– Which other relative are you talking about? You know we always come with the kids to the seaside in August, – exclaimed Julia, clearly upset.
– How could we do anything without you?! – Julia exaggeratedly threw up her hands. – Now, every year we can go to the coast for a break.
Larissa forced a smile in reply. The seaside cottage had been in her possession for about five years.
She had inherited it from her grandmother, who had lived in Cornwall for the last twenty years.
Instead of selling the property, Larissa decided to take out a loan to renovate the house, planning to rent it out for some passive income.
However, news of her inheriting the cottage spread quickly through family circles.
Her relatives immediately began calling Larissa, asking if they could stay at the cottage to save on rental costs.
Naturally, their requests clashed with her plans, but Larissa was hesitant to refuse and grudgingly allowed them to stay.
This continued for nearly two years until Larissa started contemplating weaning her audacious relatives off the free accommodation.
Refusing her own family was much easier than saying no to her husband’s relatives.
As summer approached again, aunts, uncles, sisters, and brothers bombarded Larissa with calls.
Everyone wanted to know when they could stay at the cottage, timing their visits so the previous guests would have left.
Julia was always the first to want to reserve a spot for her family in August.
– Nothing will work out this time; my relative will be staying there all summer, – Larissa fibbed to Julia.
– What about us? Why have you let her stay for so long? You know we always come to the coast in August with the kids, – Julia protested, unhappy with what she heard.
– I can’t just kick her out, – Larissa countered.
– Have a word with her; perhaps she can find someplace else in August, – Julia suggested to her sister-in-law. – We need it so much! Simon has allergies; the doctor recommended spending the summer by the sea. Larissa, you and Mike have a son yourselves. As a mother, you should understand me.
Realizing that boldness wouldn’t work, Julia attempted to tug at Larissa’s heartstrings.
– Alright, I’ll talk to her, – Larissa relented and later informed Julia that she could bring her kids in August.
Larissa decided it would be the last time she let her relatives stay at the seaside cottage.
Come August, Julia and her family arrived in Cornwall. However, a week in, Julia called Larissa to report an incident at the cottage.
Her eldest son had turned on the bathroom tap and forgotten about it, flooding the cottage three hours later.
As a result, the wallpaper, linoleum, and some appliances and furniture were damaged.
Larissa was so shocked by the news that she didn’t immediately realize who should repair and cover the damage costs.
– When do you plan on fixing up your house? – Julia inquired. – Don’t you want to fly over here?
– Of course, I do, – muttered a stunned Larissa, and she booked a flight and headed to Cornwall three days later.
The cottage greeted her with peeling wallpaper and uplifted linoleum.
The fridge, TV, and stove were out of order. Some of the furniture had swollen from the water.
Julia and her family had moved to different accommodation for a couple of days.
Larissa held her head in her hands, realizing the repairs would cost a considerable amount.
– Let Julia pay, – suggested Mike, Larissa’s husband. – They should’ve watched their kid.
For two days, Larissa braced herself for a serious conversation with Julia.
– Julia, the repairs and appliances will cost two thousand pounds. Would you consider compensating for the damage your son caused? – Larissa asked her sister-in-law.
– No way. Why should I? Simon didn’t do it on purpose, – retorted Julia, surprised. – Don’t you think it’s a bit sneaky asking for money from a child?
– I’m asking you, not him, – Larissa clarified firmly.
– I’m not paying a thing. You can choke on your house, – Julia snapped and hung up.
Half an hour later, Larissa received a call from her alarmed mother-in-law. Out of breath and indignant, Irene demanded:
– How can you even ask your nephew for money?!
– I’m asking your daughter, not him, – Larissa responded, realizing Irene had come to Julia’s defense. – Do you even know the extent of the damage she caused?
– I do! – Irene snapped. – It doesn’t justify your actions at all! You shouldn’t treat your husband’s family like that!
Realizing talking to her mother-in-law was futile, Larissa took out another loan from the bank to renovate.
The following summer, relatives started calling again, hoping to stay at the seaside cottage.
– It’s five hundred pounds a day, – Larissa set her rate.
– We’re family, – the relatives, accustomed to freebies, protested. – First, you asked your nephew for money, and now you’re charging us?
– If you want to stay for free, reimburse the costs of the repairs I paid for myself, – Larissa stated firmly. – I don’t want to discuss it further.
Naturally, none of her relatives wanted to part with their hard-earned money.
It was easier for them to label Larissa as money-hungry than to admit they had shamelessly freeloaded at her cottage.
News of her charging for lodging spread through the family, who quickly began judging her.
– It takes nerve to send a bill, – Julia complained the loudest since she couldn’t make her annual trips to the seaside anymore.
Of course, those who only associated with Larissa for her seaside cottage dwindled.
However, some relatives were willing to pay for their stay in Cornwall, and Larissa charged them a minimum and made it clear that any future damages would be their responsibility.
