“Are we going to celebrate New Year at your cottage?” my sisterinlaw asked, holding out for the keys.
“Why bother? You two could have a lovely New Year at home. Our familys bigger three kids need keeping busy over the holidays!” Emily snapped, clearly irritated. “Can you even imagine living with three little ones?”
“I can’t,” Laura replied calmly. “Mike and I havent even started thinking about kids yet. First we need a place of our own and a steady job, then maybe well talk about a family.”
“Come off it, Emily! We never planned anything with Tom,” she added.
“Well, youre living off child benefits,” Laura said. “Tom hops from one gig to another theres no stability. I dont want that life.”
“Thats our business. Dont count our money!” Emily snapped. “So, are you handing over the cottage keys or what?”
“No,” Laura said firmly. “Weve already booked the place for New Year with some friends.”
“Then sort it out!” Emily warned. “If you dont hand over the keys nicely, Ill call Mike and tell him how youre being rude.”
“Go ahead, say as much as you like,” Laura said with a smile.
Emily made a sour face and stalked out of the flat.
***
The cottage Emily had been eyeing actually belonged to Laura itd been left to her by her grandmother, Betty, an elderly lady who, at her familys insistence, stayed in the city all year under their watchful eye.
The place wasnt just a name; it was a proper country house with all the comforts. Five years ago Lauras parents added an extension to make a bathroom for Grandma Betty and installed a modern heating system.
Betty refused to move to the city, but as she grew older she started thinking about a change. She strictly told anyone not to sell the house and to look after the garden, so no tree would suffer the frost.
Laura asked her parents to let her look after the place. She remembered spending summer holidays there as a child those were some of her brightest memories.
After a chat with Mike, Laura decided to give the cottage a cosmetic overhaul: fresh wallpaper, new paint on the ceilings, modern light fixtures, and a few pieces of contemporary furniture.
It cost a fair bit of time and money, but now the house was comfortable enough to enjoy any weekend, any season. So the young couple didnt hesitate to invite friends for a New Years gathering.
Then Emily turned up, demanding Laura hand over the property. She argued that because Mike was younger he should give way to his older sister. Laura couldnt see why her grandmothers cottage had anything to do with it and felt perfectly justified in saying no.
***
Emilys cheeks flushed with anger. Instead of ringing her younger brother, she marched straight to his office. Mike was baffled when, in the middle of a workday, his sister burst into his department.
“Mike!” she shouted, drawing the attention of the whole office. “We need to talk, now!”
“Quiet down,” Mike warned. “People are working here. Lets step into the smoking area.”
Mike lit a cigarette, sensing the visit wouldnt end well.
“What do you want?” he asked shortly.
“I want the keys to your cottage!” Emily demanded.
“The cottage?” Mike asked, confused. “Oh, you mean the country house?”
“Exactly,” Emily replied, pursing her lips. “Ive already planned my New Years Eve. Youll have to speak to your wife and get those keys from her,” she said, crossing her arms.
“Even if I could, I wouldnt. How dare you make such a demand? Its already December 25th, and decent people tell their plans in advance!” Mike retorted, visibly annoyed.
“Dont lecture me, you nag!” Emily barked.
“Were only five years apart. It was noticeable as kids, now it isnt,” Mike tried to reason. “My breaks over, you should head home.”
Emily left even more disgruntled, but she wasnt ready to give up.
***
On the morning of December 31, Laura was dashing between shops while Mikes last workday of the year was winding down. He promised they’d be free after lunch, but Laura still felt a twinge of worry.
Everything fell into place, and by six that evening the couple arrived at the cottage. They had to wrestle with the old heating system a bit, but by nine guests started gathering, ready to set the table, fire up the grill, and usher in the new year.
“Mike, looks like someones pulling up,” Laura said. “Probably Emma and Jack got here early to help. Theyre always the punctual ones!” she added with a grin.
“Ill go meet them and help with the luggage,” Mike replied.
“Great,” Laura beamed. She was thrilled finally a New Years Eve exactly how shed always imagined: fresh air, good company, and laughter all around.
Mike threw on his coat and headed outside. When he opened the gate, he froze.
“Hey there, brother!” Emily called, planting kisses on both his cheeks. “Happy New Year!”
Mike needed a moment to recover from the shock. While Greg (Toms nickname) was unloading the car, Emily chattered about the festivities, but Mike barely heard a word, still trying to process his sisters sudden appearance.
Finally, he shook his head and said, “What are you doing here? We sorted this out a week ago!”
Emily raised an eyebrow. “You decided, I just never agreed.”
“Mike, whats going on?” Laura asked, surprised to see his sister at the door.
“Yeah!” Emily declared proudly. “Things dont always go your way,” she added smugly.
As soon as Greg tried to bring in the first batch of bags, Mike grabbed his arm.
“Youre not going in,” he said gruffly.
Emily, helping the kids unbuckle their car seats, heard Mikes tone and instantly lunged at her brother.
“Let Greg in right now!” she shouted.
“I wont. Pack up and leave now!” Mike yelled.
“What did you just say?” Emily snapped, tugging at his arm.
“Were not going anywhere,” she declared haughtily. “Weve got a whole van of kids.”
“I love my nieces and nephews, but theyll have to celebrate New Year elsewhere,” Mike explained. “You wont be entering the house,” he added threateningly.
“Should I call the police?” Emily asked sarcastically.
“Id only do that if it werent New Years Eve,” Laura intervened. “Better you all leave peacefully, or my friend with a boxer boyfriend will show up and he certainly wont let you in,” she teased.
“Are you trying to threaten me?” Emily sneered.
“No, Im just ordering you out. Go!” Laura commanded.
Mike and Laura shut the gate, keeping the unwanted guests out. Emily and Greg had no choice but to head home. On the drive, Emily let off steam on Greg.
“Couldnt you just push him?” she shouted. “What a clumsy mess!”
They eventually got back to their own house, where their mother, Evelyn, lived. Evelyn hadnt spoken to Mike in about five years since his marriage.
“Now Ill stop seeing Mike either,” Emily told her mother, slinging her coat onto a chair.
“What?” Evelyn asked, squinting.
“Youd kicked us out of the cottage. Can you imagine? And his wife, too, tried to call the police like we were thieves.”
“Thats why I dont talk to him. Remember when I wanted to move in with them and they said the flat was too small? They thought the kids would be cramped!”
“Oh, stop, Mum! Lauras ruined our Mike.”
The kids were busy making a mess as usual, while Emily and Evelyn sipped champagne and watched “Love Actually.” Meanwhile, Greg was bustling about the kitchen.
Back at the cottage, Laura and Mike welcomed the guests and started prepping for the celebration. Laughter and happy faces filled the air. Laura slipped away from the crowd, pulled Mike aside, and whispered, “Ive got something to tell you.”
She handed him an ultrasound photo.
“Are you serious?” Mike looked up, stunned. “Were having a baby?”
“Yes,” Laura beamed.
Mike pulled her into a hug, kissed her, and said, “Thats the best New Years present ever.”
