Looking after neighbours suitcase

[ShakyBake]

Neighbour of ours, friendly known her for about 7 years is off on holiday next week.
We were talking about it over the wall yesterday and informed me she will be taking 3 cases and would it be ok if I keep the suitcases (packed) in my living room until the morning she gets picked up. I said yes of course and didn't ask why. My husband doesn't understand why we need to keep them here. I said don't be silly we are neighbours and it's the right thing to do. That's not unreasonable is it?

My thought exactly. Have you seen her husband recently as he could be chopped up in the cases.

The chronically incurious scare intrigue me 🤭.

I can think of some 'valid' reasons.

Surprise trip for hubby.
She has a big gathering planned, wants them out of the way without having to lug upstairs again.
Pets that she's worried will spray on them/claw them.
Having a workman in, not wanting to advertise they're about to leave the house vacant.

What's weird is asking without explaining and whats weirder is accepting with no explanation!

...Apart from her husband, the remains of whom are now obviously in the cases...!

Are the cases ticking or moving, OP?

😂

You've known her 7 years, OP. Is this the first time she's ever been on holiday? Is she a bit new to the whole packing and taking your own suitcase thing?

Not worth a blazing row over in my books but I’d be nagging at dh all evening asking why he hasn’t asked why!
WHY DIDN’T YOU ASK, OP?!!

My biggest regret in life is missing that very obvious joke 😭 as soon as I hit post.

So she’s packed several days early expecting someone else to store her bags? Sounds very weird to me. Surely she can keep them in her car, or a corner of her own house. Or is she running away and doesn’t want her husband to know?? I hope you at least asked what time she’s being picked up and it’s not 5am!

Or any bodily juices leaking onto the carpet?

I'm also intrigued as to why she specifically asked you to store them "in your living room"🤔

Oh and I’d be laying them on a tarp and putting on a pair of marigolds before touching them. I don’t want any of my DNA on those cases when she gets asked if she packed them/carried them/stored them herself!

This is what I think. 'Silver Separation' is a growing phenomenon. Especially among older women and even more especially for women who have lived in abusive situations and have reached their breaking point. It could be that she's stashing the suitcases at yours until one of her children or a friend comes to get her. Or that she has a real fear of him and realizes that she may have to leave in a mad rush. The idea of a 'go bag' (or go luggage) is common advice for anyone wanting to leave an abusive relationship.

@ShakyBake If she's married or living with someone (even with an adult child) I don't think there's any problem with expressing to her that you feel there may be more to this than meets the eye and that you are concerned that she may be wanting to leave the home due to domestic abuse. I'm an 'older woman' and that question wouldn't offend me in these circumstances. In fact I'd probably be pleased that a neighbour was concerned enough to ask me. And if she is not married or living with someone/a child, there is no reason why anyone should have to store her luggage for her and I'd ask for an explanation as to why it was necessary. She doesn't sound like a likely drug smuggler (or someone getting rid of a body), but these days you never know what someone (of any age) may be getting up to.

I appreciate that you want to be a good neighbour, but your DH is right to be suspicious. So solve the problem by talking to the neighbour or asking your DH if he'd like to be the one to ask.

Maybe there's just some really dull unsensational explanation, such as not wanting her husband or partner to open the cases, take stuff out and kick up a fuss about how much she's bringing (three bloody cases!) or that he's a last-minute packer who would shove four pairs of shoes in on top of her stuff?