My Sister-in-Law Moved in Uninvited, So I Put Her Belongings in the Hallway

Maddie turned up at my flat in Camden without even asking, and I stuck her bags in the hallway.

Whose leopardprint boots are those in the hallway? We werent expecting any guests, I said, standing in the doorway with two heavy grocery bags in my hands.

Oliver, my husband, shuffled out of the living room, rubbing his neck like a schoolboy whod just broken mums favourite vase and was now trying to hide the shards under the rug.

Ivy, dont worry, he started, and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. Usually that line meant a dented bumper or a surprise visit from the inlaws. Its just Maddies arrived.

Shes visiting? I asked, moving into the kitchen to unload milk and veg. Odd that she didnt ring. And why are there three pairs of boots?

Well not exactly visiting, Olivers voice dropped, his feet shifting by the fridge. Shes had a row with Victor. Fullon. He tossed her out, told her to pack her things and get out. Shes got nowhere to go mums in a tiny oneroom flat with dad and the cat, no space to spread out. So she asked to crash with us for a bit.

I set the bag of buckwheat on the table and turned to Oliver.

What do you mean a bit, Oliver? And why am I hearing about this after the leopard boots have already made a home on my carpet?

Love, calm down. She called earlier today while you were in that meeting and you didnt pick up. She was crying, standing on the street with her suitcases. I cant just send my own sister to the station. Shell stay a week or two, find a flat or patch things up with Victor, then shell be off. Shes quiet, she wont be a bother.

Just then the bathroom door swung open and Maddie popped out, wrapped in my fluffy white bathrobe the one I only wear after a proper soak. Shed tied a towel turban on her head and was chomping on a ham sandwich.

Oh, Ivy, youre home! she mouthed through the bite. By the way, my hair serums gone, I used the last drop. Can you grab some tomorrow? My hairs going crazy.

I stared at the crumbs on the floor, at her smug round face, and thought, This quiet life is over.

Take the robe off, I said, icecold.

Come on, dont be like that. My suitcase is a mess, Im too lazy to unpack, Maddie waved it off and flopped onto the sofa, snatching the remote. Oliver, could you make a tea? With a slice of lemon, please. My throats dry from the nerves.

The evening unfolded in a tense silence from me, while Maddie went on a nonstop monologue about how Victor was a scoundrel, how shed wasted her best years, and how she was starting a new life. Her new life began with her devouring all the meatballs Id cooked for the next two days and monopolising the bathroom for an hour and a half, turning it into a makeshift sauna.

When we finally hit the bedroom, I snapped at Oliver:

This isnt working. Why is she in my robe? Why is she running the house? One week, max. Got it?

Ivy, bear with me. Shes in a crisis, a personal drama. Shell settle down soon, I promise. Show a bit of mercy; shes my sister.

The next morning I was off to work early. Im a senior accountant, and it was the endofmonth crunch numbers were blurring together. All I could think about was getting home, taking a hot shower, and curling up with a book in peace.

The moment I turned my key, the flat was blasting pop music so loud the windows vibrated. The hallway smelled of nail polish and something burnt.

I walked into the kitchen. The pan on the hob was smoking, black bits that must have been potatoes. Maddie wasnt there. I found her in the living room, sprawled on the floor with a whole arsenal of my cosmetics laid out on the coffee table. She was painting her toenails a bright scarlet, her foot resting on the couch fabric.

Maddie! I shouted, turning the music off. What on earth is happening?

Oops, scared you! she flinched, a brush smearing polish on the beige velvet. Ivy, why are you sneaking around? Look, youve left a stain now.

I stared at the red line on my favourite couch, my eyes darkening.

Did you take my makeup bag?

I needed to look presentable. Ive got a date tonight. Gotta pull a fast one, you know? she giggled, flicking at her nails. Did the potatoes burn? I totally forgot.

You almost set the kitchen on fire! And get your feet off the couch! Do you have your own nail polish and creams?

Theyre in my suitcase, she shrugged. Takes ages to dig them out. Hey, do you have any decent tights? Mine are all runout. I saw a pack called Omssa, fortyday stuff, in the dresser. Lend me a pair?

No, I cut her off. Im not lending you anything. Put my cosmetics back and clean the pan.

Youre so petty, she sneered. Too bad Ill tell Oliver youre a stingy sisterinlaw.

When Oliver got back from work, Maddie met him with a solemn face.

Ollie, I might have to spend the night at the station. Your wifes going berserk, shouting about nail polish. I feel like a unwanted relative.

