Move Over, We’re Planning to Live Here for the Next Ten Years: When Family Turns Up Expecting a London Flat, Entitlement, and Old Promises Come Crashing Down

Move Over, Well Just Live Here For Ten Years

My mother-in-law paused for a moment, then declared,
Oh, Jenny, Vals quite a forceful woman When she gets an idea in her head, theres just no shifting her. You must understandshe only wants to give Natasha an education

At my expense? I stopped before the mirror.

Staring back at me was a pale woman with wild hair.

Margaret, please, stop them. Tell them to get off at the next station and go home. I wont meet them. I wont hand over the flat.

How could I possibly stop them? Margaret wailed. Theyre already on the train. Val took out a loan to pay for the course, and they havent got a penny left for somewhere to stay. She was so counting on your help. Jen, just ask your tenants to leave. What does it cost you? Youre family, after all

Family? Ive seen Natasha, your niece, all of twice! Im meant to kick out my tenants, stop helping my own parents, interrupt my daughters activitiesjust because your sister decided its convenient?

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Still in my coat, I fished it out. Vals message appeared, brisk and cheery.

Hi Jenny! Were already on the train. Tickets for 19:40. In London by morning at Euston. Meet us, please, me and Natasha.

Text the address for your one-bed, we didnt write it down before. Where do we collect the keys?

I stood frozen. I read it through three times, hoping Id misunderstood. What flat? What Natasha?

Mum, are you stuck? Lucy poked her head out from the hallway. Im hungry.

In a minute, love. I stroked my daughters hair absently, still staring at the message.

I rang Val immediately. She picked up in a flash; I heard train wheels clattering behind her and snippets of high-pitched laughter.

Hello, Jenny! Got my message? We thoughtsurprise! Dont worry about making food or anythingwell see to ourselves!

Val, hang on, I interrupted. What are you doing? Where are you going?

To London, of course! Natashas starting university. I told you back in the spring. She didnt make it onto the free spots, never mind, shell study as a paying student.

We packed everythingoff to settle in your flat!

Myexcuse me? The flat Ive been letting out for six years? Are you serious, Val?

Oh, come off it! Vals tone instantly hardened. Six years ago, when you inherited that one-bed from your gran, dont you remember us all round the table? I said, Now Natasha will have somewhere to live for uni, and you didnt say a word! You agreed. Weve counted on that all this time.

I didnt say anything because I thought it was a ridiculous joke! I nearly shouted. Renters live therefamily with a child. Weve a contract, they always pay on time. Those funds cover my parents medication, Lucys lessons. Did you even consider this before booking your tickets?

We thoughtfamily should look out for each other! Val barked. Or have Londoners lost all shame? Going to leave your own niece on the station platform? Have you told your husband? Does he know his family is being kicked out?

My husband is on a project in Newcastle, and has patchy signal at best. Regardlessits my flat, Val. Mine. My gran bought it, she left it to me. Its got nothing to do with Peter.

Is that how it is? Vals voice rose. Natasha, hear that? Your uncles wife wants nothing to do with us. Well, well sort it out face to face. See you at the platform.

Beep. She hung up. I stood there, dumbstruck.

Lucy, pop to the kitchen, theres casserole in the fridgeyou can heat it up yourself, I called, trying to control the tremor in my hands as I rang my mother-in-law.

Margaret took her time picking up.

Yes, Jenny, what is it?

Did you know your sister and Natasha set off for London aiming to move into my flat?

Well Val did say something. I assumed you two had it sorted, Margaret mumbled.

Sorted? Ive let that place for six years now. Half the rent goes to pay for my parents bills. You know how strained things are on their pension. The rest pays for Lucys swimming and dance. Why didnt you tell them its impossible?

Dont shout at me, Margaret sounded wounded. Its not my fault. Sort it yourselves. And dont ring Peter. Hes in the middle of negotiations, anxious enough already.

I dropped my phone on the sofa. My husband always tried to keep out of family rows, unless it was his mum or aunthed become inexplicably compliant then.

Well, theyre from the countryside, they see things differently, hed usually say. Best to just go along with it

I tried Peters number. Not available. Typical. When I really need him, hes always out of reach.

***

The fallout was monumental. Val started phoning from five in the morning, demanding I collect them.

Were exhausted, were hungry! Its cold as wellwere freezing. Why arent you up yet? Move! We want you here in fifteen minutes!

