Dont forget, youve been living in my flat all your life. You begin again, and I can hear the echo of that sentence linger forever in the corridors of my mind.
Emma and James had been married ten years.
Emmas mother had remarried when Emma was three, and her new husband, Michael, raised her as his own.
Emmas younger brother, Harry, was not Michaels blood either, but the only child Michael truly claimed as his was the little sister, Lucy. Still, Michael treated all the children the same, never drawing a line between them.
When Emma married and moved in with James, Lucy was eight.
James got on with his new stepfather, Michael, instantly. It wasnt surprising; Michaelknown to the neighbours as MrAndrewscould chat with any child on the block as easily as with the adults at the local pub. He spoke on equal terms, found common ground and shared interests.
James could say nothing bad about his motherinlaw, but with Michael he grew fond and started calling him dad.
Emmas own father had already passed away.
Her mother had gone to stay with her own mother because shed grown frail. She never returned, leaving the family house to her son.
Emma and James rewrote the whole thing for themselves, with help from Michael. Emmas mother kept muttering, unable to fathom why her daughter would move from the city to a village.
Mum, its a town, a big town. There are even fivestorey blocks in the centre.
And youre living in a cottage on the edge that makes it a village, does it?
Ten years slipped by. Their son and daughter grew up. Harry, after university, chose to stay in the city, far from the old family home. Lucy married. With no place of their own, they began renting. Their flat was paid for by Lucys parents.
Let them stay with us, Michael told his wife.
Im not opposed, but we need to talk.
About what?
Why did you change jobs?
Weve already spoken about that. The children earn their own wages now. Im exhausted working two jobs; ever since I fell ill its gotten worse. The expenses have eased a little.
Lucy needs a flat.
She already has a husband.
Dont forget youre living in my flat and have lived here all your life.
Youre starting again. Youll curse me for the rest of my days.
Choose! You have to work for your daughters flat!
Whats the choice? Work for the flat or what?
Or leave.
I cant work like that, you know that.
Then Ill file for divorce. Go. You still have the house.
The house? Have you seen it? What has become of it after all these years?
I dont care. You never wanted to sell it.
Michael gathered the few essentials in silence.
Take everything, or Ill throw the rest away.
Weve lived almost our whole lives, youll be on your pension next year. Im already sixtythree.
I should have found a younger partner then; I married you out of necessity. There was no choice for a woman with two children. The trailer was a burden.
Youre talking about the children? Im leaving. Ill collect the other things within a week. Hold on
Mum, wheres dad?
You know hes not really your father.
And what does that change? Hes my dad; theres no other.
Were split. Lucy and her husband are moving into the flat.
What? Wheres dad?
In his own village.
And Lucy agreed to send a frail father there? How could you?
What are you so worried about?
Its not humane. Does Harry know?
Why would he need to know? Hes far away. Why did you come?
We just thought wed stop by; were on holiday tomorrow. Then we decided to swing by Harrys place, its close.
What do you want from me? I need money for repairs; your sister and her husband are moving soon, shes pregnant. I wont give anything. Did you bring the kids? I never sit with them.
Nothing. We have money; the children are coming with us. Thats why were here. When did you intend to talk about divorce?
Why bother? Hes only Lucys blood.
When he loved and supported us he was family, now hes a stranger? Thats wrong, Mum
Dont judge me! I tried for you!
James reentered the flat. He had left at the start of Emmas argument with her mother, realizing her father was gone for good. He barely managed to call him; Michael never kept his phone on him, leaving it at home, but luck was on his side and the call went through.
Of course not me. He tried for us. Time will tell.
Emma, lets go, James tugged her by the wrist. Ive figured it all out. The childreninto the car. Were off to granddad.
Figured it out? Were driving.
Ive just barely managed to ask. I didnt want to say.
Well done. I never knew the address. No one told us, we never visited.
Michael met them by the old stone cottage.
Granddad, does a wicked aunt still live in the house? the bright grandchildren asked.
No. Shes stayed in the city.
Emma and James laughed; the joke landed, though Michaels mood was sour. He was happy to see them, trying not to show it, but the strain was obvious.
Why did you find me?
How can we live here?! We came to see and settle everything. Why didnt you tell us sooner?
Why bother you? Your mother told me everything she wanted; I understood.
I understood too. How do you plan to stay? Its summer now; what about winter? Are you moving all your things?
Everything. Theres nothing here but old crockery, but Ill manage. If this is how it turns out, Ill stay.
Of course you will. Pack your stuff, dad. Well drive you to our place; youll live there.
Right, dad, pack up. We can fetch the rest later. Take the essentials.
I cant go anywhere alone.
We see youre not alone. We never got around to taking the dog. The children want it.
We rescued it, still a pup
Put it in the car too. Itll guard our home.
Michael didnt cry; tears simply slipped from his eyes.
Dad, well be away ten days. Youll stay here. Heres your room. The pantry is stocked, the shops nearby, some cash left. Well swing by Harrys. Just stay in touch
Dad, were back! Emma shouted as she crossed the threshold of her house.
James and the children followed.
But no one answered.
Instead of Michael, Emmas mother stepped out.
Mum, what are you doing here?! Emma gasped. Wheres dad?!
I came to check the house; you both left, she said as if nothing had happened. And now I see a stranger, with a dog
Wheres dad?! James asked his motherinlaw.
Lucy and her husband moved into my flat. Ill live with you. Its not far from the city, and its nice.
Do you hear? Wheres dad?!
James and Emma were bewildered.
How would I know? the motherinlaw muttered. Probably where he was, as always.
Love, dear, weve had enough. Were home, so
Emma! How does he talk to me like that?
Mum, its time. Dont bring your things here. Pack them up.
They found Michael again in that same old cottage, lying on a sofa with a small dog curled on the rug.
Is that you again? Why? Im fine here. I decided to nap after lunch, the man rose. Theres room for someone to live.
My motherinlaw wont stay in my house. Even if you dont come with us, she has nowhere there.
She thinks otherwise. She cleared the flat for her daughter.
Were going. Get in the car; the grandchildren brought gifts, and dont forget the dog. You can leave your things for now; well sort everything later.
Hes already waiting, he jumped up and sat there, James said. Emma, Lucy is calling; you left the phone in the car.
So mum arrived, or just showed up. I wont answer yet.
Michael settled into Emmas flat with James. His former wife never returned. Harry preferred visiting them rather than his mother; there was little space for his own family.
Weve decided to move, he said one day. We want to be closer to you
Wonderful.
Will you buy a flat?
No. I want a house. Ill buy a plot.
I have land, son. If you dont mind, well see.
Land?
Yes. The house is crumbling, but the land is there. If you dislike it, you can sell and buy elsewhere.
Your plot, my house, meaning youll live with us? Harry replied.
No. Hes our dad.
No. Enough, youve had your share, now its ours.
Emma, James and Harry argued cheerfully. No one intended to split the father. Everything seemed fine, except the eldest daughter was reluctant to see him.
She appeared much later, sent by her mother. Harrys house now stood on his fathers land.
Dad, Im your only daughter. Did you build the new house?
No. Its my brothers house.
On my land?
Your?
Im your only child, so the land should go to me.
It wont. Youll get mums flat. Thats all!
Its already mine. Mum said the older ones get everything. I need the land badly.
Fine. And do you need me?
Why say that? Youre my father. Im your only daughter.
I have three children. I never forgot you, but you never remembered me. Mother forbade?
What about the land? Shall we settle that now?
The question was answered long ago It isnt yours. No future problems for us.
