“Fine then, we wont throw you out for the holidays. Prepare three bedroomsmy sisters and niece will stay the night. You can sleep in the kitchen.”
“Margaret, have you forgotten Im the sole owner of this house? Ive got the deeds to prove it. Dont even think of forcing your way inIll have the police remove you.”
After work, Evelyn planned to stop by the shopping centre. Christmas was two weeks away, and her old friend Charlotte had invited her over.
Evelyn knew thered be a crowd: Charlottes daughter with her husband and kids, her sister, and her university-student niece. Shed been to Charlottes often enough to know everyone, so she wanted to pick up gifts in advance.
Evelyn had a knack for choosing presentsand loved giving them. She could already picture herself wandering through the glittering aisles, inspecting each item, watching the shop assistant carefully wrap her purchases in glossy paper.
But her mood soured the moment she stepped outside. Waiting by her car was Rebeccaher ex-husbands sister.
“Evie, hi!” Rebecca called. “Took you long enough. I nearly froze out here.”
“Hello, Rebecca. Didnt expect to see you.”
“Why not? Were family,” Rebecca said. “At least, we were for twenty years.”
“Thankfully, not anymore,” Evelyn replied, reaching for the car door.
Rebecca stopped her. “Listen, Evie, Ive got a favour to ask. Actually, its not just methe whole family.”
“What family, Rebecca? Ive had nothing to do with yours for a year. Im not interested in favours.”
“Just hear me out. I dont know how you and Robert split things, but Mum still believes the house youre living in belongs to us.”
“You and Rob bought it together, spent ten years fixing it up. We always gathered thereChristmas, summer bank holidays. And now what?”
“Mum wanted to host her birthday in May, like we always did, with everyone on the patio. But you shut us out. Disappeared somewhere.”
“I dont see why youre telling me this,” Evelyn said. “I went to see a friend. I didnt need your permission.”
“And forget about your family gatherings in my house. When Robert and I divorced, we agreed: he kept the flat, the car, and the garage. The house is minelegally. So go celebrate at Roberts instead.”
“Evie, Mums asking if we can host New Years Eve at the house, like old times. Therell be loads of usno room in the flat.”
“Margaret actually asked? I dont believe it. Twenty years of demands, and now shes polite? Tell her no. Book a hotel.”
Evelyn slid into her car. The thought of shopping now felt hollow. “Ill get the gifts tomorrow,” she decided, driving home instead.
She and Robert had been married nearly twenty years. The house Rebecca mentioned? Theyd bought it a decade ago.
Then, a year back, Robert announced that “life doesnt end at forty-five” and hed be building his new one with his pretty young assistant.
Evelyn didnt fight to keep himbut she didnt let him take everything, either. The house and savings stayed with her. Robert got the flat, his Jaguar, and the garage.
With their daughter, Sophie, still at university, he didnt contest the joint account.
A few days ago, Sophie had called. “Mum, you wont mind if I stay in halls for New Years, will you? Ill come home for the rest of break.”
Thats when Evelyn accepted Charlottes invite. At least there, she wouldnt be alone.
Knowing Rebecca, though, this wouldnt be the end of it. And she was right.
That evening, her former mother-in-law called.
“Evelyn, arent you getting above yourself? Snatching Roberts house, thinking well just let you?”
“Mark my wordsthis New Year, were celebrating in our home! The one my son so kindly let you live in. Understood?”
“Fine, we wont kick you out for the night. Prep three bedroomsmy sisters and niece are staying. You can sleep in the kitchen.”
“Margaret, do you not grasp that I own this house? Legally. Try forcing your way in, and Ill have you arrested.”
“Well see about that! Just get the rooms ready. Well bring the foodless work for you. And dont argue, or youll remember this New Year forever!”
“Margarets lost her mind,” Evelyn thought.
The woman had never been gentle, but tonights outburst stunned her. Did Margaret really think intimidation would work?
Once, Evelyn had been the favourite daughter-in-lawthe others had bowed to Margarets rule. Now, divorced, her ex-mother-in-laws threats only baffled her. What did they expect?
Meanwhile, at Margarets flat, plans were underway.
“Rebecca, you and Andrew handle the food. Buy everything ahead. Well cook the evening of the 30th and morning of the 31st.”
“You and I will do the roast and pies. Sarah and Olivia handle the sides. Well pack it in containersand well use Evies china. I know shes still got two full sets. Robert left them.”
“Mum, what if she still refuses?” Rebecca asked.
“Let her try! Therell be twelve of uspractically the whole family. Shed be ashamed to turn us away!”
“Imagine itshe opens the door to Uncle Colin, Aunt Louise, Leon and Natalie You think shed slam it in their faces? Shell fold. Might even help set the table!”
On New Years Eve, at nine in the evening, four cars pulled up outside the house on East Lane.
“Odd,” said Andrew, Rebeccas husband. “Lights are off. Maybe shes not home?”
“Where else would she be? And Sophies probably back. Theyre hiding,” Margaret smirked. “Ring the bell.”
No one answered.
“WaitIve got keys,” Margaret said. “Knew shed pull this. Brought spares.”
They unlocked the gate, filing into the garden.
“Hold on, Ill get the door. There. Turn on the lights, bring the food to the kitchen. Well set up fast. Let Evie hide if she wants. We wont invite her anyway.”
Twenty minutes later, commotion erupted in the hallway.
“Here comes the lady of the house,” Andrew said.
But it wasnt her.
Evelyn, meanwhile, was helping Charlotte set the tableguests were due any minute.
Her phone rang.
“Evelyn Carter? Your alarms been triggered. Officers are on-site.”
“There are twelve people there claiming to be relatives with your permission.”
“I didnt invite anyone. Its my ex-husbands family. They broke in.”
“Will you press charges?”
“Absolutely. Im out of town till the 2nd.”
The unwanted guests spent hours at the station. By the time they returned to Margarets flat, the salads had wilted and the roast gone cold.
When Evelyn got home, Robert called, demanding she drop the charges.
“Evie, I thought youd changed the locks. Didnt you guess?”
“I didnt need to. I installed a new system and kept the old one.”
“Why lock it from the inside when you left?”
“I had a feeling your mother wouldnt give up. Heard how she spoke to me. Didnt want them breaking the door down.”
“So you left the old lockknowing Mum had keysand set the alarm? You set them up! You wanted them arrested!”
“Rob, they had a choicecelebrate at home. They chose differently. Thats on them.”
“By the way, I had to clean up. The food theyd laid out spoiled by the time I got back.”
“Why didnt you warn Rebecca about the alarm?”
“I did. There are signs: Protected by Police. Everyone can read.”
“Give my regards to your mother, Rebecca, Andrewall of them. And tell them theyre never welcome here again.”
“This time, I withdrew the complaint. Next time, I wont. Theyll face the full force of the law.”
