Mom got married 11 years ago. The stepfather had a daughter, Kristina, who was 14 at the time, from his first marriage. Philip left his home to that family, completely giving up his rights to the apartment, and moved in with Mom and me, in the apartment that was left to us as an inheritance from Dad. Philip had no contact with his daughter-she herself did not want to see her father. He paid child support, and that was the end of his involvement in Christina’s life.
I can’t say that Philip and I had a good relationship, and I became attached to him as if he were my own. He didn’t yell, he didn’t hit me, he didn’t try to bring me up. And it was a little late to bring me up, a 16-year-old horse. I lived with them for three years, then I got married and had a baby. I had to move out of the house – they wouldn’t let me bring my husband home: my mother and Philip refused to live under the same roof with a stranger.
My husband’s relationship with my mother didn’t work out from the beginning. Philip didn’t care who my life partner was, so he stayed out of it. My mother helped me with my grandson, she didn’t refuse to babysit. I mean, she used to. Recently I called her and asked her to pick up my son from day care, to which I heard that she could not – she was babysitting Philip’s granddaughter.
I immediately remembered that my stepfather had a daughter somewhere. So she gave birth, and that’s where the granddaughter came from. I swallowed the rejection. But he was not the only one. Then I got suspicious and went to check on them, unannounced.
There was no one at home. There was a crib in my room, baby clothes hanging everywhere. And the blanket on my bed was crumpled up. I called my mom to find out what the hell it was.
– Kristina lives with us. Philip offered it to her, with my approval. She’s going through a difficult period in her life, she’s alone in a difficult situation, – mom deigned to explain herself and immediately attacked: – You’re not taught to call if you’re going to visit?
That’s it: I’m going to visit. To my apartment. Visiting. Not only did my mother’s husband live on my property while my husband and I were living in rented apartments, but now that we’re paying the mortgage, Philip has brought his daughter and granddaughter to someone else’s property? Is it okay for me to work for the bank while Philip and Kristina live off the land and not have to worry about it?
I was angry. And my mother added more oil: when they came back, she told Kristina to go to her room and lock herself in, and she dragged me to talk about my unacceptable behavior. The shock was unrelenting.
– As long as Cristina lives here. That was out of the question.
I asked about the apartment Philip had once left to his former family.
– It’s none of your business,” my mother shut me up.
I was indignant: it wouldn’t be any of my business if there wasn’t a damsel with a child living in MY room!
My mother and I had a fight, a pretty big one. I confronted her with the fact that Christina had to move out or I would sign my husband in and we would move into the apartment. My mom said that she would even give her half of the apartment to Philip, and that it was in my best interest to calm down and be emotionless about what was going on. I called Philip on the way home. He said it’s none of my business who lives where, adding that he brings whoever he wants into his house.
My husband says to let the situation go: we have a place to live, the child is going to school soon, everything will be fine. And I’m just pissed off that my mom let a stranger in without even asking permission, and her own daughter is paying the mortgage. My mom had the decency to call and ask to see my grandson. I, in my state, refused, suggesting that she spend time with her granddaughter Philip. She called me stupid and said she would wait for an apology.
That is, I also have to apologize! For what? For the fact that she is the sole manager of our common property? For having my stepfather’s daughter living in my room? I started to think about splitting the room. After I got a call from this Christina. She told me that she was ready to move out, if I was embarrassed by her presence in the apartment, like she does not want to become a cause of conflict in our family.
I think she’s lying. That she is not as simple as she wants to seem. So where did Mom’s idea to give her share to Philip come from? That’s what Cristina is waiting for! What to do in such a situation – I do not know. I don’t like what’s happening. I am sure that Philip conspired with his daughter, bringing her into my apartment with my mother, and they want to deceive my mother.
How do I keep her safe? And get some insurance? A swap? And divide the money so that mom buys herself a studio? Or brazenly move into my half to drive this Kristina out and put Philip in his place?
