We’re Moving Into Your Flat — Holly’s got a lovely flat in the centre. Freshly renovated, a real delight to live in! — It’s a perfect place for a single woman, — Rusty smiled patronisingly at Anna, as if she were a child. — But we’re planning on having two, maybe three kids—one right after the other. The centre is noisy, the air’s terrible, there’s nowhere to park. And most importantly, there are only two rooms. Here, you have three. It’s peaceful, there’s a nursery just outside your window. — Oh, it’s a great area, — agreed Steve, still unsure where his future brother-in-law was going with this. — That’s why we settled here. — Exactly! — Rusty snapped his fingers. — I keep telling Holly: why should we squeeze into a tiny flat when there’s a ready-made solution? You and your daughter have acres of space. What do you need it all for? One room’s just a store cupboard anyway. For us, it’d be ideal. Anna was trying to cram the upright hoover into a narrow hallway cupboard. The hoover resisted, its hose catching on hangers, refusing to fit into its allocated spot. — Steve, could you please help? — she shouted towards the living room. — Either the cupboard’s shrunk or I’ve forgotten how to fit things in. Steve peeked out of the bathroom—he’d just finished wrestling with the tap. Steady and always a bit slow, he was Anna’s complete opposite. — I’ll sort it, Ann, give us that here. He deftly manoeuvred the heavy thing into the corner of the cupboard. Anna exhaled and leant against the doorframe. — Tell me, why do we never have enough storage? It’s a big flat, three rooms, but every time we do a tidy-up, we could practically throw half our stuff on the street. — That’s because you’re a hoarder, — Steve teased. — Why do we need three sets of china? We only use one for Christmas. — Let them be, it’s sentimental. It’s Nana’s flat after all. After the wedding, Steve’s parents split their inheritance fairly: Steve got this spacious three-bed in a quiet neighbourhood, Nana’s old place, and his sister Holly got the two-bed in the fancy city centre—“the Golden Triangle”. The money worked out about the same for both. For five years, everyone got on beautifully, no one jealous. Anna thought it would always be so, but… *** They tidied up, put things away, sat down to relax. No sooner had they turned the telly on than the doorbell rang. Steve went to answer. — Sis and her fiancé, — he told his wife after peering through the peephole. Holly breezed in first, followed by Rusty, clomping behind. Anna had only met him twice: Holly picked him up at the gym six months ago. Rusty had rubbed her the wrong way from the start—pompous, a bit smug. He looked down his nose at them both. — Hiya! — Holly pecked her brother on the cheek and hugged Anna. — We were just passing and have some news! — Come in then, if you’re passing. News is always nice, — Steve waved them to the kitchen. — Tea? — Water, thanks, — Rusty lumbered after the host. — We’ve got something serious to discuss, mate. They weren’t really “just passing”. They had an agenda. No fuss, forget the tea. Sit down. Anna suddenly felt anxious—the way Rusty spoke set her on edge immediately. What on earth were they up to? — Go on then, spill, — Steve shrugged. Holly acted like she wasn’t even in the room—busy scrolling on her phone, letting her fiancé do all the talking. Rusty cleared his throat. — Well. We’ve put in our notice at the registry office. Wedding’s in three months. Big plans ahead. Family, a happy married life, all of it. And we’ve been thinking about our living situation… We’ll be moving in here, and you lot can have Holly’s flat. Anna was dumbfounded. She gawked first at her husband, then at her sister-in-law, who kept scrolling as if it was none of her business. — Rusty, hang on a sec, — Steve frowned.— What are you trying to say exactly? — Not hinting—just offering a straight-up solution. Let’s swap! We move in here, you go live in Holly’s flat. Holly is on board; we both think it’s totally fair. Anna was stunned for a second time. — Fair? — she repeated. — Rusty, are you actually serious? Turn up in my home and tell us to move out because you want kids? — No need to be so dramatic, Anna, — Rusty winced. — I’m just being practical. You’ve got one kid, and I hear you’re not planning more. Why waste the space? That’s not sensible. We’re looking to the future. — Looking to the future, is it! — Anna jumped to her feet. — Steve, are you hearing this nonsense? Steve raised a hand, motioning her to stay calm. — Rusty, mate, maybe you’ve forgotten, but my parents gave me this flat. Holly got hers, just the same. We spent five years doing it up, picked every last bit ourselves. Our daughter has her own room, her mates live downstairs. And you’re suggesting we just up sticks to suit your plans? — Don’t get wound up, Steve, — Rusty lounged back in his chair. — You’re family. Holly’s your flesh and blood. Don’t tell me you don’t care about your own sister’s future? Plus, it’s a fair offer. You get a place in a prime location. It’s worth more, I did the sums. — Funny, — Steve snorted. — You’ve not even married my sister yet, and already you’re eyeing my place! Holly finally looked up. — Oh, come