Theyd kept their newly bought countryside cottage a secret from the relatives. Everything had to be sorted straight away. Grab the spades and start digging in the garden. They werent coming anymore.
A phone call shattered the morning quiet so suddenly that Emily jumped. The screen flashed: Aunt Margaret.
Emily, love! came the chirpy voice down the line. Guess whatwere popping down to your cottage!
Her tea hovered mid-air. Aunt Margaret was the one whod stopped by their new flat for three months while her own place was being done up. Three endless months of Whyve you got it like that? and Back in my day, we did things properly.
How are you coming? Whos we? Emily managed to choke out.
Me and the girls! Just for a week, Aunt Margaret replied, laughter and clinking glasses in the background. Whats the trouble? Were family!
That wordfamilyhad always been Aunt Margarets magic key, unlocking any door. After the flat fiasco, Emily and James had vowed to keep the cottage quiet. But someone mustve blabbed even handed over the address.
Aunt Margaret, we cant Emily tried, steadying her voice.
Too late, darlingwere on the train! her aunt trilled. See you soon!
The line went dead. Emilys pulse quickened. She dialled her husband:
James, Aunt Margaret and the girls are coming.
Bloody hell, not again, he groaned. Cant you just not answer the door?
Theyll camp on the doorstep, Emily muttered, twisting the hem of her jumper. Remember the flat? Heartless niece chucks her own aunt onto the street!
By lunch, Aunt Margaret and her trio of cousinsLouise, Sarah, and Gracehad commandeered the kitchen. The porch, where Emily had sipped her tea in peace that morning, was now strewn with strangers luggage. The fridge groaned under jars of chutney and someone elses shopping, flanked by bottles of wine.
Emily, where are your towels? Louise bellowed from the loo.
And fetch some loo roll! added Sarah.
Your shampoos odd, Grace sniffed, wrinkling her nose at the lavender bottle. Got anything normal?
Emily dug her nails into her palms. Her shampoo was herspersonal, chosen, not for a gaggle of guests. Time to learn to say no, even to family.
Youve done alright for yourselves! Aunt Margaret declared, sinking into the wicker chair theyd brought back from Cornwall. Lovely plot, a hot tub Why keep it to yourselves? Were family!
Thats exactly why, Emily said softly, the edge creeping in.
Whats that? Aunt Margaret cupped her ear theatrically.
Thats. Exactly. Why. Emilys voice cracked like a whip. Because you lot think you can barge in, take over, and help yourselves to our things!
Emily! Aunt Margaret drew herself up. How dare
I dare! Something long-buried boiled over. Remember the flat? Just a week!then three months of you rearranging my life!
The cousins materialised in the doorwayLouise with towels, Grace with winegaping at the scene.
Anyway, were off on holiday soon, Emily said, voice wobbling. Trains booked.
Oh, dont fusswell manage! Aunt Margaret waved, settling deeper into the chair. You go enjoy yourselves.
No. Emilys knees shook, but her voice didnt. Youre not staying. Not for a week. Not at all. This is our home. We want it to ourselves.
Aunt Margaret blinked, as if the words hadnt quite landed.
They endured three days. Three days of forced smiles. Mornings began with strange voices in the kitchen, afternoons peppered with Whys it like this? and Normal people do it differently. Evenings brought raucous singalongs, oblivious to the glares from next door. Emilys geraniums wiltedno one thought to water them. Little Sophies toys vanished from the porchcluttering the place. Even the cat defected to the neighbours.
On the fourth morning
Aunt Margaret. Emily set the suitcases down. Youre leaving today.
What dyou mean? Her aunt spluttered into her gin. We said a week!
We didnt say anything. You decided. Like with the flat. But nowenough. Our trains tomorrow. Weve packing to do.
The cheek! Grace sprang up. Were
Family, I know. Emilys smile was thin. But family doesnt mean you get to trample over our lives. You didnt ask. You just turned up.
Whats the harm? Louise scoffed. A little visit never hurt!
A little visit? Emilys temper flared. Youve taken over. Criticised. Moved things. Dyou know how many nights I cried over that flat?
Aunt Margarets glass froze mid-air.
Love, we never meant
Emily remembered it sharp as yesterday. The knock, Aunt Margaret tearful on the step: Emily, the builders are in! Just a week! That week became three months.
At first, it seemed harmless. Just a few days. Theyd only just moved ina two-bed in a quiet cul-de-sac, everything just so.
Then
Emily, these curtains are dreary! Aunt Margaret rearranged the china cabinet. Grace has lovely onesfrills, flowers!
Theyre minimalist, Aunt Margaret.
Minimalist? More like miserable! And who stacks plates like this? Let me sort it properly
Day by day, their home warped into something else. The kitchen sprouted gaudy tea towelsbrightens the place! The bathroom became a chemists shopthe girls need their bits! The hallway piled high with coatscant turn family away!
Then the girls nights
Emily, shh! Aunt Margaret lined up wine glasses. Just a cuppa!
But cuppa meant shrieking laughter past midnight. James buried himself in work, headphones on. Emily locked herself in the loo, crying silently.
Sweetheart, why hide? Aunt Margaret tapped the door. Come join us! Grace made her famous cake
Mornings brought fresh critiques.
Emily, your fridge is barren! Aunt Margaret sighed. In my day
That phrasein my daywas the death knell. In her day, wives cooked feasts, hosted constantly, lived by rigid rules. Each morning, Emily vowed: Today, Ill say its time to go. But the words stuck.
Hang in there, James whispered at night. Its temporary
That temporary lasted three months. Three months of foreign smells in her kitchen, strange items in her cupboards, someone elses order imposed. Three months of Grace does it like this and Back in my day
And when Aunt Margaret finally packed
Darling, howll I cope without you? shed said, clutching her case. Maybe just a bit longer?
Aunt Margaret Emily kept her voice gentle but firm. Your place is finished, isnt it?
Is that what this is about? Were family!
For two weeks after, they reclaimed the flat. Out went the frilly nonsense. Slowly, their home returned. They swore: never again. No uninvited guests, no just a week, no family without warning.
Yet here she wassuitcases, wine, the same old were family
The silence rang. The veranda clock ticked. Bees hummed over the roses. A train whistled in the distance.
Right, Aunt Margaret said quietly. Youre right. We overstepped. Girls, pack up.
An hour later, they were gone. No fuss, no slammed doors. Just gone.
That evening, tea in hand on the porch, Emily wondered: was it always this simple? Just saying no? No excuses, no fibs. Sometimes the hardest thing wasnt learning to say itbut finding the nerve to say it when it counted.
