The flat was meant to be yours.
Its *mine*! Mum and the lot are up in arms because I wont let my pregnant cousin stay.
You *gave* it to me, didnt you?
Dont be thickthis is *family*! How can you toss your own flesh and blood out? Shes expecting, shes got nowhere else!
Charlotte clutched the phone in the kitchen. Her mothers voice, pleading and sharp, buzzed in her ear. Typical. Even when asking favours, Mum made it sound like a moral failing.
I do want to help, but She hesitated, groping for words. Emilys been here eight months. *Eight*. Remember when Aunt Margaret swore itd just be a fortnight, till she finds work?
So? Jobs arent exactly thick on the ground these days
Shes not *looking*! A hot prickle of irritation shot up Charlottes spine. Yesterday, she spent hours mixing hair masks in the loo. Then binged telly. And then
Charlotte, shes *pregnant*
Found that out a month ago! What was her excuse before?
A thick silence settled. Charlotte heard Mums theatrical sighthe one that meant, *What a cold, ungrateful daughter Ive raised*.
Mum, its *my* flat. You and Dad bought Aunt Margarets share *for me*, didnt you?
*Technically*her voice turned brittleit belongs to the family. Were just letting you live there.
Charlotte shut her eyes. There it was. The same old tune.
I thought it was a gift. For graduating.
Of course it was! But you know how family
How family *what*? she cut in. Lets Emily eat my food, nick my things, have her bloke over when Im out? *That* bloke, by the way. The one who got her pregnant.
Charlotte! Mums voice hardened. Aunt Margarets done *so* much for us! When Dad was poorly, who helped? Who watched you when I was working all hours?
She exhaled. The eternal debt to Aunt Margaretshe knew the script by heart.
Im grateful, truly. But that doesnt mean
She rang me yesterday, Mum interrupted. In tears. Says youre bullying Emily over nothing.
Charlotte snorted.
*Nothing*? She took my new jumper without asking, stained it with Ribena, and said, You dont mind, were *family*. Didnt even apologise.
Good lord, its just a jumper
Its *not* the jumper! Her throat tightened. Its respect. Boundaries. Coming home and feeling like a stranger.
Another silence. Then, smooth as honey:
Your gran wouldve been so disappointed. Family meant *everything* to her.
No. Charlotte cut her off. Dont drag her into every row.
But its *true*! That flat came from her estate. She wanted
What? Me to host Emily forever? Put up with her nonsense?
The phone buzzed. Aunt Margaret. Obviously.
Mum, its Aunt Margaret. Probably here to tell me what a rotten cousin I am.
Answer it. Be reasonable.
Fine, she sighed. Ill call later.
Switching lines, she braced for the guilt.
Hello, Aunt Margaret?
Darling! A voice like syrup. Hows my sunshine?
*Sunshine*. Charlotte grimaced. That nickname never boded well.
Alright.
Emily mentioned some *misunderstandings* between you?
She rolled her eyes. *Misunderstandings*. Right.
Aunt, you said two weeks. A month, tops.
Counting days like a *solicitor*! A tinny laugh. Family doesnt do that.
What *does* family do, then? Her temper flared. Nick my stuff? Have parties when Im gone?
Now, nowEmilys just *sociable*, she
Shes used to everyone fixing her messes. My parents bought your share. It was *my* gift.
Not *exactly*, the voice frosted over. Its family inheritance. Your mum and I agreed
To sell your share to *them*. At market rate.
Money, *always* money! Hysteria crept in. What about Emilys *baby*? Where will she go?
Shes got a boyfriend. *The father*, incidentally.
A *waster*! He bolted to Manchester when he heard.
*Cant imagine why*, she thought, but said:
You and Uncle John have a three-bed. Why cant she stay there?
A telling silence.
Its *complicated*. John works from home. And you two get on *so* well! Be good practice for you.
*Get on*. Charlotte smirked. Emily, the eternal freeloader, while *she*, the responsible one, always had to yield.
Im done. She needs to leave.
*What*? The voice turned shrill. Shes *pregnant*! Youll stress her into a miscarriage!
Charlotte bit back a retort. The final weapon: second-hand guilt.
Im not throwing her out today. Shes got a month to
Im calling your mother! This is *outrageous*! After all weve done!
The line died. Her hands shook.
The front door slammed. High heels clicked.
Lottie! A sugary voice. Guess who I ran into? Sarah, from school! Married some tech millionaire. Her *ring*I could *die*!
Emily swept in, salon-tanned, nails perfect, designer jeans. Not a care in the world.
Say, lets rearrange, eh? She flopped onto the sofa. Move this by the window? And a nursery corner
Charlotte stared, feeling her last thread of patience snap.
Emily. We need to talk.
Not *now*, yeah? She flapped a hand. Migraine. *Hormones*. Im off to nap.
*Emily*. Her voice sharpened. Youre leaving.
A blink.
*What*?
Youve a month to find somewhere.
Youre *joking*? Its *our* inheritance! Ive as much right as you!
No. My parents bought it. Legally, its theirs.
Family *trumps* legal! Im *pregnant*!
Youve got parents. The father. *Friends*.
Im calling Mum! She yanked out her phone.
Dont bother. She already rang.
Emilys eyes glinted, venomous.
Aunt Margaret and Mumll sort this. Youll *regret* it!
The door slammed.
Charlotte gazed out the window. No guiltjust weary relief.
Her phone buzzed. Mums text: *Aunt Margarets devastated. What have you done?*
Ignoring it, she opened her browser: *Flats to rent, Bristol*.
Three months later. Charlotte sipped coffee at a café near the docks, across from Tom, her new beau from London.
No regrets? he asked.
Only that I didnt do it sooner.
Her phone rang. Dad.
Dad?
News. Weve sold the flat.
Grans place? But
Emilys moved in with her parents. He gave a dry chuckle. Tried squatting after you left, but Weve had enough. The moneys yours.
*Mine*?
Always meant to be. Sorry we didnt back you sooner.
Tears pricked her eyes.
I Thanks.
Be happy. Were proud. Even when we didnt show it.
Hanging up, she watched snow dust Bristols streets.
Alright? Tom squeezed her hand.
Think I just grew up. Properly.
The snow blurred the past, leaving a blank pageone where *shed* choose who crossed her threshold and her heart.
