One Request Vicky learned from her neighbour that Grandma had moved. She always visited her on her…

One Simple Request

I learnt about Grandmas move from a neighbour. On my birthday, I always visited her, buying a sponge cake and a bag of plumsshe adored plums. I was fumbling at the entrance for my ringing phone when Mrs Barker from downstairs called out:

Is that you, Sophie? Oh, your grandmas moved, you know.

Truth be told, she wasnt my grandma by bloodshe was the grandmother of my ex-husband. We met at university; he lived with her then. The first time he took me to meet her I was petrified, knowing it was an inspection. Nick had no parents, just Grandma Mary whod raised him since he was five. But my worries were unfounded; she immediately welcomed me as her own.

We married in our final year, and Grandma gave us a gift beyond imaginationher own one-bedroom flat. It was way out in the suburbs, on the top floor without a balcony, but it was ours. Shed scrimped and saved all her life so we could start out on our own.

Id never had anything of my own. My stepfather watched me like a hawk, making sure I didnt eat more than his real children, measuring the water I used, and forever scolding me for wasting electricity. At seventeen, I got a job as a waitress and rented the tiniest box room imaginable, more like a storage cupboard. No campus accommodation for memy address was already local. So that small flat felt like a palace.

But I wasnt there long. A year after we married, coming home early from my shift (I wanted to make Nick breakfast), I found a blonde woman smoking in my bed, blowing smoke towards the ceiling. Water ran in the bathroom. She barely bothered to cover herself with the Christmas quilt Grandma had given us.

That was the end of our five-year relationship. I didnt cause a fuss and we divorced quietly. The flat stayed with Nick, which was only fair, though the blonde, glued to Nick through every stage of the divorce, hissed, Get her signature! Shell get knocked up by some truck driver and try to take the flat!

Wheres she moved? I asked, dismissing the call.

Oh, to your old flat! The couple are expecting a baby, so they swapped.

I was anxiousGrandma had trouble walking after her hip fracture, and the flat was high up with no lift. How would she manage? The day I caught the blonde in my flat, Nick and I had decided to move in with Grandma to care for herbut now shed be alone, in an unfamiliar corner where no one knew her. Here, the whole building looked after her; there was always someone to turn to.

The news about the baby stung, tooNick never wanted children with me, said we needed time for ourselves.

Thanks, Mrs Barker.

I headed to the bus stop, waited forty minutes clutching the cake and trying not to squash it.

Returning to the flat I once thought of as my happiest place was bittersweet. I took the usual route, noticing changesa fresh shop sign, a fenced off empty plot In the courtyard, a new playground had appeared. A six-year-old boy sat by a puddle, dipping his bare feet.

Im at the beach! he called cheerily.

I smiled and pulled a chocolate bar from my coat.

Here you go, Robinson Crusoe!

Grandma pretended all was well and said shed moved by choice.

Nick pops over, does my shopping, gives me lifts to the hospital if needed, she explained.

When was he last here? I asked.

Just yesterday, love.

I knew she was fibbingthe kitchen bin overflowed and the bread was rock hard.

Ill nip to the shop, I offered. Ive just remembered I need cheese.

That was a lie.

She protested, but I insisted. When I left, I deliberately forgot my umbrella so Id have a reason to return soonand run to the shop for her again. At first, she tried to refuse, saying Nick came often, but when I got the flu and stayed away for a week, scared to infect her, she called herself and shyly asked when I could visit.

It wasnt easy to pop in often, so I sorted things my own way: I arranged with the boy from the playground to take out Grandmas rubbish daily for £5 a week, ordered groceries by delivery, bought her a smartphone and taught her to use the app. Nick always claimed shed never managebut she did. I visited weekly, sometimes more, sometimes less. Grandma seemed to forget Nick was once my husband, boasted about his new son, and loved videos Nick sent on her phone.

Has anyone brought the great-grandson over? I asked.

Oh no, far too little!

But they did bring him for his first birthdayGrandma asked me to withdraw £100 from her account to buy him a present. Thats how I knew of all Nicks visitson his birthday, the childs birthday, Christmas, and once in April, presumably the blondes birthday. For every occasion, Grandma withdrew a generous sum.

She tried to give me money, too, but I always refused.

If you do, Ill be very cross, I threatened.

One day, Grandma said:

Fine. But promise to grant me just one favour, then Ill stop with the money.

What is it?

Ill tell you later.

I agreed.

When Paul entered my life, Grandma was the first to hear. Mum and I barely spoke anymoreshed started drinking with my stepdad and wouldnt stop calling me a loser.

Lost yourself a bloke with a flat, you daft thing! Youll rot in those cupboard rooms forever!

Paul had no flat, but he promised to work for one. Five years younger, Id refused his advances for ages, but finally relented. He was cheerful and kind, and his family took to me instantly. They lived in a detached house on the edge of town. Paul was the eldest of six brothers.

Didnt dare try for a seventh, his mother chuckled. Im holding out for granddaughters. What about you, career woman or children?

I do want children, I admitted.

Then Ill expect a granddaughter from you two, Pauls the sensible one, the rest are still wild!

We married simply, no big party, and spent our savings on a trip. I did worry about Grandma without me, but what could I do?

Unfortunately, my fears came true. No one knows exactly what happenedmaybe she felt unwell and sought help, or maybe tried to take the rubbish down herself She was found cold on the staircase.

I knew I shouldnt cry, shouldnt dwelljust yesterday, Id done a pregnancy test and was thrilled, ready to tell Grandma today But how could I not grieve? If only I hadnt left, shed still be here! I didnt even make the funeral; Nick never told me, despite knowing I stayed in touch. I didnt call him to quarrel.

A few days later, Nicks wife rang.

You think youre clever? Well take you to court and prove Grandma was out of her mind when she wrote that!

I couldnt understand at first. She screamed and cursed, till finally I realised it was about a flat.

The next day, the solicitor called, asking me to come in and read Grandmas will. Shed written me a letter, too.

I read it in tears. Shed said such generous things, thanked me profusely. I felt awkwardmy help wasnt for thanks, but because I truly loved her as family. I had nobody else to love. Heres the request I mentioned: please accept this flat as a gift, for I have no other way to thank you.

I thought she meant the flat where shed lived, but the solicitor clarifiedit was the two-bedroom flat where Nick and his wife lived. The one-bedroom had gone to Nick, as Grandma intended.

I asked for time to think it over. Paul and I discussed it. I didnt want a flat leading to threats and calls, especially now, with the pregnancy. Yet I couldnt ignore Grandmas last wish. We deliberated, finally agreeing.

We invited Nick and his wife to the solicitors office, after consulting him. He thought I was naïve, but didnt argue.

Nicks wife flew at me, spitting insults and nearly swinging for me, but Paul stood firm. She ranted on.

Enough! Nick unexpectedly snapped. Sophie earned that flat; she cared for Grandma three years.

I was stunnedId prepared a speech for Nick.

Nothing more to discuss. Well move our things and vacate the flat, he said, not meeting my eyes.

Then I explained my plan: I didnt want to disrupt their home, the one-bedroom on the edge was more than enough for me. The solicitor and I had spoken about how to transfer it properlyit only needed Nicks agreement.

He looked up at me for the first time, guilt in his eyes.

Nicks wife calmed and demanded coffee and biscuits, saying I’d wasted her time and couldve sorted this sooner.

Our daughter was born. I named her Mary, after Grandma. Pauls mum was overjoyed! Shed have more granddaughters eventuallybut Mary would always be the favourite.