The Country House Standoff: Daughter Claims Back What’s Rightfully Hers

Summer EscapeA Daughter Takes Back Whats Hers

Lucy, you must see my position is desperate, said my father Peter Wright, pinching the bridge of his nose before exhaling heavily. Elaine has been on at me for weeks now.

She found some prestigious course in Cyprus for Oliver. You know, our boy. Says he needs a good start, and a chance to improve his English. But how am I meant to pay for it?

Youre well aware, Im not exactly raking it in these days.

I glanced up at him, taking in his pink cheeks and the slightly desperate glint in his eyes.

And youve decided selling the cottage is the answer? I asked quietly.

What else can I do? he brightened up slightly, sitting forward as if eager for encouragement. The cottage just sits there doing nothing. Elaine never goesshe finds it dull. She moans about the midges, everything.

She doesnt even know its not mine on paper anymore. She thinks well put it up for auction and all live happily ever after.

Lucy, youre sensible. How about this: you make the sale official. You get your money backevery last penny you gave me ten years ago!

And the rest, the price its gained now, you pass on to me. Family, right?

You dont lose out, surely? You keep whats yours, and help out your old man.

Of course, Dad had turned up unannounced. We barely spoke these dayshe had his new wife, Elaine, and young Oliver, and somehow I just didnt quite fit their picture.

I had a feeling this visit wasnt just a social call. I half-suspected hed ask for a loan, but His suggestion was at best bizarre.

Dad, lets take a moment to remember what happened ten years ago, I replied after a long pause. When you came to me for moneysaid you needed it for surgery and a long recovery.

Do you remember?

He winced.

Is there any need to dig all that up now? I pulled through, thanks be.

The past? I let out a short, dry laugh and shook my head. Those were all my savings sitting in the bank, Dad. Five years I scrimped for a deposit on a flat.

I worked weekends, took no holidays, counted every penny. Then you turned up. No work, no savings, but at least youd found yourself a new wife and a son.

You cleaned me out back then.

I was desperate, Lucy! What else could I do? Crawl under a bridge and die?

I offered to help, Dad, I went on, ignoring the interruption. But I told you outright: I was terrified of being left with nothing if you didnt make it.

You had Elaineyour legal next of kin. Shed never have let me step foot in that cottage.

We argued for a week, remember? You wouldnt sign a proper agreement. Took offence.

How could you not trust your own father!

I only wanted some assurance.

And you got your guarantee! he cut in. We drew up the papers, the cottage became yours.

I sold it to you for next to nothing, just the amount it cost for my treatment.

I thought wed agreed: Id use it, and once I had the money, Id buy it back.

Its been ten years, I said flatly. Ten, Dad. Have you ever once spoken about buying it back? Returned so much as a fiver? No.

Youve spent every summer there, grown your runner beans, burned through firewoodwhich I paid for.

The ratesmine. Three years ago, when the roof needed repairsthat was my money too.

You lived in it as if it were yours, with no sign of guilt, while I slogged to pay off my mortgage.

He mopped his brow.

I couldnt work, Lucy. You know full well, it took ages to recover after the chemo. And since then, Im too oldno one wants me.

Elaine isnt exactly the practical type either. Shes burnt out by her office job.

We just about scrape by, selling bits and bobs online.

Shes fragile? I shot back, starting to pace the kitchen. But Im bulletproof, am I?

Im expected to juggle two jobs, keep up my mortgage, and pay for your rehab in the cottage?

And now Elaines decided its time to flog my cottage to ship her darling boy off for sun and courses?

My cottage, Dad! Mine!

Technically, yes, he shrugged. But you must see, that was always just meant as a stopgap.

Im your father. I gave you life! Surely youre not going to quibble over a patch of countryside when your brother needs help?

Brother? I came to a halt. Ive seen Oliver all of twice in my life.

Hes never wished me happy birthday. Has Elaine ever once asked how I’ve coped? How I managed those payments for years?

Elaines still convinced you own half of London and are just between jobs.

Youve lied to her for a decade, Dad.

He looked away, shamefaced.

I meant well, Lucy Didnt want to upset her.

Shes emotional, wouldve gone spare if I told her Id handed over the cottage.

Handed over, you say?

Please, Lucy, dont nitpick! now he was raising his voice. Im making you a decent offer! The cottage is worth five times what it was. The markets gone mad.

You take your hundred grand backthe amount you lent me. Thats fair, right? Right! The other two hundred thousand, thats for me.

Oliver needs a future; Elaine needs dental work; theres the car, which is falling to bits.

