“Listen, Mum, most of my mates have had help from their parents with a place to live,” said the grown-up son. “I’m getting married sooncan’t you help us out? Dyou want us sleeping rough? You dont have to buy us a flatjust let us move into the one-bed youre renting out. Better yet, put it in my name. Yknow, keep it fair!”
Sarah sat at the kitchen table, sorting through bills. Her husband had left for work hours ago, but she couldnt bring herself to tidy up. Her thoughts buzzed like angry wasps. Lately, peace at home had vanishedtheir youngest, Oliver, had been wearing them down.
Sarah had dreamed of finally living for herself: redecorating the spare room, buying sleek new furniture for the lounge. Once Oliver married and moved out, the house would be theirs. But then their eldest, Emily, divorced her layabout husband, and suddenly, Sarah and Victor were back to square one. The big bedroom went to Emily and the grandkids, little Archie and Sophie.
Now, Olivers wedding to Veronica was a month away. Hed moved her in months earlier, and now seven people crammed into their three-bed semi, tripping over each other.
Veronica walked into the kitchen. Sarah tensed.
“Morning, Sarah,” she said, adjusting her perfect ponytail. “You having breakfast? Or am I on my own? Dont want to intrude.”
Veronica always used her first namenever “Mrs. Dawson.” Smug, entitledSarah wouldnt have chosen her for a daughter-in-law, but Oliver was smitten.
“Morning. Ive eaten,” Sarah replied coolly. “Give me five minutes to clear up, then its all yours.”
Veronica poured herself a glass of water.
“Sarah, I wanted to askOllie and I were talking about where well live after the wedding. What dyou think?”
Sarah set the bills aside. Here it wasthe ask theyd been circling for months.
“Weve discussed this. Youll take the spare room.”
Veronica set her glass down, her face twisting into what Sarah called her “pretentious sneer.”
“Lets be honest. This is your home. You and Victor have lived here thirty years. But with Emily and the kids, its not three peopleits five. We dont want every move scrutinised.”
“And whats your plan, then?” Sarah snapped. “Youve no savings. Rentings all you can afford.”
“Thats just it,” Veronica said, sitting opposite her. “We thought about your rentalthe one-bed. We could live there. Pay rent, obviously… Or you could gift it to us.”
Sarah gave a bitter laugh.
“Ive two children, in case you forgot. Should I hand you a flat and leave Emily with nothing?”
“Emily could stay here,” Veronica shrugged. “Three bedroomsyou and Victor take one, Emily and the kids another. Plenty of space.”
“Emily needs her own life,” Sarah hissed. “Im not solving your housing crisis. Youre young, you worksave up like we did.”
“But that takes years! Ollie just got promoted, but even then, its five, six years before wed afford a place! We want to live now!”
“Then why the lavish wedding?” Sarahs voice turned sharp. “Why limos, doves, a hundred-guest reception if you cant even rent a bedsit? Have a registry ceremony and put the money toward a deposit!”
“Thats your idea,” Veronica said calmly. “We want our dream day. I want the dress, the photosI want my friends to see were not penniless. Dont you get it?”
“Oh, I get it,” Sarah nodded. “You want to show off. But no home means divorce waiting to happen. Smart couples get the flat first.”
Veronica glared and stormed out.
That evening, Oliver cornered herclearly put up to it. He even dragged their anniversary into it.
“You and Dad splashed out on your thirtiethrestaurant, the works. You couldve had a barbecue at the cottage! Dyou know how much I need that money now? How much did you blow? Five grand? Ten?”
Sarah whirled on him.
“Youre lecturing me? You couldnt even save for a decent suitwe bought your wedding one! Were covering seventy percent of this farce, taking loans for your nonsense, and you dare complain?”
“Dont shout at me!” Oliver snapped. “Im just asking for whats fair. Where am I supposed to take my wife? Some mouldy bedsit? Mum, answer me!”
“And why cant her parents help?” Sarah shot back. “You want me to hand over my safety net? That flats for our retirement! Well keep renting it.”
“Why should you? Youve had your turngive us ours!”
“Your sister needs help moretwo kids, no husband!”
Veronica burst in.
“Emily can chase her ex for support,” she said flatly. “Or take this house. Just give us the one-bed. Right, Ollie?”
The row escalatedOliver and Veronica werent asking anymore; they were demanding.
A week before the wedding, the house was quietOliver and Veronica were at a mates cottage, Emily visiting cousins. Sarah and Victor were watching telly when the doorbell rang.
Victor opened it to Veronicas mother, Zoe, barging in.
“Vic, love! Sarah home? Lets chat!”
Sarah froze. Shed met Zoe three timesenough to know the apple hadnt fallen far.
“To what do we owe the pleasure?” Sarah said icily.
Zoe grinned.
“Veronicas in bits over the flat. Why wont you let them have it? Its just sitting there!”
Sarah arched a brow.
“Why dont you buy it for them?”
Zoe scoffed.
“Whered I get that sort of money? Be reasonable, Sarahjust hand it over!”
Victor shoved the door wider.
“Out. Now. Tell your daughter the flats off the table. End of.”
Cursing, Zoe left. Victor called Oliver and told him to pack his things the second he got home.
