Ive already moved into your flat, announced Claire, sending a photo of herself lounging on my sofa.
You forgot the milk again?! Helen stood by the fridge, clutching the open door as if it might bolt away. I asked you! I called this morning!
Mum, I was swamped at work! Emma, still in her shoes, fumbled through her bag, pulling out her phone. It completely slipped my mind!
It slipped! Everything slips from you! And how am I supposed to have coffee in the morning then?!
Drink it black! Or Ill go out now!
Where? Its already nine oclock, the shops are shut!
Emma kicked off her shoes, crossed to the kitchen. Helen kept muttering, riffling through the fridge contents. Emma flopped onto a chair and turned on her phone. The battery had died at the office; it was only now charging.
The phone buzzed to life, a flood of messages scrolling byadvertisements, newsletters, colleagues. Then a familiar name appeared: Claire.
Claire. My sisterinlaw. Jamess younger sister.
Emma opened the chat and read.
Hey, Em! Ive already moved into your flat. Got settled.
Below was a picture: Claire, grinning, sprawled across my favourite green sofathe one James and I had spent three months hunting for, driving half the city.
A chill ran down Emmas spine. She read the message again, twice, then a third time.
Mum, she called out, her voice sounding foreign, hushed.
What? Helen turned from the fridge.
Did you give anyone the keys to our flat?
Which flat?
The one we share!
No, of course not! Why would I?
Emma stared at the phone. Claire on my sofa. In my flat. How?
Her fingers typed: Claire, this must be a mistake. Which flat?
The reply was instant: The one on Baker Street! James said youd be fine with me staying at mums place for a while, so I thought Id move in. Convenient, isnt it?
Emma bolted up, snatching her coat.
Where are you going?! Helen barred the door. Emma, whats happening?!
Claire is in our flat! James let her in!
Which Claire? The one whos always whining?
That very one!
Emma burst out of the flat, sprinted down the stairs, and wrestled a trembling taxi driver into the right address. He stuttered over the postcode while she shouted, urging him faster.
The cab seemed to crawl forever. Through the window Emma replayed the story of Claire: Jamess younger sister, a perpetual victim, shed called herself the unlucky one. Thirtyfive, three marriages behind her, a string of jobs that kept firing her.
When Emma first met James, Claire was sweet, beaming, showering him with congratulations. Then the calls beganher husband left, she was broke, she had nowhere to stay. James kept giving her money, a couch, a roof. Emma didnt object at first, but soon saw the pattern.
Claire turned up once a month, stayed for weeks, scattered her belongings, turned the kitchen into a battlefield, spent hours on the phone. Emma endured it. James kept pleading, saying Claire was alone and needed help.
The last time Claire stayed, she was there for a month. Emma finally confronted James, insisting they needed space as a young couple. James agreed, asked Claire to leave. She sulked, didnt call for three months.
And nowwithout askingshed moved in.
The taxi halted at the block. Emma paid, bolted up the stairs, unlocked the door with her own key. A wave of unfamiliar perfume hit her nose.
She stepped into the living room. Claire was indeed on the sofa, watching TV, crunching crisps.
Oh, Emma! Claire chirped, delighted. James told me youd be at mums all month!
All month?! Emma felt her blood boil. Claire, what the hell are you doing here?!
Im living here, Claire shrugged. James gave me the okay. Said you were fine with it.
Im not fine! Wheres James?!
At work. Hes stuck in a shift, emergencies and all.
Emma dialed James. No answer. She tried again. Still silent.
She typed: Why did you let Claire into the flat?
A minute later, James texted back: Emma, cant talk nowmeeting. Will explain later.
Claire, pack it up and leave, Emma said coldly.
Leave? Where am I supposed to go? My flat flooded! Repairs will take a month! James said I could stay here!
He never said that!
Hes the owner! The lease is in his name!
Emma clenched her fists. Yes, James owned the flat; theyd bought it before marriage, hed invested more. Emma had never contested the ownership, trusting him.
