No, weve decided its best if you dont bring your wife and baby into this flat. We cant endure the inconvenience forever, so well have to ask you to move out.
And then your wife will go around telling everyone we chased her and the little one out onto the street.
—
The neighbour in the next room noticed straight away that Emily looked glum after her chat with James. Both of them had become parents just three days ago and were due to be discharged the day after tomorrow. A cause for celebration! No reason to be down in the dumps.
Emily, you look pale. Whats the matter? asked the neighbour.
James told me the landlady wants us out, pronto. Shes renting the flat to a childfree couple and were about to bring a baby. She says the neighbours will complain, she wont have the hassle.
And what? Youve nowhere else to go?
Jamess parents have a threebedroom house, but his younger sister lives there too. My own folks are in a village about twenty miles out of town.
Well, you could stay with the inlaws for a week or two while you hunt for a new place, suggested the neighbour.
James has already been looking, but as soon as landlords hear theres a baby, they shut the door.
Thats the crux of it. Still, youve got two days; maybe your husband will dream up something.
James, however, dreamed of nothing. He phoned a few letting agents, got polite refusals, and simply moved their boxes from the rented flat to his parents house.
His parents and younger sister werent thrilled about having Jamess family, especially with a squalling infant, move in.
Son, remember we agreed before your wedding that you and your wife wont live with us, said his mother. You may have your own room, but we dont want strangers in our house.
And Emily is a stranger to us. To you shes a wife; to us shes an outsider. You chose her, we didnt pick her.
Mum, its only temporary until we find somewhere decent, James pleaded.
You know what they say: temporary is the longest word in the dictionary. Youll start with a week, thatll stretch to a month, and that month will feel like forever.
No, we both work, your sister is at university, we all need a proper break. With a baby in the flat you cant speak loudly, watch TV, or sleep without being jolted awake by a cry.
Well try to sort something out faster, promised James.
No. Weve decided its better if you dont bring your wife and baby into this flat. We cant tolerate the inconvenience, and well ask you to leave.
And then your wife will go around saying we evicted you with a child, ruining our reputation. So dont even think about bringing Emily and the baby here. Find another solution.
With that news, James headed straight to the NHS clinic.
Listen, Emily, maybe you could stay with your parents for a while? he asked.
Isnt your mother keen to meet her grandchild? Emily blurted.
I dont know, Mum said we shouldnt go over, James replied.
Brilliant! Other families greet new babies with flowers and presents, and were treated like stray cats. Nobody even wants to see us, Emily muttered, feeling hurt.
That evening she rang her parents. The day they were discharged, her father arrived alongside James.
Pack up, love, were heading home. And you, he said to James, bring all Emilys things and whatever you bought for the baby.
The drive to the village took about thirty minutes. By the time they got there, a tiny nursery was ready: a crib with bearandbunny prints, a chest of baby clothes, and a comfy rocking chair for feeding.
In the sittingroom a festive table was laid out for a celebratory lunch. No strangers, just Emilys parents, Gran, and her little sister Iris.
Jamess side of the family didnt turn up for the meal, but they argued loudly about what to call the boy. They finally settled on Oliver.
James left after lunch, promising to fetch Emilys remaining belongings the next day.
When he came back, good news awaited.
Emily, James announced her father as the family gathered. Weve spoken with Gran and decided to sell her cottage. The proceeds will go to you.
Well make it a gift from our family to Emily, but theres one condition: the house we live in now will, by will, pass to Iris. Emily, are you happy with that?
Absolutely.
Then Ill put the sale ad up tomorrow.
The cottage sold in three months. During that time Emily and little Oliver lived with her parents in the village, while James stayed in his parents city flat, visiting his wife and son on weekends.
Another six weeks went into finding a new flat, securing a mortgage, and getting the place refurbished.
At last, Emily, James, and baby Oliver moved into their own flat. After a month of settling in, they held a housewarming. They invited Emilys friends and Jamess mates, but his parents were absenttheyd only just learned their son had bought a home.
When James was packing his things, his mother thought they were merely shifting to another rental.
So youve invited the countryside folk to your housewarming and didnt tell us you now own a place? You could have at least sent an invite! she scolded over the phone.
We havent even seen our grandson yet. Youre acting like strangers, dear, she added.
Not letting my wife and newborn into your flat counts as familyfriendly, does it? James asked.
I told you, were old and need peace and quiet, his mother replied. But can we still pop over for a visit?
Why would we?
Because Oliver is our grandchild.
Mum, our sons almost six months old, yet you suddenly want to see him now. Odd, isnt it?
Nothing odd. When hes tiny theres nothing to look at all babies look the same, she said.
I think the real reason is you were scared Id bring my family into your flat and you were defending your walls like a fortress, James retorted.
While Emily lived with her parents, you never bothered to meet your grandson. Now that we have our own place, youre suddenly asking to barge in. Sorry, were not ready for that, James replied.
Offended, are we? his mother asked. I was actually planning to invite your wife and baby to stay at our cottage all summer.
Why all of a sudden? James wondered.
The child needs fresh air. Its already scorching in May, and itll be sweltering in August.
My wife could stay at the cottage alone, no one would mind, wed only come on weekends.
Ive got a holiday in October, my husband in November. We wont ask you for money, just that Emily tends the garden and picks the cucumbers before they overgrow.
Got it, Mum! You need a summer hand on the cottage. No, manage it yourself. If we ever want to take Oliver out for fresh air, Emily will go with him to her parents, James concluded.
The first time Jamess mother and sister actually saw Oliver was when he was two and a half, at a shopping centre. They glanced from a distance but never approached.
And that, dear reader, is how grandmas and mums sometimes turn out.
