When Gran discovered her grandson wanted to evict her, she sold the flat without a second thought.
Why take out a loan when you could just wait for Gran to pass and inherit her home? Thats what my husbands cousin, Theo, used to say. His wife, Emily, and their three children lived in eager anticipation of that windfall. They refused loans, preferring to dream of the day Grans flat would be theirs. In the meantime, they squeezed into Emilys mums tiny two-bed in Brighton, and the cramped life seemed to suffocate them. Theo and Emily whispered more and more about how to “sort things out” with Gran.
But Gran, Edith, was a real gem. At seventy-five, she was full of life, always on the go, and in blooming health. Her flat in central Brighton was always open to friends. She was handy with her smartphone, loved gallery visits, theatre shows, and even enjoyed the odd flirt at the local retirement dances. She radiated joyliving proof that age was just a number. But for Theo and Emily, she was just an irritation. Theyd had enough of waiting.
Their patience finally snapped. They decided Edith should sign the flat over to Theo and move into a care home. They didnt even hide their intentions, insisting it would be “better for her.” But Edith wasnt one to be pushed around. She flat-out refused, and that lit the fuse. Theo flew into a rage, shouting that she was “selfish” and “should think of the childrens future.” Emily stoked the flames, hinting that Gran had “lived long enough.”
Horrified, my husband and I found out everything. Edith had always dreamed of visiting Indiaseeing the Taj Mahal, breathing in the spice markets, wandering Delhis streets. We offered to take her in, suggesting she rent out her flat to fund the trip. She agreed, and soon her spacious three-bed in town brought in a tidy sum. When Theo and Emily caught wind of it, they kicked up a massive row. They acted like the flat was rightfully theirs, demanding Gran let them move in. They even accused my husband, Simon, of “manipulating” Edith for the inheritance. Theo went as far as demanding the rental money, calling it his “fair share.” We shut that down fastnot a chance.
Emily started dropping by almost dailysometimes alone, sometimes with the kids, sometimes with pointless little gifts. Shed ask after Grans health, but we saw right through it. She and Theo were still banking on Edith “popping off” so they could swoop in. Their greed and shamelessness left us stunned.
Meanwhile, Edith saved up enough and finally went to India. She came back glowing, her suitcase stuffed with stories and photos. We suggested she go furthersell the flat, travel more, then spend her later years with us in comfort. She thought it over and agreed. The flat sold for a good price, and with the money, she bought a cosy little studio on Brightons outskirts. The rest funded new adventures.
She toured Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. On a boat trip across Lake Geneva, she met a charming Englishman named John. Their romance was like something out of a filmat seventy-six, she married him! Simon and I flew to England for the wedding, and it was pure magicseeing her beam in a white dress, surrounded by flowers and laughter. Edith deserved this happiness. Shed worked all her life, raised her kids, helped her grandkids Now, at last, she was living for herself.
When Theo heard the flat had been sold, he hit the roof. He demanded Gran hand over the studio, claiming shed “had her fun.” How he planned to fit five people in there was anyones guess. But it wasnt our problem anymore. We were just glad Edith had found her joy. As for Theo and Emily? Well, their storys a remindermoney has a funny way of showing you who people really are.