This is our flat, Emma said slowly. I never gave you permission to live here.
I dont need your permission! Claire snapped. Jamess brother, my family! And you? Just the wife! Wives come and go!
What?
Exactly! You think youre his first? Before you there was Lucy! They dated three years, then split!
Lucy? What does she have to do with this?!
It shows James is fickle! Today you, tomorrow someone else! Im his sister, Im permanent!
Emma stared, stunned by the audacity. This brazen woman had taken over her home and dared to speak like that.
Thats it. Youre out by tomorrow morning, Emma declared, marching to the door.
Im not moving! James gave me a month!
Emma slammed the door, descended the stairs, and slumped on the buildings bench, hands shaking, a lump in her throat.
James arrived an hour later, stopped short at the sight of his wife.
Emma, whats going on?
Im waiting for you to explain why Claire is sitting in our flat!
Calm down, calm down, he sat beside her. Lets talk.
Talk? You let your sister into our home without telling me! You told her Id be at mums for a month! Where did you get that?
You kept saying mum was alone, that she needed visits
Visits, not a takeover! James, this is my flat too!
Claire really has nowhere to go! Her flat flooded, its a nightmare. I couldnt turn her away!
You could have asked me first!
I thought youd understand
I dont understand why your sister is more important than me! Why should I give up my own home?
Not give up, just temporary! A month!
A month! James, remember the last time she stayed? Filth, chaos, screaming at night! I dont want that again!
She promised to be quiet
Promised! She always promises, then does whatever she likes!
James fell silent, then whispered:
Emma, I cant evict her onto the street.
Can you?
Youre not on the street! Youre at mums!
I want my home! My flat!
Then come back! Claire doesnt mind!
Doesnt mind? She told my face Im a temporary wife, shes the permanent sister!
Jamess brow furrowed.
She really said that?
Word for word!
Shes not doing it out of malice just emotional
Emotional! Emma grabbed her bag. You know what, James? Live with your emotional sister! Im going to mums, and not for a monthforever!
Emma! What are you
But Emma was already out the door. James stood, shoulders slumped, then turned and walked back to the flat.
Emma caught a taxi and raced to her mothers house. Helen met her with questions. Emma broke down, spilling everything.
Oh, love, Helen sighed, hugging her. I told you James is a mothers boy! Or rather, a brothers boy!
Mum, I tried so hard! I tolerated Claire, helped her, supported her! And she calls me a temporary wife!
Claires a piece of work. I remember at your wedding she wouldnt let James go, clinging to his arm like a bride.
Emma recalled that night. Claire had been weeping and laughing, claiming shed lose her brother. Emma had dismissed it as nerves.
What do I do now? Emma asked.
Nothing. Stay here. Let James sort his head out.
Emma slept in her old room. Her phone buzzed nonstop. James texted, called. She ignored him.
The next morning, Claire messaged: Emma, dont be angry! I baked a cake!
Emma blocked the number.
A week passed. Emma went to work, returned to her mothers. James called daily, begging her to come back, promising to talk to Claire. Emma stayed silent.
Lucy, a friend, called.
Emma, why arent you living at home?
How do you know?
I walked past the block yesterday, saw Claire on the balcony waving, shouting something about a housewarming.
Housewarming, Emma repeated, feeling the anger rise again.
She drove to Baker Street, went up the stairs, opened the flat door.
The place was unrecognisable. Claire had rearranged furniture, hung her own curtains, placed odd vases everywhere.
Oh, Emma! Claire greeted in a cosy houserobe. Miss me?
Claire, what are you doing?!
Settling in! James okayed it!
Wheres James?!
At work. Whats it to you?
Emma entered the bedroom. The bed was covered with Claires sheets.
Youre sleeping in our bedroom?!
And where else? On the sofa? Im not a guestI live here!
Youre a guest! A temporary one!
James said I could stay as long as I like!
