Sophie decided for everyone
The phone rang exactly at seven in the morning, just as Emily was getting up and heading to the kitchen to put the kettle on. She looked at the screen and frowned it was her younger sister, Alice.
Hello, Alice? Whats happened? You do know Ive only just woken up.
Em, you need to come over to Mums right now! Alices voice sounded flustered. Ive made the decision, sorted all the paperwork. Were selling Mums flat and moving her to a lovely care home.
Emily nearly dropped her phone.
What did you say? What care home? What are you talking about?
Dont pretend you dont get it! Mums losing the plot. Yesterday she left the gas on, the day before that the neighbour found her on the stairs and she couldnt remember what floor she lived on. We cant go on like this!
Alice, hang on. Lets talk calmly. What paperwork have you done?
The power of attorney for selling the flat. Mum signed it herself. I explained its for her own good.
Emily felt anger boiling up inside her.
Are you mad? How could you do that without consulting me? Mums got two daughters, in case youve forgotten!
And where exactly have you been all this time? Alice shot back. You pop round once a week for an hour and think thats your duty as a daughter? Im round every day after work, do her shopping, check shes taking her tablets!
I work from morning till night, you know that! And I dont live just a few streets away like you!
Precisely! Thats why Im the one making the decisions for Mum. If you want, come say goodbye to the flat. The estate agents coming round tomorrow for a valuation.
Alice hung up. Emily stood in the middle of her kitchen, phone in hand, struggling to believe it. Her little sister, who shed only recently considered spoilt and a bit childish, had unilaterally decided their seventy-five-year-old mothers fate.
Emily quickly got dressed and hurried to her mothers. On the way, she remembered how, after their father died, she, as the eldest, had taken all the responsibility for Mum. Shed helped financially, fixed things around the house, taken her to doctors appointments. Alice was just at university then, living the easy life of a student.
Their mums flat was on the fourth floor of an old five-storey building. Emily took the familiar steps up and rang the bell. It was her mother Margaret Wilson, a small, thin woman with sharp brown eyes who answered.
Emmy, my love! she exclaimed. Youre early. Is something the matter?
Mum, we need to talk. Seriously.
They went into the kitchen. Mum put the kettle on and brought out some biscuits from the cupboard.
Mum, tell me about yesterday. What did you do?
Margaret thought for a moment.
I got up, had my breakfast. Then…Alice came round. We talked about something. She had some papers.
What papers, Mum?
I cant quite remember. She said it was important, for my own good. That I should sign them.
And did you sign?
Yes, of course. Alice understands more about these things. Shes an accountant.
Emily clenched her fists. Mum was getting forgetful, but that didnt mean shed lost the right to choose her own future.
Mum, do you remember what Alice said?
Something about a care home. She said Id be better off there, Id be looked after. But I dont want to go, Emmy. This is my home.
Tears shone in her mothers eyes. Emily hugged her tightly.
Youre not going anywhere, Mum. I wont let it happen.
Then the doorbell rang. It was Alice energetic, with cropped hair, dressed in a business suit.
Oh, youre here already, she said, spotting Emily. Good. We can talk like adults now.
Adults? Emily stood up. You call it adult behaviour, tricking an old, vulnerable woman?
I havent tricked anyone! Mum signed the power of attorney herself.
Mum didnt even understand what she was signing!
But Mums here, by the way! Margaret cut in. And you will stop shouting in my house!
The sisters fell silent. Mum rarely raised her voice, but when she did, everyone listened.
Alice, tell me again what papers I signed yesterday, Margaret said quietly.
Alice sat next to her, taking her hand.
Mum, I sorted a power of attorney so we can sell the flat. And Ive found you a lovely care home. Its clean, quiet, theres a doctor, and the cook makes healthy food. Youll have your own room, and we can visit whenever we want.
But I dont want to sell the flat, Mum whispered. All my life is here. This is where your father lived.
Mum, you have to understand, its dangerous for you to be alone…
After much arguing and advice from close relatives, the sisters finally reached a compromise: they hired a housekeeper to stay with Mum during the day, and took turns visiting in the evenings. In this way, everyone was satisfied, and the house remained full of memories.
