Flash Backs
The woman sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the wedding photo of her and her husband. It had been two months since the accident, and she still couldn’t believe he was gone.
Four years of marriage ended in a single moment on a rainy night when a drunk driver ran a red light and plowed into his car. She’d been left to pick up the pieces—alone.
The house felt like a hollow reminder of the life they had built, each room echoing with his absence. And now, the phone calls from his parents were making everything worse.
Bad Dreams
Alana Williams stood at the window, staring out at the rain-soaked driveway. Her eyes were heavy with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall.
It had been two months since Brendan’s tragic car accident in Minnesota, and her world still felt as shattered as the windshield that had claimed his life.
They had been married for four beautiful years, years filled with laughter, love, and plans for the future. Now, all those plans had crumbled, and Alana was left alone in the house they had built together.
A Funeral
39-year-old Brendan and Alana Williams had been married for four beautiful years before tragedy struck.
One rainy afternoon, Brendan’s car skidded off the road and slammed into a tree. He didn’t make it, leaving Alana heartbroken and alone in the large house they had bought together.
The emptiness of the home now echoed her grief, but it also served as her sanctuary—the last thing Brendan had left her.
An Empty Life
She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the familiar chill of the empty home. The house was quiet—too quiet. It had always been their sanctuary, a place where they dreamed of raising a family.
Now, it was a constant reminder of what she had lost. She was all alone and didn’t know how to start again.
As much as she wanted to stay, the house had taken on a heavy, oppressive weight, especially with the recent pressure from Brendan’s parents.
Not Her Family
In the days following the funeral, Brendan’s parents, Bob and Heather, grew distant. They had always been cordial, if not a little overbearing, but now they seemed colder.
Alana brushed it off as their way of grieving. After all, they had lost a son. She missed her husband dearly and wanted any connection with him.
But when Bob called her to meet for coffee two weeks after the funeral, she wasn’t prepared for the conversation. They didn’t know that they had eloped without anybody knowing.
Give It Back
There were some problems in the family. “Alana, we need to talk about the house,” Heather had said in their last call, her voice cold and clipped. “It’s the least you can do for us after losing Brendan. He should’ve thought of his family.”
Alana gripped the phone tightly, her chest tightening. “What do you mean, the house? Brendan and I bought this together. He left it to me.”
Bob chimed in; his voice heavy with indignation. “You wouldn’t have this house if it weren’t for our son. It’s only fair we get something. We deserve the house. We’re his parents!”
How Dare You
At first, Alana had been stunned by their audacity. They hadn’t even waited for the funeral dust to settle before demanding what they thought was rightfully theirs. Greedy was too kind a word for what they were being.
“I don’t know what you think is fair, but Brendan left me the house,” she replied, anger flaring. “I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“Well, we don’t care about that,” Bob shot back. “This house should’ve gone to his family. We need to figure out a way to make that happen. Brendan would have wanted it that way.”
The Worst Call
Alana hung up the phone, furious. How could they think of nothing but material things when their son had just died?
She felt a wave of disgust, but more than that, a creeping fear. She was a widow and helpless in this situation.
The mortgage was still in Brendan’s name, and she wasn’t sure how long she could afford it on her own. The thought of losing the house made her stomach churn.
Rocking Up
The next day, the ringing of the doorbell startled her out of her somber thoughts. She already knew who it was before she opened the door. Bob and Heather Williams stood on the porch, their faces a mixture of grief and something else—something darker that made Alana’s stomach twist.
They hadn’t been the same since Brendan’s death, and their recent demands were becoming unbearable. “Alana,” Heather said as soon as the door opened, her voice tight. “We need to talk.”
Alana sighed and stepped aside, allowing them in. “I know what you’re here for,” she muttered. She tried to keep her voice steady, but the tension was rife.
Think About It
Bob wasted no time, stepping forward and crossing his arms. “We’ve been patient, Alana. But we think it’s time you make a decision.”
Alana frowned, her annoyance flaring up again. “A decision? About what?”
Heather pursed her lips, glancing at her husband before speaking. “About the house, dear. Brendan’s house. He would have wanted us to have it.” Alana stiffened. “Excuse me?”
No Choice
Her father-in-law raised his voice, “You know how much this house meant to us,” Bob said, his voice gruff. “Brendan wouldn’t have wanted you to keep it. He would’ve wanted his family to have it, Alana. We were his blood.”
Alana’s heart raced. This wasn’t the first time they had brought this up. But each time, their demands grew more urgent, more unreasonable. She loved Brendan’s parents—at least, she used to. But now, they felt like strangers. Greedy strangers.
“This house was Brendan’s and mine,” she said, her voice shaking. “We built it together. He never said anything about wanting you to have it.”
