Fine, we wont chase you out for the holidays. Prepare three spare bedrooms my sisters and my niece will stay overnight. Youll spend the night in the kitchen yourself.
MrsGillian, and what if Im the sole owner of this house? I have the title deeds to prove it. So dont even think about breaking in the police will have you out on the spot.
After work on a chilly Tuesday, Valerie was set to swing by the shopping centre. NewYears was only two weeks away, and her old friend Olivia had invited her over.
Valerie knew the guest list already: Olivias daughter with her husband and kids, Olivias sister, and her niece a university student.
Shed been to Olivias flat countless times and knew everyone by name, so she decided to buy the gifts in advance.
Choosing presents was Valeries forte; handing them over was her joy. She could already picture herself drifting through festivelydecked aisles, eyeing trinkets, watching the shop assistant wrap each purchase in glittery paper.
Her good mood evaporated the moment she stepped outside. In the car park, beside her vehicle, waited Ruth the sister of her exhusband.
Val, hi! Ruth chirped. What took you so long? Ive turned to stone in this cold.
Good afternoon, Ruth. Didnt expect to see you here, Valerie replied.
Why not? Were family, after all, Ruth said, laughing. At least weve been called that for twenty years.
Thankfully were no longer considered that, Valerie answered, reaching for the car door.
Ruth stopped her.
Listen, Val, Ive got a favour to ask actually, its a family favour.
What family, Ruth? Ive been estranged from yours for a year now. No requests, thank you, Valerie said.
Just hear me out. I dont know how you and Michael split the assets, but Mum still thinks the house you live in belongs to our side.
You and Mike bought it together, and he spent ten years fixing it up. We all gathered there for Christmas and May Day celebrations. And now?
Mum planned to host her birthday in May, with the whole clan on the veranda, just like always. But you shut us out and drove off to whoknowswhere.
I dont see why youre telling me all this, Valerie snapped. I was just visiting a friend, thought Id pop over, and I forgot to ask you.
And forget about family gettogether in my house. When Mike and I split, we agreed: the flat, the car and the garage went to him, the house stayed with me. Everything was filed officially. So now you can meet in Mikes flat. Thats that.
Val, Mum asked if we could use the house on the 31st as we used to. Plenty of people we wont have room for the whole lot, Ruth pleaded.
MrsGillian, really? After twenty years of you nagging me, you finally ask for a favour? Tell her Im not having it. Tell the family to book hotels instead.
Valerie slid into the drivers seat. The thought of hunting for presents had vanished. Ill buy them tomorrow, she muttered, and drove home.
She and Michael had lived together for almost twenty years. The house Ruth was now fussing about had been bought a decade earlier.
A year before, Michael declared, At fortyfive life isnt over yet, and announced hed be building a future with his charming young secretary.
Valerie didnt try to stop him, but she also didnt let him walk all over her. She kept the house and the family savings; Michael got a twobedroom flat, a Toyota Corolla and a garage.
Since Valeries only income now came from her student daughter, Michael didnt press for a joint account.
A few days earlier, Lisa, the daughter, called to say shed be staying in her university hall for NewYears.
Mom, youll be okay with that? she asked. Ill be home for the holidays though.
With Olivias invitation accepted, Valerie knew she wouldnt be lonely.
She also knew Ruth wasnt done Ruth always finds a way to stir the pot.
That evening her former motherinlaw rang.
Valerie, arent you biting off more than you can chew? Youve taken the house, now you think well have nowhere to complain?
Fine then, well all spend NewYears in my house the one Mike graciously let you stay in. Clear?
Very well, we wont chase you out for the holiday. Prepare three spare rooms my sisters and my niece will stay. Youll sleep in the kitchen.
MrsGillian, Im the sole owner, with the deeds to prove it. Dont even think of breaking in the police will have you out.
Lets see who actually gets the police involved! Anyway, bring your own food, well handle the rest. No cooking for you, and dont argue youll remember this NewYear forever!
Honestly, I think Michaels mother has gone completely off the rails, Valerie thought.
MrsGillian had never been a peacemaker, but her latest tirade left Valerie, the former daughterinlaw, slightly bewildered. Was she really hoping Valerie would cower and obey?
Once, Valerie had been the model daughterinlaw the other two had eventually accepted the motherinlaws authority.
Now, after the divorce, the old womans words only raised Valeries eyebrows. What were they counting on?
Meanwhile, in MrsGillians flat a plan was taking shape.
Ruth, you and Alex are in charge of groceries. Buy everything you can, early. Well start cooking on the evening of the 31st and the morning of the 1st.
Well handle the cold cuts and hot dishes. Sophie and Lucy will make salads. Well pack everything in containers, and for the tableware well ask Val I hear she still has two full sets. Mike never took any when he moved out.
Mom, what if she refuses to let us in? Ruth asked.
Let her try! Twelve of us the whole clan will be there. Shell be embarrassed. Can you picture it?
Shell open the door and find Uncle Kevin and Aunt Barbara, Len and Natalie, and the rest on the porch. Do you think shell shut it? Shell let us in, set the table, and maybe even bake a cake. Its family!
On the evening of 31December, at nine oclock, four cars pulled up outside number14 EastStreet.
Strange, said Alex, Ruths husband. The lights are off. Maybe Val isnt home?
Where could she be? Shes at home. And Lisas probably arriving. Theyre hiding, playing catandmouse, giggled MrsGillian. Ring the bell.
No one answered; the door stayed closed.
Ive got a spare key, MrsGillian declared. I knew Val might try something, so I kept one.
She unlocked the gate, and the whole troupe swaggered into the courtyard.
Hold on, Ill open the house now. Lights on, bring everything into the kitchen well set the table fast. And Val, hide if you want; we wont even invite her to sit.
After about twenty minutes, a clatter erupted from the hallway.
Here comes the lady of the house, Alex announced.
But it wasnt the lady.
Valerie, meanwhile, was helping Olivia set the table the guests were due any minute.
Her phone rang unexpectedly.
MsValerie Thompson? Your alarm has been triggered. The patrol unit is on its way.
There are twelve people here claiming to be my relatives and say they have permission to be in my house.
I never gave anyone permission. It must be my exhusbands family. I didnt invite them. Theyre trespassing.
Will you be filing a report?
Yes. Im out of town and wont be back until the day after tomorrow.
The unwanted guests were escorted to the police station, where they spent a few hours. By the time they arrived at MrsGillians flat, the salads were already sweating and the hot dishes cooling.
When Valerie finally got home, her exhusband called, demanding she hand over the police report.
Val, didnt you change the lock? Didnt you expect this? he asked.
I didnt change it why ruin a good lock? I just installed a new deadbolt and Im using it, she replied.
Why, when you left, did you lock the old one?
I guessed your mother wouldnt settle down and would show up with her crowd youd hear her yelling. I didnt want the uninvited guests damaging the door, Valerie explained.
So you deliberately left the old lock, which Mum had a key to, and set the alarm? You provoked them! You wanted them caught?
Mike, your family could have celebrated NewYears at their own place. They chose otherwise, so they ended up at the police station. Im not to blame.
And I had to tidy up the house after them the food theyd already set out had gone a bit off by the time I got back.
Why didnt you tell Ruth youd arm the house? Michael asked.
Why not? There are signs on the gate and door: Protected by Police. Everyone reads that.
Tell everyone Mom, Ruth, Alex, and the rest that I wont be entertaining surprise guests again, Valerie said.
This time Ill take the report, but it wont happen again. The law will have its say.
What do you think of the exinlaws antics? Drop a comment, give a like, and let us know!
