The flat was meant to be mine!
“Mum and the family wont let me kick out my pregnant cousin,” I muttered under my breath, clenching my phone in the kitchen.
“You gave it to me!” I argued.
“Don’t you understand? This is about family!” Mums voice was pleading yet sharp. “How can you treat your own niece like this? Shes pregnantshes got nowhere else to go!”
Typical Mum. Even when asking a favour, she made me feel guilty.
“I want to help, but…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “Emilys been living with me for eight months. Eight! Remember when Aunt Valerie said itd just be two weeks, just until she finds a job?”
“And? The job markets tough right now.”
“Shes not even trying!” Frustration bubbled up. “Yesterday, she spent hours making face masks, then bingeing TV shows. And after that”
“Olivia, shes pregnant!”
“She only found out a month ago! What about before?”
A heavy silence settled. I could practically hear Mums theatrical sighthe one that said, “What a heartless daughter. I raised you wrong.”
“Mum, its my flat. You and Dad bought Aunt Valeries share for me, right?”
“Technically,” her voice turned icy, “it belongs to the family. Were just letting you live there.”
I closed my eyes. There it wasthe same old argument.
“I thought it was a gift. For graduating.”
“Of course it was! But in a family, you have to”
“Have to what?” I cut in. “Let Emily eat my food, use my things, and invite her boyfriend over when Im not home? The same boyfriend who got her pregnant, by the way.”
“Olivia!” Her tone hardened. “Aunt Valerie did so much for us! When Dad was ill, who helped? Who looked after you when I was working day and night?”
I sighed. The eternal debt to Aunt ValerieI knew this script by heart.
“I am grateful, but that doesnt mean I have to”
“She rang me yesterday,” Mum interrupted. “In tears. Said youre harassing Emily over silly things.”
I scoffed.
“Silly? She took my new jumper without asking and stained it with juice! Then had the nerve to say, You dont mind, were family. No apology, nothing!”
“For heavens sake, its just a jumper!”
“Its not about the jumper!” My throat tightened. “Its about respect. Boundaries. Coming home and feeling like a stranger in my own flat.”
Silence again. Then Mum murmured, persuasive:
“Your nan wouldve been so disappointed. Family meant everything to her”
“Dont,” I snapped. “Dont drag her into every argument.”
“But its true! This flat came from her inheritance. She wanted”
“What? For me to house Emily forever? Put up with her mess? Let her”
My phone buzzedAunt Valerie. Of course.
“Mum, its Aunt Valerie. Probably calling to tell me what a terrible cousin I am.”
“Answer it. Be reasonable.”
“Fine,” I sighed. “Ill call you later.”
Swallowing hard, I braced myself.
“Hello, Aunt Valerie?”
“Darling!” Her voice was sickly sweet. “How are you, my sunshine?”
“Sunshine.” I grimaced. That nickname never meant good news.
“Im all right.”
“Emily mentioned a little… misunderstanding between you?”
I rolled my eyes. “Misunderstanding.” Right.
“Auntie, you said two weeks. A month, tops.”
“Youre counting like a solicitor!” Her laugh was forced. “Family doesnt do that.”
“What does family do, then?” Anger surged. “Take my things without asking? Have strangers over when Im out?”
“Oh, come now. Emilys just sociable, she”
“Shes used to everyone fixing her problems. My parents bought your share. This flat was a gift for me.”
“Not exactly,” her voice turned cold. “Its family inheritance. Your mum and I agreed”
“That youd sell your share to my parents. At market price.”
“Money, always money!” Her voice turned shrill. “And what about Emilys baby? Have you thought of that? Where will she go?”
“She has a boyfriend. The father, might I add.”
“A useless lad! He left Manchester the moment he heard she was pregnant.”
“I wonder why,” I muttered, then said louder: “You and Uncle Clive have a three-bed. Why doesnt she live with you?”
A telling pause.
“Its… complicated. Clive works from home. And you two get along so well! Itd be good practice for youmotherhood experience.”
“We get along.” I laughed bitterly. Emily, the eternal freeloader, while I, “the responsible one,” was expected to bend over backwards.
“I cant do this anymore. She needs to leave.”
“What?!” Her voice turned shrill. “Shes pregnant! Are you trying to stress her into a miscarriage?”
I bit back a retort. The ultimate weaponguilt by proxy.
“Im not throwing her out tonight. Shes got a month to”
“Im calling your mother! This is outrageous! After all weve done for you!”
The line went dead. My hands shook.
The front door slammed. Heels clicked.
“Livvy!” Emilys saccharine voice rang out. “Guess who I bumped into? Sophie, from school! She married some tech blokeher ring mustve cost a fortune!”
She strode in, perfectly tanned, manicured nails, designer jeans. No sign of distress.
“Say, why dont we redecorate?” She flopped onto the sofa. “Move the couch by the window? And well need space for the babys things…”
I stared, feeling the last of my patience snap.
“Emily. We need to talk.”
“Not now, yeah?” She waved a hand. “Headache. Bloody hormones. Im off to lie down.”
“Emily.” My voice sharpened. “You have to leave.”
Her jaw dropped.
“Are you joking?”
“Youve got a month to find somewhere.”
“Youyou cant! Its our nans flat! Ive as much right as you!”
“No. My parents bought the share. Legally, its theirs.”
“Familys above the law! Im pregnant!”
“Youve got parents. The father. Friends.”
“Im calling Mum!” She yanked out her phone.
“Dont bother. Shes already called.”
Emily glared, venom in her eyes.
“Aunt Valerie and Mum will sort this. Youll regret it!”
The door slammed.
I looked out the window. Instead of guilt, weary relief settled in.
My phone buzzed. A text from Mum: “Aunt Valeries devastated. What have you done?”
Ignoring it, I opened my browser: “Flats to rent in Bristol.”
Three months later. I sipped coffee in a café, watching snowflakes drift past. Across the table, Tommy boyfriend, met in Londonleaned forward.
“No regrets?” he asked.
“Only that I didnt do it sooner.”
My phone rang. Dad.
“Hiya, Dad.”
“Got news. We sold the flat.”
“Nans place? But”
“Emily moved back with her parents.” He gave a dry laugh. “Tried to stay after you left, but… Weve done enough. The moneys yours.”
“Mine?”
“Yours. It was always meant for you. Sorry we didnt stand by you sooner.”
Tears pricked my eyes.
“I… Thank you.”
“Be happy. Were proudeven when we didnt show it.”
Hanging up, I watched snow dust Bristols streets.
“Everything okay?” Tom squeezed my hand.
“I think,” I said softly, “I just grew up. Properly.”
The snow blurred the past, clearing space for a new chapterone where Id choose who stayed in my home… and my heart.
