Thats How It Goes with Family Sometimes
Sarah love, Im having my 50th at the local bistro, so come along with your husband, Caroline said over the phone. Not calling again, mind, Ive got my hands full.
Well be there, of course we will! Youre my big sis, my only real family, Sarah laughed.
Caroline never married and didnt have children. Life just didnt give her that particular handshed wanted to be a mum, but it wasnt meant to be. Her husband of nine years left her for someone else, wanting children of his own. Caroline didnt hold it against himthey parted amicably.
Her dearest friend and colleague, Mary, was also unattached, though Mary had a grown son with a family of his own. Caroline never celebrated a single birthday or took a turn around the park without Mary beside herthey were as thick as thieves, in joys and misery alike.
Caroline and Mary were next-door neighbours, each with her own home. They travelled to work together, returned together, and weekends were spent as a duotheir friendship, forged through years of loyalty, was rock solid.
When Carolines fiftieth came round, she rented out the village bistro, invited familysome colleagues, Mary and a few neighbours. She was positively beaming when Sarah turned up with her husband and three childrentwo lads now men, and a daughter still in school.
Mary had always raised an eyebrow at the way Sarah treated Caroline, but never said muchoccasional advice if pressed. Caroline had a heart of pure gold, doted on her nieces and nephews, and shared whatever she couldeven lent Sarah a helping hand more often than not.
Sarahs got three kids. Who else is going to help the poor soul, if not me? shed grin at Mary.
Every summer, Caroline would hire a cab, scoop up Sarahs kids, and Mary, and whisk them all into London for the daystrolling through Hyde Park, treating everyone to ice cream, lunch at a café. Odd, really, considering Sarahs husband had a perfectly good car, yet never managed to take the family out of their small Surrey village.
Whenever Carolines birthday approached, shed tell everyone:
Dont you dare buy me presents. I’ve everything I need! If you must spend money, pick up some flower seedsyou all know I adore my gardens.
Caroline, I havent got a clue about flowers, Sarah would protest.
Any will do, love, the cheapest is fine, dont stress.
And Sarah took that as gospeloften showing up completely empty-handed, cheerily declaring, You said not to get you anything, so I followed orders! Mary secretly seethed at Sarahs cheek, always taking and never giving.
During the summer, Caroline would plant every seed she’d been gifted in her front garden and vegetable patch, then invite everyone to come and admire the resultstruly a pageant of colours.
Mary, pop over! shed call over the fence. Mary would shuffle in to see Caroline proudly show off a riot of blooms. Mary herself wasnt much of a gardenerif she ended up with any blossoms at all, it was only because Caroline pestered her so relentlessly.
Oh, its gorgeous, Caroline, really, Mary would marvel. Natures got nothing on you, neighbour! shed say, chuckling.
If the weather was good, theyd settle into the garden gazebo, sharing gossip and sipping tea or coffee.
Youll never guessmy Robs off to Spain with his lot! What they see in all that sun and sand, Ill never know. Weve got seaside right here. Me? Ill never bother with holidays abroadour English countrysides more than enough for me. Foreign places, foreign faces. Not for me! Mary huffed.
Mary, thats what being youngs aboutcuriosity, adventure. Their worlds different. Still, Ill admit, Im a bit of a homebody too. Could travel, being on my own and all, but Id rather save my money to help Sarahs kids. There are three of them, after all.
Dont get me started on Sarah, please. They run you ragged with their needs, Mary would scold.
What can I say, theyre all Ive got, really.
They never lift a finger for you, mind. Built that lovely house all on your owneven with her husband about, did they ever offer help?
Truth was, Caroline had constructed her two-storey house herselfnot physically, but by hiring a crew and masterminding the design. It was small but charming, the garden always immaculate, and the flowerbeds riotous with colour.
She grew tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers in the greenhouseshared the lot with friends and neighbours, pickled jars for Christmas, made jamshe really was a cracking hostess. Only pity was that she had no family of her own, which may explain why she poured so much love into her sisters clan, her next-door neighbour, and her workmates.
