Fine then, we wont throw you out for the holidays. Prepare three bedrooms my sisters and my niece will stay overnight. Youll spend the night in the kitchen.
Margaret, isnt it true that Im the sole owner of this house? I have the title deeds to prove it. So dont even think about forcing your way in the police will have you out.
On a Friday after work, Victoria was driving to the towns shopping centre. In two weeks it would be NewYears, and an old friend, Emma, had invited her over.
Victoria knew a large gathering would be there: Emmas daughter with her husband and children, her sister, and a niece who was a university student.
She often visited Emmas home and knew everyone well, so she wanted to buy presents in advance.
Choosing gifts came easily to Victoria, and she loved handing them out. Already she imagined the pleasure of strolling through aisles decked with fairy lights, selecting items, watching the shop assistant wrap them neatly in glittering paper.
Her mood soured the moment she stepped out onto the car park. Waiting beside her car was Rachel, the sister of her exhusband.
Vicky, hi! Rachel greeted. Why are you out here so long? Im freezing my toes 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, Victoria said, reaching for the car door.
Rachel halted her.
Listen, Vicky, I have a request. Actually, its a request from the whole family.
What family, Rachel? I havent spoken to yours in a year. Im not entertaining any demands, Victoria snapped.
No, just hear me out. I dont know how you and Michael divided the assets, but Mum still thinks the house you live in belongs to our side.
You bought it together with Mike, and he spent ten years furnishing it. We all celebrated NewYears and May Day there. And now?
Mum planned to host her birthday in May at the house, set the tables on the porch as we always did. But you turned us away and drove off somewhere unknown.
I dont see why youre telling me all this, Victoria asked. I was just visiting a friend. Im sorry, I forgot to ask you.
Forget about our family gatherings in my house. When Mike and I split, we agreed: the flat, the car and the garage went to him, the house to me. We signed everything officially. So you can hold your relatives in Mikes flat. Thats it.
Vicky, Mum asked if we could use the house on the 31st as we used to. A lot of people will come we wont have space for everyone otherwise, Rachel said.
Margaret asked? Thats odd. Shes spent twenty years demanding things from me. If shes suddenly polite, Ill refuse. Tell her to book a hotel for the relatives.
Victoria got into her car. The urge to shop for gifts vanished. Ill buy them tomorrow, she thought, and drove home.
She and Michael had lived together for almost twenty years. They had bought the house ten years earlier.
A year ago Michael announced, At fortyfive lifes not over yet, and said he would start a new life with his attractive young secretary.
Victoria didnt try to keep him, but she refused to be left emptyhanded. She kept the house and the family savings; Michael walked away with a twobedroom flat, a Toyota Corolla and a garage.
Since Victorias only remaining dependent was her universityage daughter, Michael didnt claim any joint accounts.
A few days earlier, Lily called to say she would spend NewYears in her dorm.
Mom, will you be upset? she asked. Ill be home for the holidays.
That convinced Victoria to accept Emmas invitation. She knew she wouldnt be lonely in that crowd.
Knowing Rachel, she suspected this drama wasnt over yet they wouldnt let her rest easily. And she was right.
That evening, her former motherinlaw phoned:
Victoria, arent you taking on too much? Youve boldly taken the house from Mike, and now you think we cant find a way to push you back?
Yes, fine we wont evict you for the holidays. Prepare three bedrooms my sisters and my niece will stay, youll sleep in the kitchen.
Margaret, does it matter that Im the sole legal owner? I have the deeds. Dont even try to get in the police will have you out.
Well see who gets thrown out! Anyway, get the rooms ready, well bring all the food, so you wont have to cook a thing. And dont argue, youll remember this NewYear forever!
In my view, Michaels mother has gone completely off the rails, Victoria thought.
Margaret was never a peacemaker, but her latest performance startled her former daughterinlaw. Did the woman really expect Victoria to cower and obey her orders?
Victoria had once been praised as the best daughterinlaw; the other two had eventually accepted Margarets authority. Now, after the divorce, Margarets words only left Victoria puzzling: what were they counting on?
Meanwhile, in Margarets flat, a plan was taking shape.
Rachel, you and Andrew are in charge of buying groceries. Get everything you can now. Well cook on the evening of the 31st and the morning of the 1st.
Well handle the meat and the hot dishes. Sarah and Olivia will make the salads. Well pack everything in containers, and well borrow the china from Vicky she still has two dinner services. Michael left the dishes when he moved out.
Mom, what if she refuses to let us in? Rachel asked.
Let her try! There will be twelve of us the whole family. Shell be embarrassed. Imagine the door opening to Uncle Christopher, Aunt Lucy, Louise with Natalie, and the rest. She cant possibly shut it on all of that.
On the evening of 31December, at nine oclock, four cars pulled up outside number14 Eastgate Road.
Strange, said Andrew, Rachels husband. The lights are off. Maybe Victoria isnt home?
Where could she be? Shes here. And Lily must have arrived too. Theyre probably hiding, trying to avoid us, Margaret chuckled. Ring the bell.
No one answered, and the door stayed shut.
I have the keys, Margaret declared. I knew Vicky might try something, so I kept a spare.
She unlocked the side gate, and the whole party poured into the courtyard.
Hold on, Ill open the house now. Switch on the lights and bring everything into the kitchen; well set the table quickly. Vicky can hide if she wants we wont even invite her to sit.
After about twenty minutes, a clamor rose from the hallway.
The lady of the house has arrived, Andrew announced.
But it wasnt the lady.
Victoria was busy helping Emma set the table; the guests were due any minute.
Suddenly her phone rang.
MrsVictoria Hart? Your alarm has been triggered at your residence. The police are on their way.
There are twelve people here claiming to be relatives with your permission, the officer said.
I never gave anyone permission to be here. Theyre probably from my exhusbands side. I didnt invite them. They entered unannounced.
Will you be filing a report?
Yes, but Im out of town and wont return until the day after tomorrow.
The uninvited guests were taken to the police station for a few hours. By the time they reached Margarets flat, the salads were already spilling and the hot dishes had cooled.
When Victoria finally got home, Michael called, demanding she withdraw the report.
Didnt you change the lock? Didnt you suspect? he asked.
I didnt. Why would I break the door? I just used the spare key I kept, she replied.
Why, when you left, did you lock it with the old lock?
I guessed your mother would show up with her guests, so I left the old lock she could open and set the alarm. I didnt want strangers damaging the door.
So you deliberately left the old lock, knowing she had a key, and then triggered the alarm? You wanted them caught?
My exwifes family could have celebrated NewYears at their own place. They chose otherwise, so they ended up in police custody. Im not to blame for that.
What about the mess you had to clean up after they left? Michael asked.
It was my responsibility to clear the house and air it out. By the time I arrived, some food had already gone bad.
Why didnt you warn Rachel about the alarm? he pressed.
The gate and the front door have signs that read Protected by Police. Anyone can read them.
Tell your mother, Rachel, Andrew and everyone else that Im no longer welcome at my house, Victoria said.
This time Ill withdraw the report, but next time the law will be applied strictly.
The episode left Victoria realizing that while people may try to claim what isnt theirs, standing firm and using the law protects what youve earned. She learned that kindness does not mean allowing others to trample over your rights; asserting yourself with calm resolve secures peace for the future.
