Make room, well just stay here for ten years or so
After a moment of awkward silence, her mother-in-law piped up:
Oh, Jenny, you know, Vals a forceful woman Once she sets her mind on something, thats it.
But do try to understand her: she wants to put Natalie through university, give her a proper education
At my expense? Jenny paused in front of the mirror.
From the glass, a pale woman with dishevelled hair stared back.
Mrs. Thompson, stop them. Tell them to get off at the next station and go home. I wont meet them. Theyre not having my flat.
How am I meant to stop them? Mrs. Thompson wailed. Theyre already on their way. Vals even taken out a loan for the tuition, and they dont have a penny for rent.
She was counting on your kindness. Jenny, just tell your tenants to go, is it really so hard? Theyre family after all
Family? Ive seen Natalie, your niece, twice in my whole life! Im meant to throw a family with a child onto the street, cut off support for my parents, stop paying for my daughters activities all just because your sister has taken it into her head that its convenient?
Her phone pinged in her pocket. Without taking her coat off, Jenny pulled it out. A message from Valerie, her mother-in-laws sister:
Hi Jenny! Were already on the train. Tickets were for 19:40, well be at Euston in the morning. Be there with Natalie.
Send over the address of your flat again we forgot to write it down last time. Where do we collect the keys?
Jenny froze. She read the message three times, hoping it was a mistake. What flat? What Natalie?
Mum, why are you standing there? Katie poked her nose out from the hallway. Im hungry.
Coming, kitten, Jenny answered, absently stroking her daughters head but never taking her eyes off her phone.
She dialled Valeries number. The call was answered at once, and she could hear the clatter of train tracks and raucous laughter in the background.
Hello, Jenny love! Valeries voice was high and falsely cheerful. Did you get my note? We thought wed surprise you and sort out food ourselves so you wouldnt stress!
Val, just hang on a moment Jenny cut her off. Whats going on? Where are you heading?
Where? To London, of course! Natalies got into university, told you back in spring. Missed out on a government place, so well pay, thats fine.
Weve got our things together and were on our way to settle into your flat.
My what? Jenny leaned her back against the wall. The flat Ive been renting out for six years? Val, are you serious?
Oh, dont make a fuss! Valeries tone turned sharp. Remember, when you inherited that little place from your nan, we were at the table, werent we?
I said, At least Natalie will have a place to stay when she goes to uni. And you never denied it! So you must have agreed. Weve planned around this all these years!
I kept quiet because it was a daft joke! Jenny nearly shouted. I never planned on housing anyone there.
Theres a family living there, with a child. We have a contract. They pay rent on time. That rent covers my pensioner parents medicine and Katies classes.
What on earth were you thinking, buying tickets without asking?
Were family! Valerie barked. Or do you Londoners have no shame left?
Plan to leave your niece to sleep on a bench at Euston? Did you even tell your husband? Does he know youre chucking his own out onto the street?
Hes away on business in Newcastle, barely any service. And its my flat, Val. Mine. Do you understand?
My nans hard-earned money, passed to me. Ian has nothing to do with it.
Thats how it is then? Natalie, hear that? Your uncles wife doesnt want anything to do with us! Well, well see about that when we arrive.
Connections dropping, see you tomorrow at the platform.
The line went dead.
Jenny stood, stunned.
Katie, to the kitchen, theres casserole in the fridge, heat it up yourself she called out, then, with trembling hands, called Mrs. Thompson.
Mrs. Thompson took a long minute to answer.
Yes, Jenny, what is it?
Did you know your sister and Natalie are travelling to London intending to move into my flat?
Well Val did mention, but I thought you two had talked, Mrs. Thompson mumbled.
With who? Ive been renting out that flat for six years.
Half the rent goes to my mum and dad for their medication. You know how impossible life is on just their state pension.
The rest pays for Katie’s swimming and dancing.
Why on earth didnt you tell them this wouldnt work?
Dont shout at me now Mrs. Thompson sounded wounded. Im nothing to do with all this. Sort it yourselves.
Dont tell Ian, hell only get cross, hes already beside himself with those negotiations up north.
Jenny flung her phone onto the sofa. Her husband always avoided arguments, but when it came to his mother or his aunt, hed suddenly grow a backbone made of jelly.
Well, Jen, theyre just from the countryside, havent the same sense of things, he would say. Its simpler to give in
She tried to ring Ian. Number not available. Of course. Whenever she needed him, he was never available.
***
The drama exploded at dawn. Valerie began ringing at five a.m., demanding Jenny come fetch them at once.
Were shattered, were starving! Its freezing, weve caught a chill. Are you still asleep? Get up! I expect you here in fifteen minutes!
Jenny, half-asleep, didnt grasp who she was speaking to at first. But on realising, she snapped:
Get lost! Im not coming. And youre not getting into my flat. Thats the end. Ive had enough.
