“You gave me that apartment,” she said.
“Its my apartment! Mom and the rest of the family are against me throwing my pregnant cousin out the door.”
“You gave it to me, though!”
“Don’t you get it? This is family! How can you treat your own niece like that? Shes pregnant and has nowhere to go!”
Élodie clutched her phone in the kitchen. Her mother’s voice, both pleading and accusing, filled the handset. Typical mom: even when asking a favor, she made her feel guilty.
“Mom, I want to help, but” she hesitated, searching for words. “Amélie has been living with me for eight months. Eight! Remember when Aunt Valérie said ‘two weeks, just until she finds a job’?”
“And then? The market’s tight right now”
“She doesnt even look for work!” Élodie’s irritation surged. “Yesterday she spent all day in the bathroom doing hair masks, then bingewatching series, and then”
“Élodie, shes pregnant”
“She found out a month ago! Before that”
A heavy silence fell. Élodie heard her mothers theatrical sigh, the one that meant, What an insensitive daughter; I raised you poorly.
“Mom, this is my flat. You bought Aunt Valéries share for me, right?”
“Technically,” the voice grew dryer, “it belongs to the family. Were just letting you live there.”
Élodie shut her eyes. Same old refrain.
“I thought it was a gift for my diploma.”
“Of course! But you know in a family you have to”
“Have to what?” she interrupted. “Put up with Amélie using my groceries, my products, and inviting her boyfriend when I’m not home? The same boyfriend who got her pregnant, by the way.”
“Élodie!” the tone hardened. “Aunt Valérie did so much for us! When Dad was ill, who helped? Who looked after you while I worked day and night?”
She sighed. She knew that chant by heart: the endless debt to Aunt Valérie.
“Im truly grateful to her. That doesnt mean I have to”
“She called me yesterday,” her mother cut in, “in tears. She says youre harassing Amélie over trivial things.”
Élodie snorted.
“Trivial? She took my new sweater without asking and stained it with juice! Then she had the nerve to say, ‘You dont mind, were family,’ without even apologizing!”
“Good God, its just a piece of clothing”
“Its not about the sweater!” Her throat tightened. “Its about respect, boundaries. Walking into my own home and feeling like a stranger.”
Another silence. Then her mother whispered, trying to persuade:
“Your grandmother would be so disappointed. To her, family meant”
“No,” Élodie snapped. “Dont bring her up every time we argue.”
“But its true! The apartment came from her inheritance. She wanted”
“What? That I house Amélie forever? That I tolerate her whims? That”
The phone buzzed: Aunt Valérie. Of course.
“Mom, its Aunt. Probably here to tell me what a bad cousin I am.”
“Answer her. Be reasonable.”
“Alright,” she sighed. “Ill call back later.”
Putting the call on hold, she steeled herself for more accusations.
“Hello, Aunt Valérie?”
“My dear!” the voice was overly sweet. “How are you, sunshine?”
“Sunshine.” Élodie grimaced. That nickname never promised anything good.
“Im fine.”
“Amélie mentioned misunderstandings between you two?”
She rolled her eyes. “Misunderstandings,” of course.
“Aunt, you talked about two weeks. At most a month.”
“You sound like a notary!” she forced a laugh. “Family doesnt do that.”
“And what does family do?” her anger rose. “Steal my stuff? Invite friends over when Im not there?”
“Come on Amélie is just sociable, she”
“Shes used to us fixing everything for her. My parents bought your share. It was a gift to me.”
“Not exactly,” the tone chilled. “Its family inheritance. Your mother and I agreed”
“That youd sell your share to my parents at market price.”
“Money, always money!” frantic notes. “And Amélie’s baby? Have you thought about where shell go?”
“She has a boyfriend. The father, by the way.”
“A deadbeat! He left Lyon when he learned she was pregnant.”
She thought, “I wonder why,” before answering:
“You have a threeroom place, you and Uncle Claude. Why doesnt she stay with you?”
A telling silence.
“Its complicated. Claude works from home. Plus, you get along so well! It would be a wonderful motherhood experience for you.”
“So well.” Élodie managed a bitter smile. Amélie, the perpetual irresponsible, while she, the responsible one, always had to give in.
“I cant keep this up. She has to leave.”
“What?!” the voice shrieked. “Shes pregnant! Do you want to stress her into a miscarriage?”
Élodie held back her retorts. The ultimate weapon: guilt by proxy.
“Im not kicking her out now. She has a month to”
“Im calling your mother! This is scandalous! After everything weve done for you!”
The line cut. Her hands trembled.
The front door slammed. Heels clicked.
“Élo!” a sugary voice called. “Guess who I ran into? Clara from school! She married a tech billionaire. Her ring it was enough to make anyone jealous!”
Amélie walked in, tanned, nails immaculate, designer jeans. No sign of distress.
“Hey, what if we rearranged? Put the sofa by the window? Make a little nook for the baby”
Élodie stared, feeling the last of her patience snap.
“Amélie, we need to talk.”
“Not now, okay?” she waved her hand. “Headache. Hormones! Im going to rest.”
“Amélie.” Élodie’s voice rose. “You have to go.”
Shock.
“What?”
“You have a month to find a place.”
“You are kidding? This is our inheritance! I have as much right as you!”
“No. My parents bought the share. Its legal.”
“Family outruns the law! Im pregnant!”
“You have your parents. The father. Friends.”
“Im calling Mom!” she grabbed her phone.
“No need. She already called.”
Amélie stared at her, seething.
“Aunt Valérie and Mom will sort this out. Youll regret it!”
The door slammed again.
Élodie looked out the window. Instead of guilt, a tired relief washed over her.
Her phone buzzed: a text from her mother, “Aunt Valérie is devastated. What did you do?”
Without replying, she opened a browser and typed Apartment rentals Bordeaux.
Three months later, Élodie sipped coffee at Place de la Comédie, across from Théo, her partner shed met in Paris.
“Do you have any regrets?” he asked.
“No. Just wish Id acted sooner.”
Her phone rang. Her father.
“Hey, Dad.”
“I have news. We sold the apartment.”
“Grandmas place? But”
“Amélie went back to her parents.” He let out a dry laugh. “After you left, she tried to crash here, but we put an end to it. The money is yours.”
“Mine?”
“Yes. It was your gift. Sorry we pressured you.”
Tears rose.
“Thank you.”
“Be happy. Were proud, even when we didnt support you.”
She hung up, watching snowflakes drift over Bordeaux.
“Everything okay?” Théo squeezed her hand.
“I think I finally became an adult.”
The snow gently erased the past, opening a new chapter where she would choose who to welcome into her home and her heart.
