My Mother-in-Law Couldn’t Wait for Grandpa to Pass Away—She Was Already Eyeing His House

For ten years, I found myself caring for my husbands grandfather, a kindly old man with twinkling eyes that sometimes flashed with mischief. We lived, the children and I, with him in a curious, old terraced house somewhere on the edge of Manchestera house that seemed to grow more and more narrow the longer we stayed. Meanwhile, my husbands sister, Josephine, stayed in Granddads flat across town, as if it were some kind of unwritten rule. No one else wanted old Granddadnot my mother-in-law, nor any of the other grandchildren.
My life seemed to slip past in a muddle: Id never finished my studies, my career had never truly begun, and I fell pregnant younger than Id planned. Every day bled into the next without a ripple of change. I was always balancingchildren on one hand, Granddad on the other, as if the whole world rested on plates spinning above my head.
My husband, William, never liked the constant strain in the house and would vanish for days on end, melting into Manchesters rain-soaked streets. But he always slipped back, as if the city spat him outhe had children, but no real place to call home, so I was his inevitable destination. I forgave him; I didnt love him anymore, but I needed the security for the children and for Granddad.
As for Josephine, she rarely visited us unless she thought she might get something from Granddadperhaps a few pounds off his pension, or to complain about money. Not that she struggled; shed never had to pay rent, so there always seemed to be photos of her family sunbathing somewhere foreign.
Five years ago, Granddad quietly changed his will and left the house to me. His voice, raspy from age, was full of warmth as he explained, Youve become dearer to me than the lot of them, more than my own blood. William, hes a washout. Hed hand over the house to his mother or Jo in a heartbeat. Let your children have it, my great-grandkids. Its a little reward for all youve done. Perhaps, youll not curse my name in the end, for how hard your lifes been because of me.
No one knew. When Granddads health began its slow collapse, suddenly the othersthe daughter, the granddaughtershowed up, clucking and fussing like hens. But he wasnt fooled. He knew what they wanted.
Once he passed, the inheritance was divided at breakneck speed. My mother-in-law and Josephine quickly pressured William to give up any claim to the house so Jo could stay there, and he agreedoblivious to the new will.
The next morning, William was packing his bags, musing out loud about a new woman. Turns out, he had only stayed for Granddads sake. He walked out, and the air in the house seemed lighter, as if the walls had let out a long, tired sigh.
Then the relatives found out about the will. War broke outwhispers, threats, letters at odd hours.
You listen to meyoure never getting that house! I dont care how you looked after him, or what lies you spun, well see you in courtyou fraud!
But I found I didnt care about their words at all, as if I was floating above it in a peculiar dream. I could almost see myself grinning as I half-danced through the echoing hallway, saying, You know what? Ive had enough of thisoff you go, the lot of you!
Their anger didnt hurt me anymore. I found work, the children and I settled into our home, and the most peculiar thing was how peaceful it all became, as though the entire familys storm had passed and I stood blinking in the sudden sun, up to my ankles in daffodils.
What would you have done, drifting through such a strange and weightless dream?