In the dim, shifting light of a dream, the words fell like a stone: “You don’t get to decide who lives under this roof,” her husband said, as the niece remained.
“Mrs. Whitmore, do you happen to have any milk?” asked the neighbor, Mrs. Clarke, peering through the half-open door. “My granddaughters visiting, and I need to make porridge.”
“Of course, dear,” Valerie set aside her knitting and went to the kitchen. “Take the whole bottletheres another in the fridge.”
Mrs. Clarke nodded gratefully and was about to leave when a gruff voice came from the sitting room:
“Whos this, traipsing in and out every day? Dont they have their own home?”
Valerie flushed. Lately, her husband Bernard had become so bitter, dissatisfied with everythingthe neighbors, the children playing in the courtyard, even her own actions.
“Sorry, love,” she murmured. “Bernards been under a lot of strain at work.”
“Dont fret, dear,” Mrs. Clarke waved a hand. “Men are all the same. Thanks for the milk.”
When the neighbor left, Valerie returned to the sitting room. Bernard sat in his armchair, flipping through the newspaper as if nothing had happened.
“Why must you be so sharp?” she asked. “Mrs. Clarkes a good womanweve been friends for years.”
“Youre friends, not me,” he grumbled. “And anyway, whys she always asking for things? Salt, sugar, milkcant she manage her own household?”
“What harm does it do? Were not wanting for anything.”
“Its not about the money. Give them an inch, and theyll take a mile.”
Valerie stayed silent. Arguing with Bernard was useless. In recent years, hed become sullen, withdrawn. Age, perhaps, or the weight of his job.
The phone rang sharply. Valerie picked up.
“Hello?”
“Aunt Valerie?” came a young womans voice. “Its Emily.”
“Emily!” Valerie brightened. “How are you, love? Hows uni?”
“Aunt Valerie, Im in trouble,” Emilys voice trembled. “Can I come stay with you? Just for a few days?”
“Of course, darling. Whats happened?”
“Mum and Dad theyve divorced. Dads brought some woman home, and Mums gone to Grans. Theres no room for meIve got exams soon, and now this”
Valeries heart ached. Emily was her brothers daughterbright, studying economics. A happy family, shattered overnight.
“You come straightaway. Well make spacetheres the sofa in the parlour.”
“Thank you, Aunt Valerie. Ill come tomorrow, if thats all right?”
“Whenever you need, love. Well fetch you from the station.”
She hung up and turned to Bernard. He glared at her.
“Whats this plan now?”
“Emilys coming. My brothers girl. The familys fallen apartshes got nowhere to go.”
“And weve nothing better to do?” Bernard tossed the paper aside. “I come home to rest, not mind someone elses children.”
“Bernard, for heavens sake! Shes familymy own niece!”
“Family or not, their mess isnt ours to fix. I work all day to keep this roof over usI wont feed extra mouths.”
“She wont stay long. Just until things settle.”
“And how long is that? A week? A year? Guests like that never leave.”
Valerie stared, uncomprehending. When theyd met thirty years ago, Bernard had been kind, generous. Now
“Fine,” she whispered. “Ill tell Emily she cant come.”
“Good,” Bernard nodded, picking up his paper.
Valerie stood at the kitchen window, watching children play in the courtyard. Somewhere, her niece was packing, hoping for help.
She dialed the number.
“Emily?”
“Yes, Aunt Valerie?”
“Darling theres no room here. Perhaps somewhere else?”
Silence. Then, softly: “I see. Thank you, anyway.”
“Emily, Im so sorry”
“Its all right. Ill manage.”
The line went dead. Valerie held the phone, weeping.
The next day, Bernard left for work as usuala kiss on the cheek, as if nothing had happened.
At noon, the doorbell rang.
Emily stood on the step, a suitcase in hand.
“Aunt Valerie,” she said, “forgive mebut Ive nowhere else.”
Valerie hesitated. Glad, yet dreading Bernards return.
“Come in, love. Tell me everything.”
Over tea, Emily explained: her fathers new woman, her mother gone to the countryside. No room at Grans, the halls of residence full.
“Stay,” Valerie said at last. “Well manage.”
“And Uncle Bernard?”
“Hell understand.”
That evening, Bernard saw the suitcase.
“Whats this?”
“Emilys here. Shes got no one, Bernard.”
“I said no!”
Emily appeared, pale. “Uncle Bernard, I wont be longjust a few weeks”
“A few weeks? Or a lifetime?”
“Bernard, dont shout at her!”
“Dont tell me how to behave in my own home! Who said she could come?”
“I did.”
“So youre in charge now?” His voice rose. “You decide who lives here?”
“Shes my niece. I wont turn her away.”
“You dont choose who stays under this roof!” he thundered. “This is my house!”
Emily shrank back. “Ill goI dont want trouble.”
“Youre staying,” Valerie blocked her path. “Bernard, shes a child in need.”
“Not my problem!”
“She is ours! Because thats what family does!”
Silence. Bernard stared, stunned. Valerie had never raised her voice before.
“Fine,” he said slowly. “You choose her over me?”
“I choose decency. Something youve forgotten.”
He packed a bag. “If thats how it is, Ill stay with my mother.”
The door slammed.
Emily wept. “Aunt Valerie, Ive ruined your marriage”
“No, love. He did that himself.”
They sat up late, talking. The flat felt alive again.
Bernard called daily, demanding Emily be sent away.
“Think what youre doing,” he said. “Dont throw us away for some girl.”
“You threw us away first.”
A month passed. Emily returned one day, beaming.
“Aunt Valerie, Ive got a job! At an ad agencygood pay, flexible hours. And the girls at uni want to share a flat!”
Valerie smiled, though her heart ached. “Thats wonderful, love.”
“You dont mind?”
“Of course not. You must start your own life.”
On moving day, Bernard helped with the bags.
“Finally,” he muttered as the taxi pulled away. “Back to normal.”
“Normal for you,” Valerie said. “Not for me.”
“Whats that supposed to mean?”
“That I wont live with a man whod turn away a child in need.”
“Valerie, dont be ridiculous”
“You were ready to abandon her. Thats not the man I married.”
Bernard sat, chastened. Perhaps something in him had hardened.
“Maybe I was too harsh,” he admitted.
“Maybe.”
“Works been I took it out on her.”
“You took it out on all of us.”
He sighed. “What now?”
“Remember who you used to be. Try to be that man again.”
He nodded.
She smiledfor the first time in years.