After ten calls, she blacklisted Valeries number.
Next, Natalie started calling, and Jenny blocked her too.
All day, Mrs. Thompson pestered Jenny: begged, cajoled, threatened to cut her off and snitch to Ian
Then that evening, Ian arrived home unannounced from his trip.
Jen, what on earths kicking off here? he asked as soon as he walked in. Mums in tears, said you left Aunt Val and Natalie on the street.
Jenny, kissing him hello, explained:
They turned up out of nowhere. Right away, demanded I evict my tenants and give Natalie the place for free at least five years, they said.
Ian, who does that? Have they no shame?
And from what I hear, theyre staying quite comfortably with your mum.
Why are you home?
Mum called me Ian sighed. And Aunt Vals been hassling my phone for days
Jen, couldnt we just let them have it, for a bit? Until they find their feet
Jenny shook her head firmly:
Ian, theyre not even on the universitys accommodation list. Val was so sure theyd live in my flat never even looked at other options.
Do you see how entitled that is? They didnt try, just trundled to their flat.
Mum said you promised, six years ago
I didnt, Ian, that was at the wake, I didnt even register half of what people said.
Aunt Vals absolutely furious. Said we dont exist for her any more. By the way, they didnt stay with Mum too far for Natalies course.
I sent Val £200 to help, they seem to have found a room somewhere
Thank goodness for that! Jenny thumped the table. Thats the best news Ive heard today. Im not arguing about it as long as theyre off my back, fine!
Ian exhaled heavily, hanging his head.
Jen, its some dump. Val says the place is crawling with cockroaches, and the neighbours are all drunks
Shell have to get used to it. If you want to live in London, you have to adapt. You cant just expect family handouts when you havent even sent them a birthday card!
Jenny turned and headed for the bedroom, Ian trailing behind.
Jenny, it just feels awkward! Are we really abandoning them to whatever happens?
What if something goes wrong? What if the neighbours are dangerous? Arent you at all sorry for Val?
Jenny spun around:
Ian, I have a daughter, I have parents, whose wellbeing is on my shoulders. And a flat my nan earned by the sweat of her brow.
Im not just handing it over because someone, from hundreds of miles away, thinks theyre more entitled.
Why should I feel sorry for them? Tell me that?
Ian stayed silent as Jenny finished:
Are you hungry? Come on, Ill heat up dinner. And thats the end of it. If you want to help, do it with your own money.
But that flat stays rented out no moving anyone, end of.
Alright. Fine. Probably Id be just as annoyed if your parents showed up at mines cottage and said: Shift over, well stay here ten years or so.
After tea, as Ian showered, Jenny picked up her phone again. Mrs. Thompsons message blinked, unread:
Jenny, you cant be so cruel. Vals made herself ill with worry. Take them some food at least.
Bring enough for a few weeks: meat, veg, fruit, and chocolate. Coffee, tea, toiletries, olive oil.
Maybe some fish. No tins Val wont eat those. Address:
Jenny blocked her, too. Let her stew for a few days in the blacklist.
***
The night passed peacefully no calls from relatives.
But Valerie showed up early, right at seven a.m.
Jenny was woken by a pounding on the door.
Ian was asleep; she had to answer.
Her mother-in-laws sister started in the doorway, full charge:
Youre all wrapped up in your warm home, under the duvet in a comfy bed, I see!
Not the slightest thought for how weve been forced to sleep!
It was revolting, let me tell you! Cockroaches falling on our heads, the rooms icy and filthy, floor freezing!
One side sang drunken folk songs all night on the other, a couple screaming their heads off.
Do you have any conscience left? Will you really leave your closest kin to suffer all this?
You know what, dearie, I dont want to argue. If you wont turf out your tenants, fine! But well just move in with you, then!
You have a three-bed flat, surely you can spare us one room. Make it a big one, though there are two of us!
We wont be long three, four months, maybe half a year tops.
Then Ill go home, once Natalies settled.
Jenny was flabbergasted.
Forget where I live! Really, lets not completely destroy this relationship.
Do you want me to call the police? I will, its no trouble.
But why make trouble for yourselves?
Valerie flushed scarlet Jenny actually felt a twinge of fear.
You You You selfish Londoner!
Hope your daughters a cleaner her whole life and never gets an education!
Youll regret this, mark my words.
What goes round, comes round and the worlds a slippery turnip!
Someday youll need my help. Ill never forgive this!
Jenny simply shut the door in her distant relations face. Valerie shouted on the landing for a few minutes more, then stomped off.
***
The row with Valerie spoiled things with her mother-in-law Mrs. Thompson never spoke to Jenny again.
Ian still visited his mum, kept helping out, even brought Katie over sometimes. But Mrs. Thompson never set foot in their flat anymore.
To Jenny, it was almost a relief one less problem in life.
