28May2025
Dear Diary,
I paid a visit to my motherinlaws flat today. The building is on a quiet street in Manchester, and I lifted the lift to the fifth floor and pressed the buzzer. No one answered, and the door remained shut. A sigh escaped my lips as I thought, What a pickle this is.
When the door finally creaked open, Margaret Hughes stood there, looking as thin as a reed and barely able to keep her footing.
Whats happened, Margaret? I asked, my voice trembling with concern. I had never seen my usually steadfast motherinlaw in such a state.
Its that scoundrel, Tom, who threw my little girl out of the house with the children! she whispered, her voice barely audible over the clink of a halffilled glass.
Hes found a lover, he told me he was filing for divorce and now plans to live with his housekeeper, a pretty one at that! she continued, eyes brimming with tears.
How dare he evict them? Theyre all registered on the tenancy!
The flat came to him from his parents, so he claims its his property.
Wait, what? I asked, bewildered.
Its simple, she explained. Lydia lives in one room with her daughters, while Tom stays in another with his new paramour.
Dishonourable, indeedhes even forgotten about the children! I agreed, my anger flaring.
I dont know what to do, Margaret muttered. Ive called my daughter; shes coming tomorrow.
Dont worry, Margaret, I replied, trying to sound reassuring. Im renting the flat that came to me from my grandmother. Ill tell the current tenants I cant let any more people move in.
You still have a mortgage, she reminded me. Youre using the rent to service the loan!
Itll sort itself out, give us a couple of months. By then Lydia will have found somewhere to stay, a job with staff accommodation, or perhaps a decent salary that lets her rent something cheap. In any case, youll manage for a week until my other tenants move out.
How lucky I am with my daughterinlaw! Margaret exclaimed, hugging me tightly. Thank you, love.
Within the day, Lydia arrived at her parents flat. A week later, the tenants vacated, and my familymy husband Ethan, our two children, and I moved into the newly vacated threebedroom flat.
Goodness, what a lovely flat! Lydia cooed, admiring the freshly painted walls and the gleaming kitchen. When did you renovate?
Six months ago, I said. We took out a mortgage, decided to let the flat go at a higher rent to cover the monthly bank payment, so we had to refurbish and replace the furniture and appliances.
Dont worry, Lydia added, smiling. Ill look for work that offers accommodation, even if its as a cleaner or a groundskeeperanywhere I can have a roof over my head.
Lydia, my brother Mark said, we cant house you for long. Were still paying off a car loan from our salaries. But well support you in finding a solid, respectable job. Stay as long as you need.
I think two or three months at most, Lydia replied confidently. Ill secure a job and well move elsewhere.
I handed Lydia the spare key and we said our goodbyes.
Three months later, I was preparing dinner, waiting for Ethan to get home from work. My phone buzzed with a message from the bank: a mortgage instalment was due tomorrow. I fetched the envelope with the cash, counted out the amount, but we were still short £5000. I heard the front door open and hurried to greet Ethan.
Hey, love, I kissed him on the cheek. Why are you so late today?
He shrugged and headed to the kitchen. I stopped by Lydias.
How are they? I asked.
Theyre wonderful, he replied.
Has Lydia found a good job? I beamed.
She didnt even think about looking! She told me shed never lived in such a nice, wellequipped flat before. She and Ethan couldnt afford that level of renovation, so shes decided to stay for now.
What does stay mean? I asked.
She said shell be there for another six months to a year, because the flat does her good. She needs to rebuild her nerves after the divorce.
I felt a cloud of worry settle over me. What are we going to do then?
Im not sure, Ethan admitted.
Fine, Ill go see Lydia tomorrow and ask her to at least cover the utilities. Weve been paying for them for three months already; thats enough.
The next evening, after work, I took the lift to Lydias flat. The hallway was filled with music and laughter. As I entered the living room, I saw two couples dancing, a table laden with food, and Lydia and a young man carrying hot plates from the kitchen.
Wheres the money coming from for this celebration? I whispered, pulling Lydia aside.
From the child benefit, she said, shrugging. After all, Im allowed a bit of fun after everything Ive been through, arent I?
Who are these people? I asked.
My boyfriend, Denny, and his friends, she replied. Weve been seeing each other for two months. When we find somewhere permanent, well move in together. For now he just drops by now and then.
Lydia, you have exactly one month left before we need the flat back. Youre spending the child benefit on parties. Arent you worried the children might be taken away?
Her eyes hardened. And you think youre teaching me how to live? Ill manage without your advice!
I left feeling unsettled, replaying the evenings events over and over. At dinner, I told Ethan everything I had witnessed, including Lydias brash behaviour.
I was thinking, I said, maybe she truly cant break away from the divorce. Lets help her find a job, and when the applications start coming in, well drive her to interviews.
The next day, Ethan printed out a stack of job listings and handed them to Lydia. That same evening, I went back to Margarets flat, intending to tell her what Id seen. I pressed the buzzer again, but the door stayed closed. I realised Margaret wasnt home; perhaps her husband would let us in if he felt well enough. I waited, and then I heard voices descending the stairs. Margaret and Lydia appeared, slowly climbing.
Mother, shes relentless! Lydia complained. I told her I need a break, I need help
What did she say? Margaret asked, her tone softening.
She gave us a month to move out, saying they have two loans and need the money. Who needs that much?
Darling, my daughterinlaw is wealthy but miserly. Ethan is the same, Margaret muttered.
I just want a proper job, so I can sit warm in the winter
I told you to study, dear, Margaret scolded.
At that moment they spotted me pretending to stare at my phone. All of us entered the flat, and I asked Lydia, Does Denny have his own place?
No, she replied. He lives in a dorm. He was recently let go and given a month to find a new room.
That cant be right. We didnt remodel the flat so it would become a boarding house, I protested. Please, Lydia, keep your personal life separate from our home.
Lydia lifted her head, clearly irritated.
Weve found plenty of vacancies. Ethan gave you the list today. If you dont pick anything, youll be back here next week.
Margarets face darkened. How are we all supposed to fit?
You wont have to be cramped if Lydia secures a job and a place of her own. She hasnt even applied for child support yet; she just lives off the benefit!
I tried to stay calm. Lydia glared at me.
Your tongue is long, she snapped.
I said my goodbyes coldly and left. Margaret stared at her daughterinlaw and said, Now tell me, who is Denny and what are you spending the child benefit on? Dont you dare lie to me!
Lydia, feeling the pressure, confessed everything. She then turned to Margaret, eyes fierce. So you think Im the bad one and youre the good one? Fine, I have a month to find work. If I dont, youll take the children, and Ill go wherever I want. I dont throw words away.
The celebration ended, and Lydia trudged home, finding the stack of job flyers Ethan had left for her. In a flash of anger she typed a message to me: Ill never forgive you for this!
It feels like Ive been caught in a whirlwind of family, debt, and broken promises. Yet I keep reminding myself that doing good doesnt always bring reward, and sometimes the only thing left is to keep moving forward, one step at a time.
Olivia Bennett.