Why come to visit me? I don’t even remember you!
“Hello, Mary!”
“Hello?!” Mary responded in surprise. The number hadn’t shown up, and the voice was unfamiliar, yet they addressed her by name.
“This is Aunt Liz from Liverpool, John’s aunt. We couldn’t make it to your wedding, but now that we’re free, we thought we’d visit and meet the new family members.”
Mary was too surprised to respond. She hadn’t heard of an aunt from Liverpool. It had been over a year since the wedding, and no one had ever mentioned this absent aunt.
“You’ve probably got the wrong number.”
“Are you Mary?”
“Yes, but I didn’t know John has an aunt in Liverpool.”
“John Taylor, your husband?”
“Yes, he’s my husband.”
“And I’m his aunt.”
“It’s lovely that you’re his aunt, but there’s no need to visit us.”
“Why not?”
“We’re not working and not accepting visitors.”
“Such hospitality, I didn’t expect this…”
“Sorry, I don’t have time to chat.”
With that, Mary ended the call. She was the sort of woman who didn’t back down easily and could stand her ground.
“More guests is precisely what we don’t need. I’ll ask John about this supposed aunt in Liverpool.” She decided before getting back to her day.
That evening, her mother-in-law called.
“Hello, Mary! It’s been a while since you last visited.”
“Hello, Irene! I’ll pop by tomorrow, bring you some groceries, and I’ve bought some vitamins too.”
“Thank you, Mary. We have everything; we just miss you. Did Elizabeth call you?”
“A woman did call, claiming to be John’s aunt and wanting to visit. I told her now’s not a good time.”
“She just called me, complaining that you were rude.”
“Irene, can you believe I’d be rude? You know me.”
“I do know you.” Her mother-in-law responded with irony.
“I’m driving right now. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Mary’s relationship with her mother-in-law wasn’t smooth sailing from the start.
John grew up in a military family. His father, Peter Smith, was a strict man, instilling discipline in John. In his father’s presence, John behaved impeccably. But with his military duties, Peter often went on drills and deployments.
In his father’s absence, John was a handful.
His mother’s constant supervision annoyed him greatly. The more she fussed, the more mischievous he became, skipping school and missing sports practices. His mother didn’t complain to his father, fearing his strict punishments and choosing to protect her son.
As he matured, John remained under his mother’s watchful eye. She’d call him several times a day, or even coincidentally be there when he left work.
As John’s friends got married, and with his thirtieth birthday approaching, his mother fretted that her handsome and smart son might remain a bachelor.
She even looked out for potential brides among her friends’ daughters, which amused John to no end. Yet, despite his charm and good looks, the brides weren’t lining up.
Finally, the announcement came. John would introduce them to his fiancée that weekend.
John’s father approved of his choice, but Irene didn’t warm to Mary. Acustomed to making decisions in the family, Irene found Mary unruly. In observing John’s affection toward Mary, she felt a sense of rivalry.
Mary was self-assured and didn’t need Irene’s advice. Whenever there were disputes, John sided with his wife.
They lived in an apartment John had bought with his parents’ help before their wedding.
Initially, his mother would come by unannounced to check on things until Mary firmly put an end to it.
“Please don’t come over without calling first, or when we’re not home. Otherwise, we’ll have to ask for the keys back or change the locks.”
“This apartment isn’t just your son’s, it’s ours too. We helped John buy it. So, I have the right to come whenever I like.”
“Explain what you aim to achieve here.”
Her mother-in-law was flustered. Citing ‘checking on things’ was awkward and comical. But Mary persisted.
“I’m now the lady of this house as your son’s wife, and I insist on my conditions being respected. You have keys for emergencies, not for dropping by whenever you please.”
“I’m his mother; we raised him and provided everything. You’ve come into this house with everything…”
Mary cut her off.
“Thank you for raising him, but my husband brought me here, and as his wife, I run this place. I won’t agree to any other terms.”
John supported his wife, leaving his mother miffed. But the young couple ignored her complaints. After sulking for a couple of weeks, she accepted it.
She never again used her keys without permission, and would call before visiting, being received warmly with tea or wine by Mary.
In the beginning, she’d comment on the untidiness, but Mary would either joke or ask for help.
“Sorry, been busy with work chaos. If you’re uncomfortable, feel free to tidy up; I won’t mind while I rest.”
“What’s there to eat around here?”
“The fridge is stocked; whoever’s hungry first does the cooking. Help yourself.”
Gradually, Irene’s attitude softened, and she even found camaraderie with Mary. Mary and John often came over for dinner, bringing groceries. Peter, despite retiring, kept working, while Irene longed for attention.
