– Fine, we won’t throw you out for the holiday. Prepare three bedrooms—my sisters and niece will stay overnight; you’ll spend the night in the kitchen. – Mrs. Gordon, as the sole owner of this house I have the deeds to prove it, so don’t even try to break in— the police will be on their way.

Dear Diary,

It was supposed to be a simple afternoon after work. I was planning to swing by the towns shopping centre, two weeks before Christmas, after my old friend Olivia had invited me over. I knew a crowd would be gathering at her house: her daughter with her husband and children, my sister, and my niece, a university student. Id been to Olivias place many times and knew everyone, so I thought Id get a head start on the presents. I enjoy picking out gifts as much as I enjoy handing them over, and the thought of wandering through the glittering aisles, watching the shop assistant fold each parcel into shiny paper, still brings a smile to my face.

My good mood evaporated the moment I stepped out onto the car park. By the drivers side, Ruthmy exbrotherinlaws sisterwas waiting, shivering in the cold.

Hey, Vic, she called, why did you take so long? Im freezing my toes off.

Good afternoon, Ruth, I replied, surprised to see her. I didnt expect to run into you here.

Why not? Were family, after all, she said, chuckling. At least weve been called that for twenty years.

Its a relief were no longer counted as such, I answered, reaching for the car door.

But Ruth held me back.

Listen, Victoria, I have a requestactually, the whole family does.

What family? I havent spoken to yours in a year, Ruth. Im not interested in any favours, I said, firm.

Just hear me out. I dont know how you and Michael split the property, but my mother still believes the house you live in belongs to our side of the family.

Mike and I bought that place together a decade ago, and he spent ten years fixing it up. Weve always celebrated Christmas and May Day there as a family. What now?

My mother had planned to host her birthday in May, gathering everyone on the veranda as we always have. And you turned us away, disappearing without a word.

Im not sure why youre telling me all this, I asked. I was simply visiting a friend. Im sorry if I forgot to ask you.

Forget about our family gatherings at my house. When Michael and I divorced, we agreed: the flat, the car and the garage went to him, the house stayed with me. It was all formalised. So you can have your festivities in Michaels flat if you wantnothing more.

Ruth, my mother asked if we could let guests use the house on the 31st, just like before. Well have a crowd so large well need to find rooms for everyone, she pleaded.

Mrs. Margaretshe asked? Thats hard to believe. For twenty years shes only ever demanded things from me. If shes suddenly asking for a favour, Im not going to agree. Tell her to book hotels for the relatives instead.

I slipped into the car, my enthusiasm for buying presents gone. Ill shop tomorrow, I muttered, and drove home.

Michael and I had been together for nearly twenty years. We bought the house ten years ago. A year ago he declared, At fortyfive, lifes just beginning, and said he would build a future with his charming young secretary. I didnt try to stop him, but I also didnt let him walk all over me. I kept the house and the savings, while he walked away with a twobedroom flat, a Ford Focus and a garage.

Since my only remaining dependent is my daughter, a student, Michael never tried to claim my joint account. A few days ago Emily rang, telling me shed be spending NewYears Eve in her university hall.

Mom, will you be upset? she asked. Ill be home for the holidays.

That gave me the courage to accept Olivias invitation. In that crowd I wouldnt feel lonely.

Knowing Ruth, I sensed this was far from over; she wouldnt let me breathe easy. And I was right.

That evening my former motherinlaw called:

Victoria, arent you taking on too much? You seized Mikes house, and now you think we cant find any trouble for you?

My answer is simple: well all spend NewYears Eve in the house that my son kindly let you live in. Got that?

Fine, we wont drive you away for the festivities. Prepare three bedroomsmy sisters and my niece will stay overnight, and Ill sleep in the kitchen.

Mrs. Margaret, do you forget that I am the sole legal owner? I have the title deeds. Dont even think of breaking in, or the police will be called.

Well see who ends up on the doorstep! Prepare the rooms; well bring all the food, so you wont have to cook a thing. And dont arguethis NewYears will be one youll remember for the rest of your life!

I thought, *My exmotherinlaw has truly lost her mind this year.*

Margaret had never been the peacekeeper, but her sudden performance left me, as a former daughterinlaw, uneasy. Did she really expect me to cower and obey?

In the past, Id been regarded as the best daughterinlaw; the other two women eventually accepted her authority. Now, after the divorce, her words only bewildered me. What were they counting on?

Meanwhile, in Margarets flat, a plan was being drawn up.

Ruth, you and Oliver are in charge of the groceries. Buy everything you can ahead of time; well be cooking on the 31st and the morning of the 1st.

Well handle the jellies and hot dishes. Sarah and Emma will make the salads. Well pack everything in containers, and well borrow two dinner services from Victoriashe still has them. Michael didnt take any when he moved out.

Mom, what if she refuses us entry? Ruth asked.

Let her try! Well be twelve, the whole family. Shell be ashamed. Imagine the front door opening to Uncle Kevin, Aunt Lucy, Lydia and Natalie, and others. Shell have no choice but to let us in and even help set the table. Theyre family, after all!

On the evening of 31December, at nine oclock, four cars pulled up outside number14, East Road, where Margarets house stands.

Its odd, Oliver, Ruths husband, remarked, the lights are off. Maybe Victoria isnt home?

Where could she be? Shes definitely here. And Emily must have arrived tooshes hiding, trying to avoid us, Margaret laughed. Ring the bell.

No one answered.

I have a spare key, Margaret said, I figured Victoria might try something, so I kept one.

She unlocked the gate and the whole party marched into the courtyard.

Hold on, Ill open the house, she called. Turn the lights on and bring everything into the kitchen; well set the table in a flash. Victoria can hide if she wisheswe wont invite her to sit at the table.

About twenty minutes later a commotion rose from the hallway.

The lady of the house has arrived, Oliver announced.

But it wasnt her.

I was busy helping Olivia set the table when the phone rang.

Is this Victoria Whitmore? Your alarm has been triggered. The patrol unit is on its way.

There are twelve people here, all claiming to be relatives and saying they have my permission to be in the house, I replied, baffled.

I never gave anyone permission. Most likely theyre my exhusbands family. I didnt invite them; they snuck in.

Yes, Ill file a report, the operator said. Im out of town at the moment and wont be back until the day after tomorrow.

The uninvited guests were escorted to the police station and spent a few hours there. By the time they arrived at Margarets flat, the salads were already spilling and the hot dishes had cooled.

When I finally got home, Michael called, demanding I retrieve the police report.

You didnt change the lock? Did you not think of that? he asked.

I didnt change itwhy would I break the door? I just installed a new deadbolt and use it.

Why, after you left, did you lock it with the old key?

I guessed your mother would never be satisfied and would show up with her guests. I didnt want the uninvited crowd damaging the door.

So you deliberately left the old lock, which she has a key for, and set off the alarm? You provoked them!

My exbrotherinlaws family could have spent NewYears at their own place, but they chose to come here and now the police are involved. Im not at fault.

Why didnt you tell Ruth youd put the house on alarm? Michael pressed.

There were signs on the gate and doors: Protected by Police. Anyone can read them.

Tell everyonemy mother, Ruth, Oliver, and the restthat Ill never welcome them as guests again, I said.

This time Ill hand in the statement, but dont think it will happen again. The law will be applied in full.

What do you think of my exfamilys tactics? I cant help but feel the weight of their entitlement. Still, Ive learned that sometimes the best defence is to lock the door, set the alarm, and let the police do the heavy lifting.

Until next time,

Victoria.