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Either You Let My Brother Move Into Our Flat, or Pack Your Bags and Get Out!” My Husband Demanded
The dream began with a voice like thunder in the dim flat. “Either you let my brother move in, or pack your bags and clear out!”
Emily had stayed late at the salontwo new clients booked after glowing recommendations. “Wed only trust you with our hair, Emily! Youre the best stylist in London!” The praise had her smiling all the way home. Maybe it *was* time to open her own place. Enough waiting for “someday.”
Lost in thought, Emily barely noticed the unfamiliar voices drifting from their flat. She froze in the doorway. A scuffed rucksack lay in the hall, muddy trainers kicked off near the shoe rack, the stale reek of lager clinging to the air.
“Em, look whos back! Its Oliver!” Her husband, Daniel, grinned from the kitchena strained, unfamiliar smile. His younger brother slouched on the sofa, staring blankly at the coffee table. The same Oliver whod vanished four years ago with a dancer from some dodgy club.
“Hey,” Oliver muttered, not lifting his eyes.
“Mum, whos that?” whispered Lily, fresh from ballet class, clutching her schoolbag tighter.
“Your uncle Oliver, love. Dads brother. You were too little to remember when he left.”
“Whys he so weird?”
“Go to your room, sweetheart. Well talk later.”
Emily locked herself in the loo, splashing cold water on her face. The mirror reflected exhaustion. Her roots needed touching up, but that wasnt what weighed on her. Four years ago, when Oliver left, Daniel had barely spoken to his parents for months, blaming them for driving him away. Thensilence. As if Oliver had never existed. Until now.
Daniel followed her to the bedroom, hesitating before speaking. “Hes staying with us. Just for a bit. Hes in a bad way. His wife cheated. Parents wont take him back.”
“You decided that *alone*? Without even asking me?” Emily whirled around. “You dont think thats out of order?”
“What was there to discuss? Hes my brother. Hes got nowhere else.”
“Dan, weve got a *teenage daughter*. Have you *seen* the state hes in? Dyou think its right for her to see this every day?”
“Thats *why* he needs us. *Family*.” Daniel finally met her eyes. “You know I cant abandon him. I *wont*.”
“How long?”
“As long as it takes. He needs to get back on his feet.”
“And what about Lily? Shes at that age”
“Emily, *enough*.” His voice sharpeneda tone shed never heard in fourteen years.
She bit back her words. Something in his glare stopped her cold.
“Fine,” she turned to the window. “But he doesnt drink here. And he finds a job.”
Daniel left without another word. Through the wall, she heard muffured voices in the kitchendeliberately hushed.
It was past midnight when silence finally fell. Emily lay awake, listening to Daniel pacing the hall, likely settling Oliver on the settee.
“Itll be alright,” he whispered, sliding into bed. But Emily wasnt sure anymore.
***
The morning reeked of stale beer. Emily fried eggs, ignoring the empty bottles and overflowing ashtray. For a month, their kitchen had been a pub for two.
“Mum, off to school,” Lily muttered, sidestepping her snoring uncle, her bag clutched to her chest. Lately, Lily was never homejoined some afterschool club, slept over at friends.
Emily watched her dart out, fury simmering. Their “temporary guest” had dismantled years of family dinners, cosy evenings, trustall in weeks.
“Morning,” Daniel strode in, tie perfectly knotted. “Coffee left?”
“Yesterdays. In the pot.” She nodded at the stove. “We need to talk.”
“Not now. Late for work.” He gulped the cold sludge and grimaced.
“When, Dan? Youre *always* late. Then its pints with your brother every night.”
He paused at the door. “Whatre you on about?”
“That this cant go on. Were not his keepers. Hes a grown man!”
“Hes *depressed*, Em. Cant you see hes shattered?”
“And what about *us*? Lily avoids this place. I come home to a tip every night. *You*”
“Me what?”
“Youve changed. Like I dont even know you.”
Daniel set his cup down hard. “Well talk tonight. Calmly.”
“No. *Now.*” She blocked the door. “I want him gone in a week. Flat, jobwhatever. But not leaching off us!”
“Youre *serious*?” His eyes narrowed. “Youd toss my own brother out?”
“Im saying *stop* being his free B&B! Hes not even *trying*!”
“He *needs time*! Its bloody obvious!”
“How much? A year? Forever?” Her voice cracked. “Do you even *see* what this is doing to us?”
“And dyou see hes *family*? I wont abandon him like our parents did. Not even for you!”
“So thats your choice?” Tears spilled over.
“Its not a *choice*, Em. Its duty. You just refuse to see it.”
He left, the door clicking softly behind him. Olivers snores rumbled from the lounge. Emily sank onto a chair, staring at Daniels abandoned coffee.
He used to kiss her goodbye every morning.
***
Days bled into silent warfare. Emily left early, returned late. Daniel pretended not to notice, glued to Olivers side. Lily tiptoed between them, met with brusque “Its fine, love.”
At night, Emily lay awake, catching fragments from the kitchen: “*She doesnt get it family sticks together too soft on her*”
***
On Friday, Daniel came home early. Oliver snored in the lounge; Lilys music throbbed behind her door. Emily stirred soup, the rhythmic motion calming.
“Sorted it,” Daniel leaned in the doorway, smug. “Found a solution. Ollie can stay in your flat.”
She stilled. That flat was her safety netleft by her godmother, *hers* alone.
“Its *tenanted*,” she said evenly.
“So? Give em notice. Theyll find somewhere.”
“Dan, are you *mad*? Theyve paid a year up front. *Two kids*. Im not doing that.”
“Fine. Ollie stays *here*. No debate.” He shrugged. “Your call.”
Emily dried her hands slowly. “Youd really evict a family for him?”
“What choice is there? You wanted him gone.”
“I wanted him to *grow up*. Get a job. Not mooch off us!”
“Its *depression*!”
“Or a *convenient* excuse to loaf about? Drinking our wine, eating our food”
Daniels fist slammed the counter. “*Dont* talk about him like that! Youve *no right*!”
Emily studied himthe clenched jaw, the fury. Not a lapse. A *choice*.
“Right,” she smiled faintly. “Understood.”
He blinked, thrown. “Whwhat?”
“Dinners ready. Call your brother.”
Baffled, he left. The second he was gone, Emily pulled out her phone.
“Marina? That solicitor you mentionedI need them. *Now.*”
Lilys music still pulsed. Emily pressed her forehead to the cool wood of her door.
“Itll be alright, sweetheart,” she whispered. “Mums got a plan.”
***
Three weeks passed in a blur. Emily took extra shifts, signed up for courses. Lily stayed with her gran”studying for exams.” Daniel didnt protest.
The flat belonged to the brothers now: football, takeaway boxes, laughter that excluded her.
Every morning, she cleared bottles, pizza crusts, fag ends. Daniel kissed Olivers head before work. Not her.
Thena shift. Daniel burst in, beaming. “Guess what? Ollies moving out!”
Emily nearly dropped her mug. “*What?*”
“Sorted himself a job! Proper plans and all!”
“Thats brilliant,” she breathed. Maybe
“Just needs a leg up,” Daniel ploughed on. “Ring your tenants tomorrow. Months notice. Well cover their moving costs.”
“We *discussed* this. *No.*”
“But its *different* now! Hes *trying*!”
“No. If he wants independence, he rents like everyone else.”
Daniel kicked a chair. “*Christ*, Em! Hes *finally* pulling himself together! And you”
“And *I* wont uproot a family for him
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