Greedy In-laws
The old lady defended her husband. “He didn’t have to say it,” Heather snapped. “We know him better than you ever did, Alana. We’re his parents. We raised him.”
Alana felt a surge of anger rise in her chest. “You think I don’t know my own husband?” She was hurt by their statement.
“We don’t want to fight,” Bob said, his tone softening slightly. “But you have to understand how much this place means to us. It’s all we have left of him.”
What About Me
Alana bit her lip, trying to hold back the wave of emotions threatening to break. “It’s all I have left of him too,” she whispered.
Heather’s eyes narrowed. “You’re young. You can move on. Find someone else. But this house… this house should be with his family. We deserve that much.”
The words cut deep, but Alana didn’t back down. “I’m not giving you the house,” she said, her voice firm despite the tears welling in her eyes. “Brendan wouldn’t have wanted that.”
Flesh And Blood
The old couple tried to convince her to move on. Bob’s face darkened. “You’re being selfish, Alana. After everything we’ve done for you, for Brendan, this is how you repay us?”
“Selfish?” Alana echoed, disbelief washing over her. “I lost him too. I loved him.” She was close to tears.
Heather crossed her arms, her expression cold. “Then prove it. Give us the house. Let us honor his memory by keeping it in the family.”
A Bad Family
Alana shook her head, stepping back. “This house is Brendan’s memory. It’s filled with our memories.”
Bob took a step toward her, his presence looming. “You need to think about this, Alana. We don’t want to go to court over this, but if we have to, we will.”
Alana’s breath caught in her throat. The threat hung in the air, heavy and real. She had never imagined Brendan’s parents would go this far.
The Authorities
The widow was horrified. “Court?” she whispered; her voice barely audible. “Yes,” Heather said, her eyes gleaming with determination. “We will fight for what’s rightfully ours. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
Alana’s mind raced. Could they really do that? Could they take her to court and try to claim the house? She had no idea. Everything since Brendan’s death had been a blur of grief and confusion. She hadn’t even thought about the legalities of the house—she just assumed it was hers.
“I can’t believe you would do this,” Alana said, her voice trembling. “Brendan would be horrified.” But she had no idea how much worse things would get.
Enough Now
Her father-in-law was a greedy man. “We’re going to cut straight to the point, Alana,” Bob said, his hands gripping the coffee cup tightly.
His eyes were harsh, while Heather sat beside him, her lips pressed in a thin line. “Brendan didn’t think this through. That house should have been left to us.”
Alana’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?” She knew that she was going to have to fight for the house if she wanted to live there.
Don’t Take It Personally
Heather spoke next, her voice cold. “That house is part of our family. Brendan should have made arrangements for it to go to us, not… well, not leave you alone with it.”
Alana sat back, her heart racing with a mixture of anger and disbelief. “You expect me to just… hand over the house? After your son left it to me?”
Bob leaned in, his eyes narrowing. “It’s only fair. You can find somewhere else to live. We’ve already spoken to a lawyer. If you agree, this will go smoothly.” But would Alana oblige?
What To Do
Alana’s fingers trembled as she took a sip of her coffee. She could hardly believe what she was hearing.
Brendan’s parents, whom she thought had loved her, were more concerned about the house than anything else. “I have nowhere else to go,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Heather’s expression softened for a brief moment, but it quickly hardened again. “You’re young, Alana. You’ll bounce back.” How could they be so heartless?
Do The Right Thing
Bob shook his head. “Brendan would understand. He always wanted to take care of us. He was our only son, Alana. This is the least you can do.”
Alana clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. “I’m not giving up this house,” she said again, more forcefully this time.
Heather’s lips thinned into a hard line. “Then we’ll do what we have to.” She gave her daughter-in-law a deathly stare and marched out of the house.
A Hard Decision
With that, they turned and walked out of the house, leaving Alana standing in the hallway, her heart pounding. The silence that followed was deafening.
She sank into the couch, burying her face in her hands. The house felt different now. It wasn’t just her sanctuary anymore—it was a battleground.
She had never imagined that Brendan’s parents would turn on her like this, that they would be so desperate, so cruel. But she wasn’t going to give up without a fight.
A Different Life
Alana loved Brendan’s parents once, but now, all she saw was their greed, their sense of entitlement. They were trying to strip away the last piece of her husband that she had left.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from her lawyer, confirming that Bob and Heather had already contacted him about the house.
“They act quickly,” she said to herself as she started getting all her documents together. As she was sorting the paperwork, she saw something in the file that shocked her.
What She Found
The information in the document changed everything. She had no idea what Brendan was doing.
Now she had to come up with a different plan. Tears welled up in Alana’s eyes as she stared at the message. What was she supposed to do?