“What shall I bring you, I’m driving after all; no need to lug heavy bags.”
This time, Mary visited her mother-in-law, and they had dinner together. Some homemade meals were sent for John too, so Mary wouldn’t need to cook at home. Naturally, the conversation turned to the aunt.
“What did Aunt Liz say?”
“She wanted to visit. I told her now wasn’t a good time.”
“Smart woman. How’d she even get your number?”
“No idea.”
“She rang me again. She’s my cousin. We barely communicate. She’s had a tough time, divorced and remarried unsuccessfully. Now she’s in the countryside of England, remarried I believe, with her house and a garden. Her daughter wants to apply to university this year.”
“And where do we fit in this?”
“She wants to meet the family, about her daughter. She’s worried, wants someone to look out for her.”
“She’s looking to house her daughter with us, isn’t she?”
“Seems like a family obligation to help.”
“Help from whom? When’s the last time you spoke to them? Does John even remember them? Do you have their address?” And not waiting for answers, Mary continued, “Let’s not invite trouble. I barely know they exist.”
Mary bade farewell to her mother-in-law and headed back home. When she related the call to John, he was indifferent, and the story faded into the background.
A week later, it was Saturday. Mary and John hadn’t made plans and intended to relax and catch up on sleep. The doorbell rang around noon.
Mary was in the kitchen, and John, lounging, was reluctant to get up.
“Expecting someone?”
“No! Can you get it? My hands are dirty.”
“Why bother if we’re not expecting anyone,” John grumbled, heading to the door.
To his surprise, on the threshold stood three people. Instantly recognizing Aunt Liz from years ago, although initially, it took him a moment.
“You weren’t expecting us, but here we are!” she said cheerfully, while unloading bags into the hallway, as her husband went back down for more items.
“We weren’t expecting anyone today, indeed,” Mary said resignedly, observing the scene and her husband’s silence. Left with no choice, she offered them to come inside.
“Well, dear guests, please come in,” she said with a tinge of irony. “I assume you’re Aunt Liz.”
“Yes, Elizabeth Johnson. This is my daughter Sophie and husband Archie. Don’t worry, we’re not staying long.”
Mary allowed them to freshen up from the journey before inviting them to the table, mentioning that showing up uninvited isn’t proper etiquette.
“We weren’t expecting anyone and haven’t prepared anything, so make do with what you find in the fridge.”
“Oh, we brought plenty with us,” Aunt Liz bustled, “everything homemade, truly delightful.”
Aunt Liz began unloading cheese, sausages, and preserves. The kitchen now smelled of fresh farm produce. Her second bag held honey, jams, and dried fruit.
“Why so much? We’ll never finish all this; there isn’t even enough room for storage.”
“Share with your family. It’s all organic, no chemicals, unlike store-bought. Jams and pickles don’t need refrigeration.”
As Mary helped unpack, John phoned his parents; they were already en route. Aunt Liz explained further.
“Our visit wasn’t just to meet you. Sophie finishes school this year and plans to apply to university. It’s good for her to know family, just in case. There’s a dormitory at the uni, so she’ll stay there. Sophie’s a bright girl.”
Awkwardness soon dissipated. Elizabeth had a warm presence, and John and Archie hit it off well. John’s parents arrived shortly.
The gathering morphed into a cozy family reunion. Stories were exchanged about their lives and their youth. Elizabeth nostalgically remembered her childhood home.
“I want to revisit my hometown. It’s been ages since I’ve been back. I bet everyone’s moved to the city.”
Irene invited the relatives to stay over at theirs, suggesting the space would be cozier. After a brief consultation, it was agreed that Sophie would stay with the younger couple, while Liz and Archie would move to the elder family’s place. On Sunday, Mary and John toured Sophie around London, showing her Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and Hyde Park.
Come Monday morning, Aunt Liz and Archie swung by for Sophie. Mary and John saw them off promptly, starting their workweek once more.
That evening, Mary and John reflected on the unexpected visit. Mary expressed relief that they were lovely people but questioned why they hadn’t connected sooner.
“They were delightful. I’m glad we met. But why the long silence?”
“No clue, maybe ask my mom. The last time I saw Aunt Liz, I was in elementary school.”
“We’ve been invited to visit. Maybe we should go. A summer road trip to the seaside with a stopover at theirs? We could even bring Sophie back with us to London. Hopefully, she gets into university.”
Sophie succeeded in gaining admission. She stayed with them for a few days before moving into student accommodation. Occasionally, she’d visit. Mary and John had to delay their seaside trip; a new family member was on the way.