James, James! Emma ripped Claires belongings off the bed. This is my flat too! Get out!
Claire went pale.
You have no right to kick me out! The lease is in Jamess name!
But Im his wife! I have rights too!
Then live here! I dont mind, theres plenty of space!
I dont want to live with you!
I dont care! I wont leave! My flat is under repair!
Then find somewhere else to live!
How? I have no money!
Get a job!
Im looking, but havent found one yet!
Convenient! Emma snapped. You know what, Claire? Live here alone with James! Im never coming back!
She stormed out, slamming the door, got into her car.
James called that evening.
Emma, Claire said you visited. She said I yelled at her.
Yelled? She moved all the furniture! Shes sleeping in our bed!
Well, its more convenient for her
Convenient for who? Me?!
Emma, come back. Well sort it out.
Nothing to sort! Either Claire leaves, or I never return!
Shes my sister! I cant throw her out!
Then you lose me!
James was silent.
Thats the answer, Emma said, hanging up.
A month later Claire still occupied the flat. James begged Emma to return; she refused.
Claires friend, Olivia, called.
Emma, can we meet?
Why?
I need to tell you something about Claire.
Im listening.
She staged the whole thing. The flood in her flat was deliberate. She unscrewed a pipe to create an excuse to move in with James.
Emmas jaw dropped.
What?
She confessed to me. Said she was tired of living alone, wanted to be near her brother, blamed me for stealing James.
She stole me?
Shes always been dependent on him. After her first divorce she moved in with him for a year, he finally threw her out. When he married you, she threw a fit.
I didnt know
She hid it, but shes always hated you, called you a homewrecker. Now she wants her place back.
Emma sat, processing.
Olivia, why tell me this?
Because Im fed up. Claire uses everyoneme, James, you. She could work, live on her own, but prefers to leech. It disgusts me.
Any proof?
Screenshots. She bragged shed trick James into letting her stay, that shed survive on you.
Olivia sent the messages. Emma read, feeling the cold seeping in. Claire had indeed orchestrated everythingflooded her own flat, begged James, rearranged the furniture to keep Emma away.
Thank you, Emma whispered. Can you forward it to me?
Already did.
Emma showed the evidence to Helen. Then called James.
Come over. Now.
He arrived half an hour later. Emma handed him the phone. He read, his face paling.
Is this true? he asked hoarsely.
Its true. Claire flooded her flat to move in. She wanted to push you out.
James sank onto a chair.
I didnt know
Now you do.
God, Emma, Im sorry! I was a fool! I thought I was helping my sister!
She used you.
What now?
Throw her out. Immediately.
James nodded, stood up.
Shall we leave together?
No. Deal with her yourself. Shes your sister.
He left. Emma lay on the couch, eyes closed, exhausted.
James returned late, eyes red, face drawn.
Did you evict her? Emma asked.
I did. She cried, swore it was all lies. I showed her the messages. She admitted she hates you, says you ruined her life, calls me a traitor.
And you?
I told her I never want to see her again. Shes no longer my sister.
Emma looked at him, seeing genuine remorse.
James, you almost lost me.
I understand. Ill never forgive myself.
Ill come back, but on one condition.
What?
Claire never steps foot in our house again. Under any pretext.
I promise.
A week later Emma walked back into the flat. James had restored the furniture, tossed Claires things out.
Im sorry, he said as she entered. I was a blind idiot.
You were, she replied. But youve changed. I hope it stays that way.
Claire kept calling for a month. James didnt answer. Eventually she vanished. Olivia later told Emma that Claire moved back into her own flat, found a job, lived alone.
Poor thing, Emma murmured.
Not poor, James retorted. She chose that path. She could have led a normal life, worked, built relationships, but preferred to parasite. She got what she deserved.
Emma nodded. They never spoke of Claire again. They built their own life, made plans. James transferred the title to both their names, so Emma felt fully entitled to the home.
The green sofa theyd spent three months choosing sat where it always had, and no one else ever sat on it.