Its not like you need the money. Youve got your place in London, everything you could want.

Help your family!

I kept staring at him, searching for the father whod read me fairy tales when I was little.

No, I said firmly.

What do you mean, no? he gasped.

Im not selling the cottage. I most certainly wont hand over any extra cash.

Its mine by rightand by every moral standard.

Youve lived blissfully rent-free for ten years, regained your health, enjoyed the countryside. Chalk that up as my contribution.

Thats the end of it.

Are you serious? his face flushed. Youd take everything from your own father?

If it wasnt for me, there wouldnt even be a cottage! My father built it with his own hands!

Exactly. It was Grandpas. Hed turn in his grave if he knew you wanted to flog off the family home for some dubious course in Cyprus for a boy who hasnt lifted a finger in nineteen years.

For pitys sake, Lucy! Dad was on his feet now, shouting. You owe me! I raised you! If you refuse, Ill tell everyone how mean you are.

Ill tell Elaine everythingshell come round and make your life hell!

Well take you to court! Well get the sale overturned! It was unfair, wasnt it? You took advantage when I was ill, fleeced me of my property!

I gave a bitter little laugh.

Give it a go, Dad. Ive kept all the hospital bills, every bank transfer into your name.

And the legal papers you signed, in full possession of your facultiesMr Riley the solicitor made sure of that, you remember?

Elaine will be very interested to find out you sold the cottage long before Oliver started school.

You told her it was your inheritance, didnt you?

Lucy his tone changed: wheedling, almost pitiful. Please, love. Elaines going through a bad patch

If she finds out the truth, shell turf me out. Shes fifteen years youngershes only here because of what I can provide.

If theres no cottage, no money, she wont want me. Is that what you wantfor your father to end up on the street in his old age?

Did you ever think about this before? I felt my anger rising When you went a decade without a job? When you let Elaine rack up debts? When you promised her luxury at my expense?

So you wont help? Dad squared up. Some daughter you are

Go home, Dad. Tell Elaine the truth. Its the only way youll keep a shred of dignity.

Choke on your precious cottage! he spat out as he swept past me. But remember, you have no father now. Dont you dare contact me!

He left, and I smiled coldly. As if Id had a father for years.

Truth is, Dad walked out on us when I was seven.

***

The phone rang early Saturday morningfrom an unknown number.

Hello?

Is that Lucy? I recognised Elaine immediately. Who do you think you are, you selfish cow?

You really think you can cheat Peter out of the cottage? Hes told me everything!

You tricked him into signing those papers when he was drugged after surgery!

Good morning, Elaine, I said evenly. If you want to talk, can we do it without shouting?

Morning? My solicitors drawing up the paperwork as we speak! Well have that deal thrown out! You took advantage of your ill father and robbed him of his familys home for peanuts.

Well make sure youre left with nothing!

Elaine, please listen.

I understand Peter’s told you his versionbut I have all the evidence showing the money went to his medical care.

In addition, I have a decade of messages from him thanking me for keeping the cottage running and letting him stay there.

He wrote, in his own words: Thank you, Lucy, for not abandoning me, for knowing the cottage is safe with you.

What do you think the judge will make of that?

The line went silentElaine hadnt expected me to be so prepared.

Youre disgusting, she hissed. Isnt your own flat enough? You have to take away Olivers chance as well? He needs to study!

Oliver needs to get a job like I did when I was his age.

And you, Elaine, deserve to know the truth. Remember all those shares Peter said he owned?

What shares? I heard the tremor in her voice.

The shares he invented. He just used the money I sent him to help out, pretended they were dividends.

Check the bank transfers, if you dont believe me. Your dear husbands been lying to you for years. Played the illness card for all its worth.

I was getting into debt, thinking I was saving Dads lifeall while he spun his web of lies.

Elaine hung up. That evening, I got a text from Dad. Three words: Youve ruined everything.

***

I never replied. A couple of days later, neighbours from the village called: apparently, Elaine had put on quite a showthrowing my fathers belongings out the windows while yelling her head off, until the police were called.

Turns out, certain the cottage would soon be sold, Elaine had loaded herself with major debtsa big loan at sky-high interest for Olivers fresh start.

Dad had to move out. Elaine filed for divorce as soon as she realised how deep his lies ran.

And as for Oliverhed been pampered all his life. Didnt even spare his father a glance as he packed up and moved in with his girlfriend. The old man brought it on himself, he said.

Where Dad is now, I dont know. And I dont intend to find out.