mum, Ill stop by after work tomorrow,” Yana said on Thursday evening. “Ill bring groceriesanything else you need?”
“Yes, darling, do come!” Margaret replied. “Ill show you how Ive arranged everything.”
On Friday, Yana left work early, stocked up on groceries, and drove over. Approaching the cottage, she froze. A clothesline hung with unfamiliar laundrymens shirts, childrens trousers, garish scarves her mother would never wear.
Parking, she spotted odd suitcases and boxes littering the garden. On the porch sat neatly folded clothesMargarets dresses, cardigans, slippers.
Her heart pounded. She rushed to the front door, jamming her key into the lock. It didnt turn. The lock was new.
“What the hell?” She circled the house, testing every door. New locks everywhere.
A neighbour peered over the fence. “Looking for the owner? She was evicted days ago.”
“Evicted? This is my mothers house!”
“Oh, I know,” the woman nodded. “Lovely lady, your mum. Now your mother-in-laws taken overchanged the locks, moved right in. Says the house belongs to her now.”
Yanas blood boiled. Her mother thrown out, Edith stealing the place. A kind gesture twisted into sheer audacity.
“Wheres my mother now?” she demanded.
“Left with her bags, poor dear. Crying, didnt know where to go. Your mother-in-law said the house was bought for the whole family.”
Yana stormed to the porch just as Edith swung the door open, smug as a queen, a keyring jangling at her waist.
“Oh, youre here?” Edith simpered. “Were just settling in.”
“Where. Is. My. Mother?”
“On the patio,” Edith shrugged. “Had to decide who gets which room. I took chargeexperience, you know.”
“This isnt a shared flat! Its my mothers house!”
Margaret appeared thenwrapped in a dressing gown, exhausted, her eyes red.
“Yana, love,” she whispered. “Thank God youre here.”
“Mum, whats happened?”
“Edith said shes running things now,” Margaret faltered. “Changed the locks, tossed my things out. Claims the house is for everyone.”
Yana turned to Edith. “Hand over the keys. Now.”
“Dont you shout at me!” Edith squawked. “You said it was for family!”
“I said for my mother. Not you.”
Edith scoffed. “Whats the difference? Familys family. And your mum doesnt need all this spacewasteful, at her age.”
Yana saw red. “Mum, get in the car.” She dialled 999. “I need police. A trespassers seized my mothers home, changed the locks, refuses to leave.”
Edith paled. “You cant call the police on family!”
“Family doesnt steal houses,” Yana said coldly.
Officers arrived swiftly. Documents checked, Edith was ordered to vacate immediately.
“Im no thief!” she wailed, scrambling to pack. “Were supposed to help each other!”
“Help doesnt mean theft,” the officer said. “Ten minutes to clear out.”
Yana ensured every key was returned, every trace of Edith erased. A locksmith replaced all the locks. Margaret watched silently, wiping tears.
Once alone, Yana hugged her tight. “Im so sorry, Mum. I never imagined this.”
“Not your fault, love,” Margaret whispered. “Whod think anyone could do this?”
“It wont happen again. Ever.”
By nightfall, the cottage was restored. Over tea, Margaret fretted. “What about William? Hell be upset”
“Let him be,” Yana said firmly. “After this, his mothers never setting foot here again.”
“But shes family”
“Family respects each other,” Yana cut in. “They dont throw out the elderly and steal their homes.”
As she sipped her tea, Yana felt calm. Justice was served. Her mother was safe. And Edith had learned a lesson she wouldnt forget.