She couldn’t leave the house—it was too much a part of her and Brendan. But could she really fight his parents in court? Could she handle that kind of stress, that kind of conflict?
Her Decision
She wiped her eyes and looked around the living room. Brendan’s favorite chair sat in the corner, untouched since the day he left.
The photo of them on their wedding day still hung on the wall, their smiles frozen in time. She missed him.
Every corner of this house was filled with memories of him, memories she wasn’t ready to let go of. But the question remained: Was she willing to risk everything to keep it?
A Nightmare
Alana took a deep breath, her mind swirling with doubts and fears. She loved Brendan. She loved this house.
She didn’t have a job and didn’t know how she was going to maintain the house. But with his parents threatening legal action, she wasn’t sure what her next move should be.
For the first time since Brendan’s death, Alana felt truly lost. She had no idea what her in-laws would do next.
Making Her Mind Up
After a week of sleepless nights, Alana came to a decision. Maybe there was a way to use Bob and Heather’s greed to her advantage.
She could offer them the house, but they wouldn’t realize it wasn’t fully paid off. The mortgage still loomed large, and if they wanted it so badly, they could take over the payments.
“Let them have it,” Alana whispered to herself one night. “Let them think they’ve won.” But would her plan work?
I Know What to Do
The next day, Alana called Bob and Heather. “I’ve been thinking,” she said, her voice calm, though her heart was racing. “If you want the house, I’ll sign the papers. You can have it.”
There was silence on the other end of the line. Then Heather spoke, her voice gleaming with triumph. “Really? You’re going to give it to us?”
“Yes,” Alana replied, keeping her tone neutral. “We can meet and have the paperwork drawn up. It’ll be yours.”
Burning Inside
Anger flared inside Alana, but she forced herself to remain calm. She was making a big sacrifice.
She wasn’t ready to lose the house—not the home she and Brendan had built together. It was going to change her.
But the more she thought about it, the more the idea took root in her mind. She could make this work to her advantage.
Take It
The daring daughter-in-law had a plan. “You want the house?” she asked after a long pause, her voice steady. “Fine. You can have it. But you’ll need to sign the paperwork at the lawyer’s office.”
Bob and Heather exchanged glances, surprised at how easily she had agreed. “You’re serious?” Bob asked, leaning back. Alana nodded. “I am.” Her in-laws couldn’t believe that she was serious about giving the house up.
Bob’s excitement was palpable through the phone. “Good decision, Alana. You’re doing the right thing.” Alana smirked, though they couldn’t see her. “I’m sure I am.”
It’s Yours
The following week, they met at a lawyer’s office. Bob and Heather arrived dressed in somber black, as if still mourning Brendan, though the excitement in their eyes betrayed their true feelings.
They eagerly signed the documents, hardly glancing over the fine print. Alana sat across from them, watching their eager pens fly across the paper.
Their eyes were filled with triumph, believing they had won. The lawyer went over the papers in detail, but neither of them paid much attention. They were too focused on the thought of owning the house, too blinded by their greed.
You Wanted It
The day of the meeting at the lawyer’s office arrived quickly. Alana sat quietly at the table while Bob and Heather eagerly signed the documents.
Once the signatures were done, Alana stood up. “Well, congratulations,” she said with a small smile. “The house is yours now.”
Bob grinned. “It’s about time.” Heather looked smug. “We knew you’d come around.” Alana’s smile widened slightly. “There’s just one thing…”
The Fine Print
Once the ink was dry, Bob stood up with a satisfied grin. “We’ll take good care of the place, Alana. You don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
Heather smiled too, patting Alana’s hand as if they were doing her a favor. “This is how families should work together.”
The old couple were so excited that they didn’t notice that Alana and the lawyer were trying to point something out to him.
More Money
Alana stood up slowly, meeting their eyes. “Just remember, there’s still the mortgage to pay off.” Their smiles faltered. “What do you mean?” Bob asked, his voice now tinged with suspicion.
“The house isn’t fully paid for,” Alana said, feeling a small thrill run through her. “You’ll need to continue the mortgage payments if you want to keep it.”
The shock on their faces was almost comical. Heather’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. Bob’s eyes bulged, and he sputtered, “But… you didn’t say that!”
A Big Responsibility
Alana was enjoying watching them squirm. “You didn’t ask,” Alana said simply, shrugging. “You wanted the house. Now it’s yours—along with the mortgage.”
For a moment, silence filled the room. Bob looked at Heather, his face reddening with rage. “How much is left on it?”
Alana smiled sweetly. “About two hundred thousand.” Heather’s face went pale. “We… we can’t pay that.” “Well, you’ll have to figure it out,” Alana said, grabbing her bag. “It’s your house now.”
