They had taken great care to keep their newly purchased cottage hidden from the relatives. Everything had to be settled at oncefetch the spades and start turning the earth in the garden. They werent coming anymore.
A sudden ring shattered the quiet of the morning, startling Harriet. The screen flashed: *Aunt Elsie.*
Harriet, darling! came the delighted voice. Youll never guesswere coming up to your holiday home!
Her teacup froze mid-air. Aunt Elsie was the very one who had popped in for three months while her own place was being redone. Three long months of endless questionsWhy ever have you done it like this? or What on earth possessed you to choose that?always followed by her favourite refrain: In my day, things were done properly.
How are you coming? Whos we? Harriet managed, her voice tight.
Oh, just me and the girls! We thought wed make a proper holiday of it, Aunt Elsie trilled. Clinking bottles and laughter buzzed down the line. Whats the trouble? Were family!
The word *family* had always been Aunt Elsies key to every locked door. After the last invasion, Harriet and Thomas had sworn to keep the cottage a secret. But someone must have let it slipeven the address.
Aunt Elsie, we cant Harriet began, struggling to steady herself.
Too late, lovewere already on the train! her aunt chirped. See you shortly!
The line went dead. Harriets pulse quickened. She dialled her husband.
Thomas, its Aunt Elsie. Shes bringing the girls.
Bloody hell, he sighed. Cant you just not answer the door?
Theyll sit out by the gate, shaming us to the neighbours, Harriet fretted, twisting the hem of her apron. Remember the flat? My own niece, throwing me out like rubbish!
By luncheon, Aunt Elsie and her entouragethree middle-aged cousinshad commandeered the kitchen. The veranda, where Harriet had savoured solitude that morning, was now strewn with unfamiliar luggage. The larder groaned under jars of pickles and bottles of sherry.
Harriet, where are the fresh towels? called Madge from the loo.
And fetch more loo roll! added the youngest, Mabel.
Honestly, what *is* this shampoo? sniffed the eldest, Dorothy. Bring me a proper one!
Harriet clenched her fists till her nails bit into her palms. That shampoo was herslavender-scented, chosen just for her. Not meant for a houseful of intruders. It was time to learn to say *no*even to family.
And youve done quite nicely for yourselves! Aunt Elsie mused, sinking into the wicker chair Harriet and Thomas had lugged back from Cornwall. Plenty of space, a lovely garden Why keep it from us? Were family!
Precisely why, Harriet said softlybut the edge in her voice was plain.
What was that, dear? Aunt Elsie cupped a hand to her ear theatrically.
I said, *precisely why*! Harriets words sharpened. Because youre the sort who turn up unasked, take over, and treat our things as your own!
Harriet! Aunt Elsie drew herself up, affronted. How *dare* you
I dare very well! The heat of long-pent frustration rose in Harriets chest. Dyou remember the flat? Oh, just a week!then three months! Every day, it was, Do this, change that
Just then, the girls appeared in the doorwaytowels, sherry glasses in handstaring at the scene.
Besides, were leaving on holiday soon, Harriet said, forcing calm into her voice. Our trains booked.
Oh, dont fusswell manage! Aunt Elsie waved a careless hand. Off you pop!
No, Harriet said, knees trembling but voice firm. You wont be staying. Not for a week, not at all. This is *our* home, and we want it to ourselves.
Aunt Elsie blinked, as though the words had slipped past her.
They endured three days. Three days of stifled resentment. Mornings brought strange voices in the kitchen; afternoons, endless opinions: Why ever have you planted *those*? or People dont do it like that anymore. Evenings rang with off-key singing, heedless of the neighbours. Harriets geraniums wiltedno one thought to water them. The childrens toys vanishedcluttering up the place. Even the cat decamped next door.
But on the fourth morning
Aunt Elsie, Harriet said, setting suitcases before them. Youll need to leave today.
Leave? The aunt set down her sherry, aghast. Weve only just settled in!
No, Harriet said. *You* settled in. We never agreed. It was the same with the flat. Enough. We leave tomorrowtheres packing to do.
Well, I never! Dorothy gasped.
Family, I know, Harriet said bitterly. But family doesnt mean barging into someones life. You didnt even *ask*.
Whats the harm? Madge scoffed. A little visit never hurt anyone!
A *visit*? Harriets temper flared. Youve *occupied* us. Rearranged everything, criticised
Aunt Elsie paled, glass half-raised. Harriet, we only meant
Harriet remembered it clearlythe knock, Aunt Elsie tearful on the step: Darling, the builders are in! Just a week! A week that became three months.
At first, it had seemed harmless. Theyd only just moved ina tidy little flat, each cushion placed just so.
Then
Harriet, why these dreary curtains? Aunt Elsie had fretted, rearranging the china. Look at Dorothyslace and roses!
Theyre minimalist, Harriet had muttered.
Minimalist? Aunt Elsie scoffed. Funereal, more like. And who stacks plates this way?
Day by day, their home became something aliencrowded with chintz, cluttered with lotions, overrun with coats.
Then the *gatherings*
Harriet, do keep it down! Aunt Elsie would chide, laying out crystal for a quiet sherry.
Quiet? The singing went till midnight. Thomas retreated to the bedroom, headphones clamped on. Harriet wept silently in the bath.
Mornings brought fresh verdicts: Harriet, your pantrys bare! In my day
*In my day*the phrase tolled like a death knell.
When Aunt Elsie finally packed to leave
Sweetheart, whatever shall I do without you? shed simpered. Perhaps just a *few* more days?
Aunt Elsie, Harriet had said, steeling herself, your flats ready.
But *family*!
For weeks afterwards, they restored orderbanishing frilled napkins, reclaiming shelves. They swore: never again. No uninvited guests, no just dropping in.
Yet here she wassuitcases, sherry, the same old song.
The clock ticked on the veranda. Bees hummed. A train whistled past.
Very well, Aunt Elsie said at last, oddly quiet. Youre right. Weve overstayed. She turned to the others. Girls, pack up.
An hour later, they were goneno slamming doors, no theatrics. As though theyd grasped something unspoken.
That evening, Harriet sipped tea on the veranda, reflecting. Perhaps this was the way? A simple *no*, without excuses. The hardest thing wasnt learning to refusebut finding the nerve to do it when it mattered.