Half-asleep, it took a minute to process who I was talking to. Then I barked:

Leave me alone! Im not coming, and youre not getting my flat. Thats it. Enough.

After the tenth call, I blocked her number.

Then Val started ringing from Natashas mobileI blocked that too.

All day long Margaret pestered mepleading, cajoling, threatening to take offence and report it all to her son

Peter stormed home that evening, having dashed back from Newcastle unannounced.

Jenny, whats going on? he demanded the moment he was through the door. Mums been crying down the phonesaid you threw Aunt Val out onto the street!

Hugging him, I explained,
They showed up demanding I evict my tenants so Natasha could live there for freeat least five years, no less. Is that reasonable? Arent they comfortable enough at your mums? And why did you rush back?

Mum called, then Aunt Val bombarded me Jenny, maybe we should let them stay? Just until they sort hall accommodation

I shook my head.
Theres no hallsthey didnt even apply. Val was convinced theyd have a flat. Mine! They never tried anywhere else, just pointed themselves at their one-bed.

Mum says you promised ages ago

I didnt promise a thing. I sat in silence at Grans wake while your aunt made absurd claimshardly the time for a property allocation debate.

Aunt Vals in bits. Swears shell never forgive us. Actually, they didnt stay with Mumsaid its too far from the college. I sent her eight hundred poundstheyve found a room somewhere

Oh, thank heavens. I thumped the table. Best thing Ive heard today. I wont even argue about the money. Let them be!

Peter looked down, exhaling loudly.

Jenny, theyve taken some room in a shared house. Aunt Vals fumingcockroaches everywhere, neighbours always drunk.

Then theyll have to cope. If you want to live in London, you get by, you dont expect miracles from kin you barely knowand never so much as send a birthday card to!

I headed for the bedroom; Peter trailed after me.

Jenny, it feels harsh, leaving them like this. What if something happens to them in that place? Are you not worried for Aunt Val?

I faced him sharply.

I have a daughter, I support my parents, and I have a flat my gran worked hard for. I wont just hand it over because someone two hundred miles away decided they have more right to it than I do.

Why should I feel guilty? Explain that to me.

Peter was silent, so I went on,

Are you hungry? Lets eat and end this. If you want to help your family, pay from your salary.

The flat stays rented. Im not evicting anyone. Full stop.

All right. Youre probably right. I wouldnt be thrilled if your mum and dad showed up at my parents and said Scooch over, well live here the next ten years.

After supper, when Peter went for a shower, I noticed another message, this time from Margaret:

Jenny, you cant be like this. Vals made herself ill with worry. Bring them some groceries at least.

Get loads, enough for a few weeks. Meat, veg, fruit and some chocolate. Tea, coffee, toiletries, olive oilmaybe some fish. But no tinned stuff, Val doesnt eat that. Address:

I blocked Margaret. Let her spend a few days in the black list.

***

The night at least was quietno more calls.

Valentina showed up at 7 a.m. sharp. I woke to loud knocking.

Peter was still asleep, so I had to answer.

She barrelled in, bristling with accusations:

Sleeping comfortably, are you? Under your nice duvet? Do you even care how Natasha and I spent the night?

Absolutely disgusting! Cockroaches dropping on us, the room freezing and dirty, floor icy! Next door someone howling English Rose all night, the other side fighting!
Have you got any shame, letting your own flesh and blood live like that?

Im not going to argue, love. If you wont kick out your tenantsfine! Well just move in here. Youve three bedroomsyoull manage to spare one. A large one, preferably, seeing theres two of us. Dont worry, its only for three or four monthshalf a year maybe, until Natasha settles.

I was speechless.

Forget the way here. Best we stop ruining relations altogether. Want me to call the police? I will. Its no trouble, really. Do you want that?

Valentina went bright red. For a second, I was almost afraid.

You You May you never prosper, you posh Londoner! May your daughter scrub floors for life, with no education! Mark my words, Jennywhat goes around comes around! One day youll need help. Ill never forgive this!

I shut the door in her face. Val shouted on the landing for a while, then left.

***

Since the fallout with Val, my relationship with Margaret has collapsedshe wont speak to me.

Peter still visits his mother, helps her out, and sometimes takes Lucy over, but Margaret no longer sets foot in our home.

Frankly, Im relievedone less hassle to worry about.