Yours To Keep
The lawyer cleared his throat and handed them a final document. “The house isn’t freehold yet,” he explained, his voice matter-of-fact. “There’s still a considerable mortgage to be paid off. You’ve now taken on that responsibility.”
Bob froze, his hand still resting on the paper. “What? Mortgage?” Alana tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with a hint of satisfaction. “Didn’t Brendan tell you? The house isn’t fully paid off. There’s still quite a lot left on the mortgage.”
Heather’s face turned pale. “That… can’t be right.” The lawyer flipped through the documents. “It’s all right here. By signing, you’ve agreed to take on the remaining payments.”
Not My Problem
Alana picked up her bag and headed for the door. “Good luck with that.” Bob stood up, anger radiating from him. “You tricked us!”
Alana turned to face him, her expression calm. “No, I didn’t. You asked for the house, and now you have it. All of it.” Heather’s voice wavered. “We can’t afford this, Bob! This is going to ruin us!”
Bob shot her a glare, but he knew it was true. Alana watched the panic set in on their faces and allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. Brendan had always been good at thinking ahead, and this had been his plan all along—his parents wanted the house, so they could have it, along with the hefty mortgage.
Done And Dusted
They tried to argue, tried to take back what they’d signed, but the paperwork was done. Legally, the house belonged to them—and so did the hefty mortgage.
Alana walked out of the lawyer’s office, her heart racing, exhilarated by how smoothly it had all gone. But a small part of her couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just set something terrible into motion.
The weeks passed, and Bob and Heather struggled to keep up with the mortgage. They made the payments, grumbling and furious, but they had no choice. Alana, meanwhile, still lived in the house. Since it technically belonged to them, they couldn’t legally force her out without paying off the mortgage first.
The Document Says
Legally, it belonged to Bob and Heather now, but they couldn’t force her out. The mortgage payments were crippling them, and there was nothing they could do about it. Brendan had made sure of that.
Every time she saw Bob and Heather, they tried to maintain their composure, but the strain was obvious.
Their once-confident smiles were now tight and forced. Alana continued living in the house while they struggled to make the payments.
Nowhere To Go
Every time she saw Bob and Heather, their eyes burned with resentment. “How long are you planning to stay?” Heather would ask, her voice dripping with disdain.
“As long as I need to,” Alana would reply, keeping her tone cool. Months went by, and the tension only grew.
Alana found herself lying awake at night, wondering if she had gone too far. Brendan would never have wanted this kind of hostility between her and his parents. He had been the peacemaker, the one who kept everyone together.
Regrets
One night, as she lay in bed, Alana stared at the ceiling, her heart heavy with doubt. Did she make a mistake?
Was she really doing the right thing? Bob and Heather were grieving in their own way, and maybe their demand for the house was just a misguided attempt to hold on to Brendan’s memory.
Was she punishing them too harshly? She was starting to feel bad about being so mean to the old couple.
Not Well
She got up and walked to the window, staring out into the quiet street. The house was hers—or at least, it had been.
Now it was in legal limbo, just like her life. Alana sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. She was feeling sick.
“I wonder,” she whispered into the stillness, “if I’ve been wrong all along.” But now she felt stuck and as if there was no escape. But what could she do?
A Hidden Agenda
One evening, Heather called her, her voice shaky. “Alana… we’ve been thinking. Maybe there’s a way we can work this out. Maybe we can… live there together.”
Alana raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smile. Brendan had always talked about how his parents believed in family sticking together. “You want to live with me?”
Heather hesitated. “It’s what Brendan would have wanted, right? For us to be… together.” But would her daughter-in-law be nice?
His Plan
Alana thought back to the moments when Brendan had joked about how his parents might react if they ever found out the house wasn’t fully theirs.
He had always said that family should stick together, but Alana had never imagined it would come to this.
“I’ll think about it,” Alana said, hanging up the phone with a sigh. She couldn’t believe that they were trying to call a truce.
It All Works Out
That night, as Alana sat alone in the house, she thought about Brendan’s plan. Perhaps this was his intention all along.
He had always known his parents would try to take control of the house, and he had set things up in such a way that they couldn’t.
But maybe, just maybe, he had also known that in the end, they’d have no choice but to come together. It was as though he was controlling them beyond the grave.
A Better Future
The house was more than just walls and a roof. It was a symbol of Brendan’s love, his foresight, and his belief in family.
And as much as Alana wanted to resent Bob and Heather for their greed, she couldn’t help but wonder if Brendan had wanted them all to live together, even in this strange, twisted way.
She smiled, thinking of him. “Well played, Brendan,” she whispered into the empty house. “Well played.”