Everyone had always deceived my brother, and yet it was Emily who always felt cheated…
The phone rang in the small hours.
Love, theres a fire, the house is burning, Mum sobbed, her voice drowned out by the roaring flames and frantic shouts in the background.
Instantly, sleep vanished.
Mums house was about ten miles from town, large but decidedly old. The city was forever expanding, inching towards the village, and the village seemed to creep forward to meet it. I found myself calculating how many years that house had been standing.
My great-grandfather built it. Then Granddad added a summer storey above, which was later insulated and became part of the home. The building grew longer with time, a veranda tacked on at the side. From the outside, it looked sturdybut looks can deceive. It was cold in winter, damp in summer.
The whole place was quietly falling apart, wood rotting away. We were all aware of this. Really, it ought to be knocked down, but Mum was adamant: only repairs. As the head of the household, shed lost Dad years ago. The choice was hers.
Theres only enough money for fixing up, not a rebuild, shed say.
Mum, do you truly need such a big place? Emily would urge. We could get you a smaller, modern homethere are designs for two-storey houses at reasonable prices now. Thatd leave plenty of room for your lovely roses and irises.
You dont understand, Emily, my brother, David, would instantly interject. This is the family home, our manor, if you willthink of it as our ancestral seat. We mustnt let go. A full renovation and itll be as good as new.
David was ever on Mums side, and she, in turn, propped him up. Emilys suggestions, though always the most practical, were brushed aside.
Shed grown resigned. When yet another one of Davids ambitions failedwith Mums full supportEmily just sighed and shrugged. They made their bed.
Repairs, then. Go for it.
Em, but well need your help. Not much, just in case we fall short. Ive savings, I sold that flat we inheritedwhich Charlotte used to let. No point keeping it up in Manchester, is there?
You sold the Manchester flat? For these renovations? Thats a fortune, Mum.
It was only half mine. The rest went to her sonyour cousin.
So you made him sell? Drove him out?
I didnt force anything; he bought my share. I had to take less for a quick sale, but he wouldnt budge on price.
Mum, you dont need all that. And neither do we. You couldve just
Given it away? I have my own family to think of.
Fair enough. Have at your repairs, then. If you dont need anything from me, Ill be off.
A month later, in the dead of night, the phone rang again. The house was ablaze. Emily and I, Michael, arrived to find nothing but charred remains. There was nothing left to save.
Emily, I think we should offer your mum the spare flat on Queens Roadthe last tenants just moved out. Lets settle her in there, I said.
Id thought about it, but it is your flat.
Nonsense. The flats are part of what weve built, love. Your mother needs a roof over her head. Well lose the extra rent, but weve still got two more, and ours to live in.
We moved Mum into the Queens Road place, sorted her out with the basics. One afternoon, Emily popped around unannounced, shopping bag in hand, just to check on her. The telly was blaring in the loungea set which we had distinctly given Mum for her birthday. The place smelled of fresh coffee.
Mum, didnt you say it all burned? Isnt that your birthday TV? And the coffee maker?
What, do you think I pinched them? We moved everything out before the works started. There was nothing left but bare walls. The insurers wanted proofso I said what I had to. Whats the big deal? The wardrobes are over at Davids.
But hes only just got a flat, you said. Not bought furniture yet?
Well, he needs them more than I do. Ive already taken my bedding and bits round to his anywaymy old sheets wont do him any good.
David bought a flat? How did
Ive no idea where he got the money. He bought it, thats all I know.
Emily saw clearlyMum was keeping something from her. She wouldnt get the truth yet, but time would tell. Mum always did everything for David.
The poor boy was unluckynothing panned out, people always tricked him. But Emily was the one who always walked away feeling cheated. Something was fishy yet again.
So, whatll you do with the wasteland? The land is valuable, youve still got some cash and the insurance.
Its all burnt to the ground, nothing left. Ill just sell the plotI have a decent flat now. Best to be lucky enough to have a wealthy daughter. Davids differentjust debts, always more debts…
Why not put the money towards your own flat?