Oliver, exhausted, looked pleadingly at me.

Ivy, whats the problem now?

She ruined the couch, Oliver. Almost started a fire. Shes taking my stuff without asking.

It was an accident! Maddie squealed. And shes yelling like a servant!

Alright, girls, lets not fight. Maddie, Ill buy you new tights, okay? Ivy, well get the couch cleaned. Lets all try to get along.

Get along didnt happen. Days dragged on and the flat turned into chaos. Maddie left dishes piled in the sink, some even under the couch. She hung her underwear on the radiators, though we have a dryer. I kept trying to set boundaries.

Maddie, we normally wash dishes right after eating.

Oh, Ill do it later, Ive soaked them.

Please dont blast the TV after eleven; we have to get up early.

I cant wear headphones, my ears hurt. Im sleepless, depressed.

The worst part was Oliver. The gentle, kind Oliver Id married was beginning to take Maddies side, her words slipping into his head when I wasnt around.

Youre such a pushover, shed say, stirring my tea with my spoon. Shes controlling you, taking your pay, cutting you off from friends. Victors a goat, but at least he knew how to stand his ground. You

Oliver started snapping back.

Ivy, why didnt you make dinner? Maddies been home all day, shes hungry, and the fridge only has yesterdays soup.

Maddies an adult, she could cook herself, right? I retorted.

Shes a guest! Shes stressed!

Guests dont live for months and tell the host what to do.

Three weeks passed and I felt like a squeezed lemon. I didnt want to come home. I lingered at work, walked in the park just to avoid seeing my lovely sisterinlaw.

The climax hit on a Friday.

Id gotten a day off for overtime, so I decided to do a deep clean while Maddie was out she claimed she had an interview (though I suspected it was at the nearby shopping centre).

I got home around onepm. The door was unlocked. Weird. I slipped into the hallway and saw huge mens boots, filthy, size 45.

From the bedroom came muffled laughter and music.

I tiptoed to the bedroom door and flung it open.

On the doublecovered bed lay Maddie in a lace nightdress the very one Oliver had given me for our anniversary and a stranger with a tattoo on his shoulder. Beer bottles and a pizza box were scattered on the nightstand, next to a framed photo of our wedding.

Oh, look! the bloke shouted, pulling the blanket over himself. The ladys home.

Maddie, unbothered, reached out.

Ivy? Why so early? Were just watching a film. Meet Stan.

I felt something snap inside me. The anger that had been bubbling for weeks turned into icy calm.

Get out, I said quietly.

What? Stan asked.

Out now. Both of you. Two minutes to pack and leave, or Im calling the police.

Ivy, why are you losing it? Maddie started to get up. We were just relaxing. Stan helped me with my CV

I said out! My voice cracked, and even the tattooed bloke jumped.

You brought a stranger into my bedroom? You wore my nightdress? Youre eating pizza on my bed?

Its just a nightdress! Maddie snorted, pulling on jeans. Youll wash it, wont you? Come on, Stan, its stuffy in here.

When Stans door shut, Maddie tried to slip back into the living room as if nothing had happened.

Youve ruined my vibe. I had a decent night

I strode into the hallway, grabbed three large black garbage bags and headed back to the bedroom where Maddie was still lounging on the sofa.

Get up.

Why?

Im packing your stuff. Youre leaving. Now.

You cant! This is my brothers flat too! He invited me! I wont go until Oliver shows up!

I didnt argue. I opened the hallway wardrobe where Maddie had hung her things, shoved her clothes, her leopardprint dress, dirty socks, everything into the bags. She screamed, trying to snatch a cashmere sweater.

Hey! Thats my sweater! she shrieked, darting around me.

Adrenaline gave me strength. Within five minutes I had three massive bags full of her belongings. Her suitcase sat open in the corner, spilling cosmetics, shoes, chargers.

Youre sick! Ill call Oliver! she lunged for my phone.

I dragged the bags and suitcase onto the stairwell.

Youre out too, I pointed at the door.

I wont!

Fine, Ill call the police. Ill say theres an intruder refusing to leave. Wheres your address? Mums in Birley? Thats where youll be.

Maddie saw the resolve in my eyes and realised the joke was over. She bolted for the corridor, snatching her bag.

Youll regret this! Youll crawl back begging for forgiveness! Oliver will dump you, you bitch!

I slammed the door in her face, turned the lock twice, then chained it. My heart pounded like a drum. I leaned against the door, slipped onto the floor, and heard Maddies shrieks echo down the hallway, pounding on the door, shouting that shed been robbed and left out in the cold, even though it was a warm September evening.

