Very well, we wont drive you out for the holidays. Prepare three bedrooms my sisters and my niece will stay overnight. Youll sleep in the kitchen yourself.
Mrs. Grace Whitaker, as if Im the sole owner of this house? I have the title deeds. Dont even think of forcing your way in the police will have you carted out.
It was a grey Thursday after work when Valerie decided to swing by the Willowbrook Shopping Centre. In two weeks Christmas would be here, and an old friend, Olivia Hart, had invited her over.
Valerie knew the house would be full: the hostesss daughter with her husband and children, the hosts sister, and a universitygoing niece.
Shed been to Olivias place countless times and knew everyone well, so she wanted to buy the presents in advance.
Choosing gifts was Valeries forte; handing them over was her delight. Already she could feel the pleasure of drifting through aisles draped in twinkling fairy lights, examining the glittering wraps, watching the shop assistant fold a parcel into shimmering paper.
Her mood soured the moment she stepped onto the car park. By her sedan, a figure in a thick coat waited Rachel, the sister of her former husband.
Val, hello! Rachel called, teeth chattering. What took you so long? Im freezing my bones off.
Good afternoon, Rachel. I didnt expect to see you here.
Why not? Were family, after all, Rachel replied. At least weve been called that for twenty years.
Fortunately were not any longer, Valerie said, reaching for the drivers door.
Rachel stopped her.
Listen, Val, I have a request. Actually, its not just me its the whole family.
What family? I havent spoken to yours in a year. Im not listening to any asks, Valerie snapped.
No, just hear me out. I dont know how you and Michael split the assets, but Mum still believes the house you live in belongs to our side.
You bought it together with Mike, and hes been fixing it up for ten years. We all gathered there for Christmas and the May Day fairs. And now what?
Mum planned to host her birthday in May, pack the veranda tables as we always did. You shut her out and drove off to whoknowswhere.
I dont get why youre telling me this, Valerie said. I went to visit my friend, thought Id stay a night and left. Sorry, I forgot to ask you.
Forget about your family gatherings in my house. When Mike and I split, we agreed: flat, car and garage to him, the house to me. Everything was signed off. So you can hold your reunions at Mikes flat. Thats it.
Val, mum asked if we could let guests use the house on the thirtyfirst, like before. A crowd will come we cant fit the whole clan anywhere, Rachel pleaded.
Grace Whitaker asked? Thats absurd! Shes spent twenty years demanding things from me, now shes asking for a favour? Tell her I refuse. Book the relatives a hotel instead.
Valerie slipped into the car. The desire to hunt for presents evaporated. Ill buy them tomorrow, she thought, and drove home.
She and Michael had lived together for almost twenty years. The house in question had been bought ten years earlier.
A year before, Michael declared, At fortyfive lifes just beginning, and vowed to build a future with his charming young secretary.
Valerie didnt try to stop him, but she didnt let herself be trampled either. She kept the house and the family savings; Michael walked away with a twobed flat, a used Toyota Corolla, and a garage.
Because Michaels daughter, Emma, was still a student, he didnt claim the joint account.
A few days earlier, Emma called, saying shed spend NewYears Eve in her university hall.
Mom, will you be angry? she asked. Ill be home for the holidays.
After that, Valerie accepted Olivias invitation. In that crowd she would not feel alone.
Knowing Rachel, she sensed this was not the end they would not let her rest. She was right.
That evening her exmotherinlaw rang.
Valerie, arent you taking on too much? Youve arrogantly seized Mikes house and now think we cant touch you?
Yes, fine we wont evict you for the festive period. Prepare three rooms my sisters and my niece will stay. Youll sleep in the kitchen.
Grace Whitaker, does it matter that Im the sole owner? I have the deeds. Dont even try to break in the police will have you escorted out.
Well see who gets escorted out! Anyway, get the rooms ready, well bring all the food, so you wont have to cook a thing. Dont object, or youll remember this NewYear forever!
By my reckoning, Michaels mother has gone completely mad, Valerie thought.
Grace Whitaker had never been a peacemaker, but todays outburst startled her former daughterinlaw. Was the old woman hoping Valerie would cower and obey?
Once, Valerie had been the model daughterinlaw; the other two had finally accepted the matriarchs authority. Now, after the divorce, the former motherinlaws words only sparked bewilderment. What were they counting on?
Meanwhile, in Graces flat, a plan was taking shape.
Rachel, you and Alex are in charge of buying provisions. Stock up now well be cooking the night of the thirtyfirst and the morning after.
Well handle the cold cuts and hot dishes. Sophie and Hannah will bring salads. Well pack everything in containers, and well borrow the serving sets from Val I hear she still has two dinnerware sets. Michael didnt take any when he moved out.
Mom, what if she refuses and locks us out? Rachel asked.
Let her try! Well be twelve, the whole clan. Shell be embarrassed. Imagine her opening the door to Uncle Kevin, Aunt Lucy, Len and Natalie, and the rest. Will she really turn them away? Shell let us in, maybe even help set the table. Its family!
At nine oclock on the thirtyfirst of December, four cars gathered outside number14 Eastgate Lane.
Strange, said Alex, Rachels husband. The lights are off. Maybe Valerie isnt home?
Where could she be? Shes here. And Emma must have arrived. Theyre hiding, watching us, Grace chuckled. Ring the bell.
No one answered, and the door stayed shut.
Hold on, I have a spare key, Grace announced. I knew Val might try something, so I kept one.
She opened the side gate and the whole troupe poured into the courtyard.
Wait, Ill open the house now. Turn on the lights and bring everything into the kitchen; well set the table quickly. As for Val, let her hide if she wishes we wont invite her to the feast.
Minutes later a clamor rose from the hallway.
The lady of the house has arrived, Alex announced.
But it wasnt the lady.
Valerie, meanwhile, was helping Olivia arrange the table the guests would be at the door any minute.
Her phone rang abruptly.
Ms. Valerie Hart? Your alarm has been triggered at the property. The patrol is on its way.
There are twelve people here claiming to be relatives with your permission.
I never gave anyone permission. Most likely theyre my exhusbands family. I didnt invite them. They forced their way in.
Will you file a report?
Yes. Im out of town and wont return until the day after tomorrow.
The uninvited crowd was escorted to the police station for a few hours. By the time they reached Graces flat, the salads had begun to wilt and the hot dishes cooled.
When Valerie finally got home, Michael called, demanding the report.
Val, didnt you change the lock? Didnt you suspect? he asked.
I didnt change it why ruin the doors? I just installed a new deadbolt and use it, she replied.
Why, when you left, did you lock it with the old key?
I guessed your mother wouldnt calm down and would show up with her guests youd have heard her talking to me. I didnt want uninvited guests damaging the door, Valerie explained.
So you deliberately left the old lock, which Mum still has a key to, and set off 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.
By the way, I had to tidy the flat and air it out; what you left on the table had gone a bit off by the time I arrived.
Why didnt you tell Rachel youd set the alarm? Michael pressed.
Why should I? The gate and door have signs that read Protected by Police. Everyone reads those.
Tell everyone my mother, Rachel, Alex, and the rest that Ill never welcome them again, Valerie said.
This time Ill retrieve the report, but it wont happen again. The law will deal with them harshly
What do you think of the exfamilys antics? Share your thoughts in the comments and give a like.
