While I stared at him, stunned, he handed me the key to the basement door.
“What?! We’re moving to a new house, and you want to let an outsider live with us?!”
“Yeah, Grace and her son’s house is old and run down,” he replied. “Now that we have a new house, of course, I want them to stay with us.”
“Oh really, Jason?!” I snapped. “When my parents wanted to stay for a couple of days after we move in, you firmly said you don’t like having outsiders in the house. Now, aren’t Grace and her son outsiders?”
Jason frowned and looked at me.
“Are you crazy? How can you compare your parents to Grace?” He frowned. “We grew up together, and in my heart, we are family!
The house has no extra rooms, so Ava has to stay in the basement.”
I glanced at the basement. It was next to sewage pipes and right by the elevator. Hence, so noisy.
“So you will give your daughter’s sunny room to your best friend? And make her stay alone in a windowless, poorly ventilated, dark, and damp basement?”
“What’s wrong with the basement? If it’s too dark, we can turn on more lights. In that room, she can sing and jump around without anyone bothering her. She’ll have more freedom.”
Every word coming out of his mouth shot up my anger, but I kept my composure and looked at my in-laws, hoping for support.
“Women are always so petty.” My father-in-law muttered with dissatisfaction and settled on the couch while my mother-in-law approached me.
“Emma, Jason and Grace have been close since they were little. And right now, Grace is having a tough time raising her son alone. Jason just wants to help her out. I’m sure Ava can manage. It’s just a matter of sleeping at night, after all.”
“Yes. And dear sister-in-law, Ava is healthy while Grace’s son is weak.” My husband’s sister, Kelly, chimed in while coming out of the bathroom. “The doctor said he needs more sunlight, and Ava’s only room gets plenty of sunshine. ”
Everyone sounded so absurd that I almost laughed and hugged my daughter who was on the verge of tears.
“The way you all are siding with them, I feel Grace’s son is Jason’s biological son and your grandson, not Ava.
“What nonsense are you talking?” Jason’s face darkened.
“Grace was raised by my parents. We’re like a family, and now they have no place to stay, so of course, they will live with us. I just don’t understand why you are making this big fuss about Ava staying in the basement. What is the harm?”
Before I could fight back, the doorbell rang. Kelly rushed to answer it only to find Grace and her son standing at the door with two huge suitcases.
