Where Are You? We’ve Come to Pay You a Visit!

“Where are you going? Weve come to visit you!”

“I cant stand your sister!” exclaimed Emily, grimacing. “She drives me mad!”

“Youre not alone in that,” replied William, standing by his wife.

“She sticks her nose into everything and thinks she knows best. You should see the smug look on her face when she makes me look a fool,” muttered Emily through clenched teeth. “One minute its my manners, the next its my outdated dress.”

“Shes always been like that,” William shrugged. “Blame our mothershe spoiled her rotten and let her have her way in everything.”

“Thank goodness we live miles away from your family,” Emily sighed, rolling her eyes.

Williams mother, Margaret, and his sister, Charlotte, lived in the city, while William and Emily resided in a quiet village nearby.

Both women were widows and shared a flat, so whenever William and Emily visited his mother, they inevitably saw Charlotte as well.

Williams sister had little patience for her sister-in-law, and quarrels between them were unavoidable.

At first, Emily bit her tongue, but after noticing that Margaret had begun to criticise her too, she decided to answer Charlotte back.

Every visit to his mother ended in a row, so the couple stopped going altogether.

Margaret soon noticed and rang her son, demanding an explanation.

“Why havent you come to see us? Its been two weeks. Dont you care that your mother and sister miss you?” she scolded.

“Weve been busyno time,” William answered curtly, avoiding details.

“What could possibly be so important?” she pressed suspiciously. “Or is your wife forbidding it? Last time, she left looking as if shed swallowed a pint of vinegar.”

“I told you, we have things to sort out,” William replied before ending the call.

Yet an hour later, Margaret rang again to say she and Charlotte were coming to the village.

“Why?” William asked, startled.

“Were visiting an old friendand since you wont come to us, well see you instead,” Margaret declared.

Williams face fell. Hed stayed away to avoid this very situation.

“We might not be home,” he said, hoping to put them off.

“Where are you going?” Margaret snapped. “Seems to me you just dont want to see us. If thats the case, say so plainly.”

“Were going to a birthday party,” William lied quickly.

“Fine, go theneven if your mother and sister hardly ever visit,” she said bitterly before hanging up.

William felt a pang of guilt, but remembering how they treated Emily, he shrugged it off.

He didnt mention the call to his wife, not wanting to worry her.

But three hours later, he realised his mistake. When the doorbell rang, Emily answeredonly to freeze at the sight of her smirking mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

William, suddenly recalling their earlier conversation, rushed to the hall.

“Emily, are you ready? Youre not even dressed!” he said, pretending not to notice their uninvited guests.

“Ready for what?” Emily frowned, baffled.

“The birthday party. Have you forgotten?” William forced a smile. “Oh, Mother, Charlottewhat brings you here?”

“Weve come to visit, as I told you,” Margaret said smoothly. “Are you going to leave us on the doorstep?”

“Afraid we cant staywere on our way out. Emily, go and change,” William ordered, pulling her away.

Emily shot him a questioning look, but when he winked, she caught on.

“Where are you off to?” Charlotte folded her arms. “Seems late for a party.”

“It starts at eight,” William cut in. “Weve only half an hour.”

“Youre going in your house clothes?” Margaret scoffed, eyeing his loose shirt.

“Blast, forgot to change!” William flushed before dashing off.

Charlotte and Margaret exchanged doubtful glances.

They werent convinced the couple had plans at all.

“Couldnt you cancel?” Margaret asked when William returned, properly dressed.

“No, its paid forwere expected,” he said firmly. “Come next week instead.”

“Or we could wait here till youre back?” Charlotte suggested, glancing around.

“Out of the question,” William refused. “Youve other places to be, surely?”

“Your homes better than some old friends,” Margaret sniffed. “Besides, weve already been thereshe wasnt pleased to see us.”

“Shall I drop you at the coach station?” William offered, hoping theyd leave.

“No coaches back tonight, and you cant take us,” Charlotte said slyly.

“Ill book you a room at the inn,” William proposed. “Best I can do.”

Margarets face darkened. Shed hoped theyd be invited to stay.

“The inn?” Charlotte huffed. “Afraid well rob you?”

“No, we just dont want anyone here while were out,” Emily interjected.

“Ill drive you there,” William pressed.

“Dont bother!” Margaret stormed out, Charlotte close behind, muttering grievances.

Watching through the window as they left, William and Emily sighed in relief.

The pretend party was no longer needed.

Margaret and Charlotte hailed a cab back to the city, vowing never to speak to their ungrateful family again.

William only thought of them months later, when a doctors appointment took him to town and he fancied lunch nearby.

Charlotte opened the door. Seeing him, she said coldly, “Were just leavingcant have strangers in the house.”

William understood, bitterly, that they were deeply offended.

After that, all ties between them frayed to nothing.