Caroline never slept well. Early to bed and up at dawn, shed read, sew, or fuss endlessly with the flowers. She never kept livestock, thoughno patience for that. Her father had died when she was sixteen, and her mother, losing heart, soon took to her bed. Caroline took care of her for years, eventually moving her in. When Sarah got married, she never came byshe knew their mum was well-looked after by her capable big sister. The years passed, her mum died, and Caroline was left with only Sarahs family to dote on.
My eldest, Stephen, rents with his family, you know, Sarah would complain. His wife wouldnt live here, which, honestly, I understand. Moneys tight, thoughthe rent is just too much, especially with a baby. I just can’t help out myself, shed whinge, playing on Carolines generous streak.
All right, Sarah dear, Ill pay Stephens rent for now. As long as Im working, I can help out, Caroline would sighnever announcing to anyone what she did, keeping such gestures close to her chest, always hoping, perhaps, that one day the favour might be returned. She had no children, after alljust her sister and her sisters brood. Not even Mary knew all this; some secrets were too tender to share aloud.
Caroline was only a few years from retirement when she landed in hospital and had to undergo surgery. She needed care afterwards, but Sarah was too busywork, kids, the never-ending to-do list, you know how it goes.
Mary, though, took a weeks unpaid leave and looked after Caroline day and night. After six days, Caroline was up and about again, so Mary returned to work, confident Caroline would recover on her own.
Sarah phoned to check in: How are you, getting better, are you? Good, keep it up! She never once asked if her big sister needed medicines or groceries. Not so much as a visit, despite the family car parked out frontthough, admittedly, on discharge day, Sarah and her husband begrudgingly gave her a lift home.
But, as soon as theyd barely closed the front door, Sarah turned and said, Caroline, lifes unpredictablesee, you never expected to fall ill. You know what would be sensible? Make the house over to Stephen. You love him best anyway.
It felt like Carolines heart stopped for a moment. She said nothing, stung by the bluntness of it all. Here she wasfresh out of hospital, and her sister was circling like a lawyer hovering over a will.
Mary dashed over after work.
Caroline, darling! Thank heavens youre home. Good job Sarah and her fella picked you up, at least. Why so glumare you feeling all right? Oh, but of course, youre still convalescing, tablets and all that. Mary babbled away, happy to have her mate back.
No, its not the operation, Mary loveits my head thats heavy, not my body, Caroline confessed, recounting Sarahs not-so-subtle suggestion about the house. What was that about? I know I shouldnt take offence, but Im only just fifty! Not exactly ancient. But it left me cold, the way she said it. Almost as if shes already sizing up the curtains for when Im six feet under.
Mary looked at hera little sympathetic, a little wry.
I told you beforedont you dare leave the house to your nephew. The moment you do, theyll be lining up waiting for your last breath! Youre not going anywhere anytime soon, Caroline. Theres plenty of life left in you!
Just then their other neighbour, Jennyseventy years old and a bit of a legendpopped in with a homemade Victoria sponge to welcome Caroline home. Hearing the topic of conversation, Jenny piped up, sternly:
Caroline, dont you dare write that house over to them! Look how keen they are to get their mitts on it, and what have they done to deserve it? Youve helped Sarah and her lot all your life, and now they want your house too? We all get sick sometimeseven your precious Sarah. Tell them to jog on. Do whats best for you, love. Got another thirty years in you yet; worry about wills later!
Ill second that! Mary crowed. Not a chance in hell!
A couple of days later, Sarah called again.
All right, sis, how are you?
Fine, thanks. Home sweet hometheres truth in the saying, an Englishmans home is his castle! Caroline replied, genuinely grateful for a caring word.
By the way, you never answered me beforeare you going to sign the house over to Stephen? You havent any children, after all.
Carolines mood instantly dropped. So thats what her sister was really after.
My Mary and Jenny are spot on, she thought. Out loud, she said, Actually, Sarah, Ive no plans to pop off just yetnor to part with my house.
Suit yourself, Sarah snapped, then hung up.
From then on, Sarah stopped calling altogether. Not even a birthday card. Caroline tried callingnothing. She began to wonder whether, for the sake of keeping family ties, she ought to give Stephen the house anyway. But with Mary at her side, that notion never got too far. Not for any reason except kindnessMary just hated to see her friend so used.
Thanks for reading. Wish you all the bestmay your own family dramas be few and your friends loyal!