I dialled Oliver.

Oliver, I said, trying not to let my voice shake. Your sister is in the stairwell with her bags.

What? Ivy, what did you do? Why?

She brought a man into our bedroom. They were in our bed. She was in my nightdress.

Silence hung on the line while Oliver processed.

The bedroom? Our bedroom?

Yes. If you keep defending her, you can go straight to Mum with her. Im changing the locks tonight.

I Im coming now.

An hour later the flat was dead quiet. Maddie, apparently tired of screaming, had hauled her bags down to the block and waited for her brother outside.

Oliver arrived, pale. He didnt go straight up; first he helped his sister into a taxi and sent her to her mum, then he came home.

I sat at the kitchen table, tea in hand, my hands still trembling. Id already stripped the dirty sheets and tossed them in the washing machine on a hot cycle. Id thrown the lace nightdress straight into the bin I couldnt wear that after what happened.

Did she leave? I asked, not looking at Oliver.

Yes, off to Mums. Shes already called, shouting were monsters.

Us? I raised an eyebrow.

Well you. I told her not to get involved.

Oliver took my hand across the table.

Ivy, Im sorry. I was foolish. I thought shed just stay a bit and calm down. I didnt expect the man, the nightdress I was horrified.

And the three weeks of her wrecking the couch, stealing my stuff, being a nightmare? You didnt see that?

I did, he sighed. But I was scared of upsetting my mum. She always says, Family is sacred, you must help. I just endured, hoping it would blow over.

It wont, Oliver. Parasites dont just disappear. You have to pull them out.

His phone buzzed Mum. He glanced at the screen, then at me, and hung up.

Lets just sit in silence for a bit? No TV, no talk about Victor.

Yeah, fine.

The quiet didnt last long. The next day my motherinlaw, Natalie Clarke, showed up, determined to lecture me.

It was a Saturday. She hammered on the door, suitcase in hand.

Open up! I know youre home! she shouted.

I opened.

Mrs Clarke, hello. If youre here about Maddie, theres nothing to discuss.

She ploughed into the hallway like a drill.

How could you throw that girl out on the street with garbage bags? Shes traumatised! She cried all night!

My trauma is having strangers roll around in my bed, I snapped. Your daughter crossed every line. Shes a pig.

Shes not a guest, shes staying with her brother! Natalie retorted. And youre an intruder! You even gave her boots! Lingerie! Whats next? Shoes?

Exactly. Human relations, thats what. Maddie behaved like a swine. I put up with it for three weeks. Thats it.

Oliver stepped out of the kitchen.

Mum, stop, he said firmly.

She froze, used to him staying silent or agreeing.

What do you mean stop? Hear how she talks to her mother? Shell split the family! Oliver, grab Maddies things the hair dryer, straightener and apologise to your sister.

I wont apologise, Oliver said, placing a hand on my shoulder. Maddie acted horribly. Ivys right. She has no place here until she learns respect.

You youre choosing her? Over your own blood?

Im choosing my wife, my home, my peace. Maddies thirtytwo, time to grow up. She can get a room elsewhere, work, date whoever she likes, but this isnt a joint.

Natalie gasped, clutching her chest like a fish out of water.

I curse you! I never want to see you again!

Fine, Mum, Oliver replied calmly. Call when youve cooled down. We just want some peace.

She stormed out, slamming the door.

When the house finally settled, I leaned against Oliver.

Thank you, I whispered. I thought youd just shut up again.

I imagined what would happen if she came back. I cant stand that again. I want a quiet life too.

A week later the tension eased. Maddie, realising the free ride was over, quickly patched things up with Victor. He texted Oliver, All good, dont worry about Ivy. I just laughed; I didnt care what she thought of me any longer. The flat was clean, no one was stealing my meatballs or my lingerie.

I had the couch sent for a professional clean that nailpolish stain was stubborn, but the fresh beige looked worth it. It felt like a small price for the lesson learned. No more stay for a week. Never again.

Oliver finally saw me as more than just the person who makes tea he started standing up for my boundaries, saying no even to Mum. Yesterday I bought a new lock, just in case. And that leopardprint robe Maddie loved? I tossed it straight into the bin. Time to move forward without any of her junk or bad vibes.

Thanks for listening, love. Catch up soonNow, as we sit together on our freshly cleaned sofa, sipping tea and watching the sunset, I finally feel the peace of a home truly our own.