Margaret paced anxiously around her small flat in Manchester, clutching her phone, which displayed yet another overdue payment notification. Her heart tightened with dreadhow could she feed her family now that her daughter and son-in-law weighed so heavily upon her shoulders? It had all begun when her eldest, Emily, just nineteen, announced she was expecting a child and wished to marry.
Before this, Margaret had worked alongside a colleague, Beatrice, a sensible and caring woman. Beatrice raised her two daughters alone: Emily, nineteen, and little Charlotte, age ten. Until then, Beatrice had no complaints. Emily studied diligently at university, Charlotte excelled in school. Both were obedient, exemplary, and Beatrice took pride in them, despite the hardships of single motherhood.
But in her second year, Emily met her first love, Thomas. The young man came from another county, but Beatrice, after meeting him, approved of her daughters choice. He seemed kind, earnestnot the sort to take advantage. Soon, the sweethearts decided to live together. To avoid renting, they moved in with Beatrice. She disliked their hasteher daughter was only nineteen, she ought to finish her studies first, stand on her own feet. But there was no alternative.
Beatrice lived in a modest three-room flat, but the bedrooms were cramped, and space was already scarce. Thomass arrival only made it worse. She resigned herselfuntil she learned the true reason for their rush: Emily confessed she was pregnant and wished to marry. Beatrice felt the ground crumble beneath her. Her girl, barely grown, was to become a mother.
Thomas had no work. Like Emily, he was a full-time student, and neither wished to switch to remote learning. Yet they planned an extravagant wedding, straight out of a lavish film. They booked one of Manchesters most expensive restaurants, invited a horde of guests, and Emily ordered a bespoke gown as though walking a runway. Beatrice tried to protest, explaining she hadnt the means, but Emilyhand on her bellyburst into tears:
“Mum, would you deny your grandchild?”
Gritting her teeth, Beatrice paid for it all. She drained her savings, gnawed at her nest egg, even took out another loan. She hoped that after the wedding, the pair would shoulder responsibility, seek work, become self-sufficient. But her hopes collapsed like a house of cards. Emily and Thomas stayed under her roof, making no effort to find employment.
Thomass parents had gifted them a second-hand car. The couple drove about town as if on holiday, while his parents covered the petrol, knowing their son hadnt a penny to spare. But the restfood, bills, clothingfell to Beatrice. The young couple scarcely knew the price of a loaf. When she mentioned expenses, Emily rolled her eyes:
“Mum, were studyingwhat do you expect?”
Emily refused to economise. She showed her mother catalogues of prams and cots, the most fashionable and costly models. Beatrice, on her modest wages, felt the air leave her lungs.
“Emily, I cant afford this! Ive your student loan, Charlotte to care for”
“Youre joking, right?” the girl scoffed. “Youre about to be a grandmother, and youre making a fuss?”
A slow-burning fury rose in Beatrice. Theyd chosen to have a child, yet she was to provide for it? She carried the whole household, worked herself ragged, and still the money ran short. The loan for Emilys studies hung like the sword of Damocles, Charlotte needed attention, and the young couple lived as though in a fairy tale.
One day, Beatrice snapped. She returned from work exhausted after a scolding for her latenessshed had to shop for everyone. At home, the sight awaiting her turned her blood cold: Emily and Thomas, laughing, flipped through a nursery magazine, eyeing a crib worth half her wages. Charlotte sat quietly sketching in the corner while a tower of dirty dishes towered in the sink.
“Am I to wash up after you as well?” Beatrice thundered, dropping her bags.
“Mum, honestly!” Emily cried. “Were preparing for the baby!”
“Youre expecting, yet Im the one paying?” Beatrice shook with rage. “Enough! Either find work, or leave!”
Emily burst into sobs, Thomas paled, but Beatrice stood firm. She gave them a month to find even menial jobs.
“Or youll go to Thomass parents. Let them keep you.”
Emily and Thomas tried to sway her, but Beatrice no longer yielded to tears. She loved her daughter but understoodwithout boundaries, theyd ruin her. One day, Charlotte, seeing her distress, hugged her tight and whispered:
“Mum, Id never do this to you.”
Beatrice smiled through her tears. For her youngest, shed fight on. As for Emily and Thomas? Reality awaited themand Beatrice would no longer be their lifeboat.
