Don’t forget you’re living in my flat and always have been.” – “Here we go again. Are you going to hold this over me for the rest of my life?

“Dont forget, youve lived in my flat your whole life.”
“Youre starting again. Are you going to throw this in my face forever?”

Tanya and Oliver had been married for ten years.

Tanya had a mother and a stepfather whod raised her since she was three. Her younger brother, Ethan, wasnt his biological child either. Only her little sister, Natalie, was. Yet he never treated them differently.

When Tanya married and moved in with her husband, Natalie was just eight.

Oliver got along with her stepfather straight away. No surpriseNicholas Andrews could chat warmly with anyone, whether a child, teenager, or grown man. He spoke to everyone as an equal, finding common ground.

Oliver had no complaints about his mother-in-law either, but he bonded instantly with Nicholas, even calling him “Dad.” His own father was gone.

His mother had moved in with her grandmother after falling ill and never returned. She left the house to her son.

Tanya and Oliver renovated it to their taste, with Nicholass help. Tanyas mother grumbled, baffledwhy leave the city for a village?

“Mum, its a town. A proper town, with five-storey buildings in the centre!”

“Youre in a house on the outskirtsthats the countryside”

Ten years passed. Their son and daughter grew up. After uni, Ethan stayed in the city, far from home. Natalie married but had no place of her own, so she and her husband rented, with her parents covering the costs.

“Let them live with us,” Nicholas said to his wife.

“I dont mind, but we need to talk.”

“About what?”

“Why did you change jobs?”

“Weve discussed this. The kids earn their own money now. I cant keep working two jobs, especially after falling ill. Expenses are lower anyway.”

“Natalie needs a flat.”

“She has a husband.”

“Dont forget, youve lived in my flat your whole life.”

“Here we go again. Will you hold this over me forever?”

“Choose! Work to buy our daughter a flat!”

“Choose what? Work or what?”

“Or leave.”

“I cant work like thatyou know I cant.”

“Then Ill file for divorce. Go. You have that house.”

“That house? Have you seen it? What state its in after all these years?”

“I dont care. You didnt want to sell it.”

Silently, Nicholas packed the bare essentials.

“Take everything, or Ill throw the rest out.”

“Weve spent our lives together. You retire next year. Im sixty-three.”

“You shouldve found someone younger. I only married you because no one else would take me with two kids.”

“Is that what you call them? Im leaving. Ill collect the rest within the week. Be patient”

“Mum, wheres Dad?”

“You know hes not your real father.”

“So? Hes my dad. I dont have another.”

“Weve split up. Natalie and her husband are moving in here.”

“What? Wheres Dad?”

“Back in his village.”

“And Natalie agreed to send him there, weak as he is? How could you?”

“Why do you care so much?”

“Its heartless. Does Ethan know?”

“Why tell him? Hes far away. Why are you even here?”

“Just visiting. Were on holiday tomorrow, then stopping by Ethans.”

“What do you want from me? I need money for repairsyour sisters pregnant, theyre moving in soon. I wont give you a penny. Did you bring the kids? I wont babysit.”

“We dont need anything. Weve got money, the kids are coming with us. Thats not why were here. When were you going to tell us about the divorce?”

“Why should I? Hes only Natalies real father.”

“When he loved and provided for us, he was family. Now hes not? Thats wrong, Mum”

“Dont you judge me! Ive done my best for you!”

Oliver stepped back inside. Hed left earlier when Tanyas argument with her mother made it clear Nicholas was gone for good. Hed barely managed to reach himNicholas rarely carried his phone, but luckily, he answered.

“Of course its not my place to judge. He was the one who cared for us. Time will tell.”

“Tanya, lets go.” Oliver tugged her hand. “Ive found out everything. Kidsget in the car. Were going to Grandpas.”

“You found out? Lets go.”

“I did. It took some pressing. He didnt want to say.”

“Youre brilliant. I never even knew the address. We were never told, never visited.”

Nicholas met them by the old house.

“Grandpa, does a mean granny live here?” the grandchildren asked cheerfully.

“No. She stayed in the city.”

Tanya and Oliver laughed. The joke landed, though Nicholass mood was grim. He was glad to see them but couldnt hide his sadness.

“Why did you find me?”

“How could we leave you here? We came to sort everything out. Why didnt you tell us?”

“Why bother you? Your mother said her piece. I understood.”

“I understood her too. How will you live here? Its summer now, but winter? Did you bring all your things?”

“Everything. Theres nothing here but old crockery. But Ill manage.”

“Of course you willby coming home with us. Pack your things, Dad.”

“Yes, Dad, come on. Well fetch the rest later. Just take the essentials.”

“I cant. Im not alone.”

“We can see that. Weve been meaning to get a dogthe kids keep asking.”

“Someone dumped him. Hes just a puppy”

“Bring him too. Hell guard our house.”

Nicholas didnt crybut tears fell anyway.

“Dad, were leaving tomorrow for ten days. Youre in charge here. This is your room. Theres food, a shop nearby, and weve left money. Well stop by Ethans. Just stay in touch”

“Dad, were back!” Tanya called as soon as she stepped inside.

Oliver and the kids followedbut no one answered.

Instead of Nicholas, Tanyas mother appeared.

“Mum, what are you doing here? Wheres Dad?”

“I came to check on your place while you were away,” she said breezily. “And theres a stranger herewith a dog!”

“Wheres Dad?” Oliver demanded.

“Natalie and her husband have moved into my flat. Ill live with you now. Its closer to town.”

“Listenwhere is he?”

They were baffled.

“How should I know?” she sniffed. “Probably where he was before.”

“Darling, Mother-in-law, youve overstayed. Were home now, so”

“Tanya! How dare he speak to me like that?”

“Mum, its time to go. Dont bother bringing your things here.”

They found Nicholas back at the old house, lying on the sofa, the puppy asleep on the rug.

“You again? Why? Im fine here. Just resting after lunch.” He sat up. “Theres someone else living in your place now.”

“Your ex-wife wont stay in my home. Even if you dont come with us, shes not welcome.”

“She thinks otherwise. She freed up the flat for Natalie.”

“Come on. Get in the carthe kids brought presents. Dont forget the dog. Leave the rest for now.”

“Hes already waitingjumped in himself,” Oliver said. “Tanya, Natalies calling. You left your phone in the car.”

“So Mums made it back, or just complained. I wont answer yet.”

Nicholas ended up living with Tanya and Oliver. His ex-wife never showed up again. Ethan preferred visiting them over his motherthere was no space for his family at hers.

“Were moving,” he announced one day. “Want to be closer to you.”

“Brilliant.”

“Buying a flat?”

“No. A house. Ill get land.”

“I have some, son. If youre interested, well see.”

“Land?”

“Yes. The house is gone, but the plots there. If you dont like it, sell it and buy elsewhere.”

“Your land, my housemeans you live with us,” Ethan said.

“No. Hes our dad.”

“Enoughhes stayed with you. Now its our turn.”

Tanya, Oliver, and Ethan joked, arguing over whod keep him. It was all so good. Only Natalie stayed away.

She turned up much