What about this one? Would you kick your mum into the street?
This is Michaels flat, Mother.
You two wont go broke!
Maybe we should just rebuild the house, thenmake it truly comfortable. Have you seen the neighbours new houses?
No need, Ive made my mind upthe plot will go. Tradition says the house passes down the mens side anyway, but David doesnt want it; he wants the city comforts.
I wont argue.
Later that night, I told Emily, Your mum is planning to sell the land.
Its her decision. I always liked that spot; your dad was happiest there, especially under the old linden tree.
I felt sad when it died, as if it were a sign. Maybe we should build there ourselves?
Id love it. Weve both dreamt of a house there. The children would be overjoyed, and someday thered be grandchildren running around.
I grinned. Why not let your mum come and live with us, eventually? But, if you want us to do this right, wed better buy the plot from herproper and squareor shell contest it. You remember your unlucky brother.
Ill handle the sale. Shell put it on the market soon enough. Or should I just ask her?
Shed only outwit usthats what she always does.
Then well simply buy it through the agent
Well, Mum caught wind anyway.
And why havent you two come to me about the land?
You need the money, dont you? You can finally buy a really good place of your own.
Mum kept quiet. She didnt rush to buy a flat, either.
Emily and I ploughed in all our savings and took a mortgage to build our home. We managed the repayments finejobs, rental income.
Once we moved in, things eased up. We let the third flat out as well. Mum never did buy a place. She gave David the cash, but he fell behind on his own mortgage.
Even the insurance money never came. Turns out, the fire was suspiciousmost of the belongings had been moved beforehand, and the insurers refused to pay out.
Mum would come over, visiting now and then.
Its lovely here, so spacious, shed say, whereas Davids place is crampedthe kids need a room each, but theyve only two.
I told them, they wouldnt listen. Shouldve bought a bigger one. The house couldve been lovelyshame I didnt agree to rebuild.
I did offer, Mumbefore the fire. It wouldnt have been grand, but it would have been warm and cosy. Wed have helped.
And now I think you should move back into the city; Ill take the house, you can have your old flat. Maybe David and his lot will even come live with me. It should pass to him anywayby tradition, its always been passed to the son, hasnt it?
Youre joking, right? We spent years building this, and you want the house to pass down the male line? If the old house hadnt burned, David wouldve sold it.
His right, isnt it? Thats the customalways has been.
Has it, though? That house was barely eighty years oldlets not pretend its ancient law.
We neednt argue. When do we swap?
“You mean trade our new house for the flat? Youre being ridiculous, Mum. Your names only on the deeds for the city flat because we registered you there for the authoritiescould just as easily not have done.
We know youve spent everything on David, and have no intention of buying a place. The house and land are ourslegally bought. David wont get them. Youre welcome to visit, as always.
One day, my cousin JamesEmilys cousin from Londoncame for a visit.
Thought I’d see how the poor relations are getting on! Aunt said youd fallen on hard times, scraping by. And here you are, in a mansion!
Mum said that?”
I had to take out a loan myselfjust finished paying it off, thank heavens. Got you these earrings, Emily. Mum always said her jewellery was promised to you. I hid the box from Auntie at the funeral; she turned the place upside down.
Its best you didotherwise everything wouldve gone to David. Some people are born needing more. Here we are, slogging away, and David gets everything on a plate.
Listen, dont give her anything backkeep them or sell them. You need them more, believe me. Aunties word is never gospel.
Is that so? Youll fill me in?
Of course.
Mum rarely visits nowher legs arent what they once were. Davids always too busyswindled, he claims, yet again. Emily and I live quietly and contently, our children are happy, and James often visits. Life ticks on, and we all forge ahead, each of us making our own luck in this world.
And what have I learned? Sometimes, even when you do everything right, the ones who complain most about being wronged are those who get the most. But if you build what you have with honesty and hard work, no one can take that from younot even family.