on, guys! — she whined. — Rusty just wants the best for everyone. We really would be cramped in my flat, once little ones come along. And your hallway’s so big you could play five-a-side in it. Mum always said—family comes first. Don’t you remember that, Steve? — Yes, Mum said family, not “kick someone out because you fancy more space”, — snapped Anna. — Do you even realise what your fiancé is saying? — What’s so wrong about it? — Holly batted her eyelashes. — He’s being reasonable. We need it more. You’ve got a spare room. — It’s not “spare”! — Anna almost shouted. — That’s my office! I work from there, or have you forgotten? — Work, — Rusty sneered. — Posting pictures online? Holly says it’s just a hobby. You can do that on your laptop in the kitchen, love. Steve stood up slowly. — Right, — he said quietly. — This conversation’s over. Get up, both of you, and get out. — Stevo, what’s the big deal? — Rusty didn’t budge. — We came to talk, like family. — Family? — Steve advanced on the table. — You show up asking for my home, insult my wife, and decide where my child’s going to live? Got any shame at all? — What shame, Steve? — Anna stood beside her husband. — It’s pure calculation. He hasn’t even put a ring on it and he’s already carving up the assets. Holly, do you have the slightest idea who you’ve dragged home? He’ll be booting you out first, mark my words! — Don’t you dare talk about him like that! — Holly jumped up, too. — Rusty cares about me! About us! And you two… you’re just greedy. Clinging to your bricks and mortar like old misers. Some brother! — The only greedy one here is your fiancé, — Steve pointed at the door. — I’ll spell it out for you: Get out. And drop the ‘swap’ idea—permanently. If I hear it again, we’re done. Rusty got up, adjusting his collar. No sign of embarrassment—he just looked annoyed. — Your loss, Steve. I figured we’d find a deal. But since you’re so stubborn… Come on, Holly. When the door slammed, Anna collapsed onto the sofa, shaking. — Did you see that? Did you? The nerve! Who does he think he is? Steve said nothing. He stared out the window, watching Rusty strut to his car, having a go at Holly. — You know what’s really grim? — he said finally. — Holly actually believes he’s right. She’s always been a bit, well… naive, but this much? — He’s brainwashed her! — Anna shot up. — Steve, we need to call your mum. Your parents deserve to know what kind of ‘plans’ their son-in-law’s got. — Wait, — Steve pulled out his phone. — I’ll call Holly first. Just her. No peacock in the background. He rang her. It rang for ages before she answered. She was crying. — Hello, — she mumbled. — Holly, listen carefully, — Steve’s voice was hard. — You with him? — What does it matter? — If he’s next to you, put me on speaker. I want him to hear too. — I’m not in the car, — Holly sniffled. — He dropped me off outside mine and drove away. Said he needed to cool off because my family are selfish idiots. Steve, why are you like this? He just wants everything to be perfect… — Wake up, Holly! — Steve nearly shouted. — Perfect? He just tried to wheedle our flat from us! Did you even know about this plan before we were all sat in the kitchen? Silence on the line. — No, — Holly whispered finally. — He said he had a surprise for everyone. That he’d worked out the best way forward. — Some surprise. Decides your future and mine without even asking us. Holly, do you even know who you’re marrying? He’s a chancer. Today it’s the flat, tomorrow he’ll claim your car’s too small, next he’ll want Mum and Dad’s cottage signed over to him because he “needs fresh air.” — Don’t say that… — Holly’s voice trembled. — He loves me. — Loves you? He picked a fight with us all just to get his way. He set us at each other’s throats! Anna’s still fuming. Can’t you see he wanted to turn us against one another? — I’ll talk to him, — Holly said uncertainly. — Do. And think hard before you walk up the aisle. Steve hung up and tossed his phone on the sofa. — What did she say? — Anna asked quietly. — She didn’t know. Rusty’s “surprise”. Anna gave a bitter laugh. — I can see it now. King of the castle, shunting people and furniture wherever he likes. Ugh, makes my skin crawl. — Don’t worry, — Steve put his arm round her. — We’re not giving up the flat. No chance. But I feel for Holly. She’s going to get hurt. *** Steve and Anna’s worst fears didn’t come true—there never was a wedding. Rusty dumped Holly that very night. Teary-eyed, she turned up at her brother’s late and poured out the story. Rusty came round, packed his bags. Holly freaked out, asking what was wrong. Rusty announced he had no interest in being related to such stingy people. — “Your lot can’t be relied on,” — Holly sobbed. — “You won’t even babysit when we need a night off. Or give us cash if we’re short.” — Come on, Holly, don’t cry over him, — Anna huffed. — You can’t count on someone like that. He cares about no one but himself. Forget him! Holly was heartbroken for a couple of months, but eventually she moved on. Later, the penny dropped. How could she not have seen her fiancé’s true colours earlier? If she’d married him, she’d have been miserable forever. Pure luck it ended there.