**Diary Entry**
Lately, my daughter split up with her partner and moved back in with us, bringing her little one into our tiny flat. Its been cramped since she arrived, but were managing. My husband and I live in a small space as it is, and I thoughtjust for a while, while shes on maternity leaveshe might stay with my mum instead. But thats impossible now, because Mum, at 68, has gone and remarried, moving her new husband in with her.
When she first rang to say she was getting married, I honestly thought she was joking. Sixty-eightreally? But no, it was true. Shed been on her own for years after Dad passed away two decades ago. I left home at 35, built my own life with my husband and kids here in the city, visiting Mum a few times a month and on holidays.
Thankfully, shes in good health, managing the housework just fine. My husband and I help out when she needs the garden tidied or firewood stacked, but otherwise, shes always been independent.
And now thisbringing a man into her home! It feels like a betrayal. She shouldnt have done this to us. Her fiancé was an old flame from her youth, someone she reconnected with a few years ago. They had a quiet registry office wedding in early July, followed by a modest lunch at a restaurantjust close family.
We didnt go. Honestly, I think its shameful. What on earth did she need that for? She couldve carried on perfectly well without it. Im dead against this marriage and still cant come to terms with it. She has a big housetheir house now.
Her husband hasnt a penny to his name, just three grown children and a swarm of grandchildren. Why would she do this? How could she? Now that theyre legally married, hes got every right to a claim on what shouldve been our inheritance. Were living in a cramped flat as it is.
My daughters divorce forced her back here with the baby, and now Im helping care for the little one. My sons renting with his girlfriend. Id hoped Mum could take my daughter in for a while, but thats out of the question now shes started this new life.
We havent spoken in months. Then my auntMums sistercalled from the village and scolded us. Said we ought to be happy for her, that she deserves happiness too. That fretting over inheritance while shes still alive is in poor taste. Easy for her to say.
The worst part? Instead of inheriting Mums house one day, we might end up with a strangera frail old man and his needy relatives wholl no doubt fight for their share. So no, I wont apologise for how I feel. In this situation, Im the one in the right, not Mum.
