“Brilliant sense of fairness youve got there, Evelyn! So our kids roasted in the garden last year, we spent the whole year slaving away to fix up your cottage, and now its Natalies kids who get to enjoy all the comforts while ours sit at home? Very fair indeed! Olivia finally snapped.
I said it was for the children, but I never said it was only for yours! Do you think I dont have other grandchildren? Yours had their turn last summernow its Natalies. Thats fair!
Oh, just brilliant. So ours sweltered in the garden, we broke our backs all year getting your cottage in order, and now Natalies little darlings get the pool and the playground while ours stay home? Youre a real saint, Evelyn.
Well, bring yours next year. The cottage isnt going anywhere. Were family, arent we? Sometimes you help, sometimes Natalie does. And lets not forgetits my cottage. Ill decide who uses it.
Right. Natalies big contribution was a bag of sand for the sandpit. What a sacrifice.
Evelyn, fairness means equal turns. Why not take one lot for a month, then the other?
Are you mad? Id be worn to the bone in two months! Im not as young as I used to be.
What about two weeks each?
I cant. Ive already promised Natalie. She and David have leave in Julythey want a child-free holiday. No changing that now.
Bring yours next Wednesday till Friday. Ill manage a few days, but no more.
Olivia exhaled sharply. A few days? After everything theyd poured into that place? It was nothingan insult, really.
Fine. Understood. Goodbye. She slammed the phone down and gripped her head. What now? The kids had spent all year dreaming of Grannys cottagethe new playground, the poolonly for it to go to someone else.
It had all started so innocently. Last summer, Olivia and Edward had visited his mothers cottage. Olivia hadnt been there in a decade, not since Edwards father was alive. Little had changed.
It had never been luxurious, but now it was practically derelictrusty windows, an outside loo, weeds waist-high, the roof sagging. Inside was no better: Soviet-era furniture, faded wallpaper, a musty smell.
So much to do Evelyn sighed. Edward, start with the garden. Ill show you what needs pruning.
While Edward worked outside, Evelyn made tea. They chatted about school, work, healththen:
Id love to have the grandchildren here, but what would they do? Catch frogs by the stream? Dig in the veg patch? No comforts, no fun.
Olivia glanced around, remembering her own childhood summers at her grans. Even feeding chickens had been an adventure. Shed loved hunting worms for Grandads fishing trips, weaving flower crownsthough Gran always scolded her for it.
Those dratted weeds! Never any peace!
Back then, every day brought discoveriesa rare butterfly, the sting of a mistaken bee. Those were her brightest memories. She wanted the same for her kids.
What if we all pitched in to fix the place up? Slowly, bit by bit?
Exactly what I was thinking! Evelyn beamed. Better than wasting money on fancy holidays.
I dont mind roughing it, but the kids deserve better. No seaside here, but at least they could swim in the lake. Ill take them every year.
So theyd set to work. By summers end, new windows were in, the fence repaired, secondhand furniture brought in. The kids stayed a week and returned raving.
Mum, can we go back? We caught snails, grasshopperseven saw a mouse! And a praying mantis!
Of course, Olivia smiled. Well help Granny, and next year will be even better.
Evelyn had nodded, pleased.
The next year was spent on plumbing, a proper loo, a lick of paint. They installed aircon, built a gazebo, sandpit, and a poolinflatable, but the kids didnt mind. They begged to go back.
Youve done wonders! Evelyn clapped. The children will be in heaven!
Olivia had felt they were building something togetherthat this was what family did.
Natalie, meanwhile, hadnt lifted a finger. Shed listened at gatherings, silentexcept once, when sand was needed.
It had cost Olivia and Edward dearlyskipped holidays, every spare penny. And their reward? “Come next year.”
Fuming, Olivia called her mother.
Well, its a messy situation, her mum said. Evelyns played you. You believed her
We all did! Edward was there every other day. The kids keep askingwhat do I tell them?
Youve been had. She couldve warned you.
But what now? Weve no holiday fund left.
Rent a cottage. Not cheap, but cheaper than the coast.
Wholl watch the kids? Were working.
I will. I could use the fresh air.
A week later, they found a cosy little place on the citys outskirtswooden walls still smelling of resin, an apple tree out back, a barbecue in the yard.
One last touch: they collected the pool and swings from Evelyns.
So thats it? Evelyn wailed. I cant take your kids this year, so youll ruin Natalies?
Olivia folded her arms. I bought those for my children. Let Natalie buy her own.
Evelyn spluttered but said nothing.
The next month flew by. Weekends were spent barbecuing, picnicking, listening to tales of berry-picking. The kids splashed in the pool, swung till dusk, slept happy and worn out.
Sitting on the porch, Olivia realisedthis humble place felt warmer than Evelyns polished cottage. Because here, no one was using them.
The rent was far less than what theyd sunk into Evelyns. Why had they ever trusted her?
This was even better than Grannys! the kids declared.
Olivia smiled. At least theyd have something to write about in their summer essays.
Let Evelyn and Natalie foot their own bills now, she said on the drive home. Well manage. Thats fair.
She saw it all as a lesson. Shed still move mountains for her kidsjust not on empty promises anymore.
What do you think of Grannys actions? Share your thoughts below.
