The Other Mother-in-Law
When Charlotte stepped into the flat, the first thing she spotted were her mother-in-laws shoes planted squarely in the middle of the hallway. Any hope of a quiet evening evaporated instantly.
Margaret appeared from the kitchen with the air of a prosecutor delivering a damning verdict.
Off visiting that daft old woman again, were you? she sniffed. Never mind your husband, your child, or this houseall left to fend for themselves. Good thing I popped round, or theyd have starved by now.
Margaret, Nicholas knew Id be late. I made dinnerhe just had to heat it up. Hes perfectly capable of managing without your help, Charlotte replied.
After ten years of marriage to Nicholas, she was used to Margarets perpetual dissatisfaction and barely reacted anymore, treating her rants like background radio noisealways on, never worth tuning into.
But it hadnt always been so easy. Margaret was Charlottes second mother-in-law. The first, Evelyn, had been a model of tact. She never meddled, never offered unsolicited advice, never forced herself where she wasnt wanted.
Yet when help was needed, she was there. Charlotte remembered how Evelyn had stayed up nights with three-month-old Emily when the baby had her days and nights mixed up, how shed whisked her granddaughter off for walks just so Charlotte could nap, saying, Dont lift a fingerlet James handle dinner when he gets home.
When Emily turned five, James was killed in an accident at work, leaving Charlotte a widow.
Evelyn, who had lost her only son, didnt abandon her daughter-in-law or granddaughter in their grief. For the first three months, they lived together, propping each other up.
Charlotte suggested they make it permanent, but Evelyn moved back to her own flat. Charlotte, youre only twenty-eight. Youre youngyoull find happiness again. I wont clutter up your life.
Three years later, Charlotte married Nicholas. But she never cast Evelyn aside. With her own parents living far away, her first mother-in-law became like a second mother to herand Emily adored her grandmother.
Which made Margarets behaviour all the more shocking. She acted as though Charlottes flat were her own domain, dispensing orders like a drill sergeant.
After her first unannounced visit, Charlotte asked Nicholas to explain to his mother that she was a *guest* herevisits should be agreed upon, and manners observed.
When Margaret protested that she only wanted to help, Charlotte replied, Im not eighteen. Even when I left home for university, I could manage on my own. And after seven years of marriage, I hardly need lessons in cooking or cleaning. In fact, I could teach *you* a thing or two.
Maybe Ill pop round yours with a white glove and inspect *your* housekeeping, she added dryly.
To his credit, Nicholas backed his wife, reining in his mother when she overstepped.
Gradually, Charlotte trained Margaret not to interfere in how she ran the house or raised the children. So when, a year into her second marriage, she had a son, Margaret mostly kept her advice to herselfthough it clearly pained her.
The thing was, Margaret had a friend who never stopped boasting about how she trained her younger sons wife. Naturally, Margaret wanted something to brag about toobut Charlotte gave her nothing. Except one sore point: her visits to Evelyn.
That old woman isnt even blood! When Emily was little, Charlotte packed her off to Evelyns for the summersfine, I didnt mind. But now the girls at university, and Charlottes *still* trotting over there two or three times a week! she grumbled to her friend.
The past year, Charlotte *had* been visiting Evelyn more often. Margaret called her that old woman, though Evelyn was only seven years her senior. But grief ages a person, and illness hadnt been kind. Charlotte shuttled between hospital visits and Evelyns home.
Wasting the familys money on an outsider, Margaret scolded.
Dont fret, MargaretEvelyn sold her cottage when she fell ill. She can cover her own care; she wont be borrowing from *you*, Charlotte retorted.
When Evelyn took a turn for the worse, Charlotte hired a carer and took leave to spend afternoons with her while Nicholas worked and their son was at school.
But it only delayed the inevitablesoon, Evelyn was gone.
*Now* Margaret took a sudden interest in the will.
She sold the cottage, but she couldnt have spent it all in a year. And her pension was decentshe must have savings. Plus, that two-bedroom flatwho inherits *that*? she mused, though she didnt dare ask Charlotte directly.
Instead, she probed Nicholasand the answer displeased her.
The will? Naturally, its all going to Emilyshes Evelyns own granddaughter.
And Charlotte gets *nothing*? Margaret gasped. After dancing attendance on that woman? Oh, I *bet* shes weeping now!
No need to cry for me, Charlotte said coolly. Ive known for a year that Evelyn left everything to EmilyI took her to the solicitor myself.
Then why bother with her if you knew youd get *nothing*? Margaret spluttered. Let *Emily* look after her!
Id explain, but I doubt youd understand, Charlotte replied.
In due course, the inheritance was settledEmily got the flat and the savings. They agreed to rent it out while she studied, with the income going into her account.
When she graduated, shed decide: return to her hometown, stay in the cityor sell the flat and buy elsewhere.
Hearing of the rental plan, Margaret pounced.
Why let strangers wreck the place? Let Sophie live there.
Sophie, Margarets thirty-five-year-old daughter, still lived at home. Pretty, educated, employedshe had the occasional fling, but marriage eluded her. Margaret fretted endlessly.
Why cant *she* find someone? Charlottea widow with a childlanded my Nicholas! she fumed.
If Sophie had her own flat, Margaret reasoned, she might snag a husband.
Never mind that the flats Emilys for now, she schemed. In three or four years, who knows? If Emily finds a man with property, well persuade her to *gift* it to Sophie.
But Emily refused.
She wont pay market rent, Emily said. Im saving for a mortgagemight move to London after uni. Every penny counts.
Your Emilys *greedy*just like you! Margaret hissed at Charlotte. Selfish, the pair of you! With a flat, Sophie couldve married!
Mum, *you* have a three-bedder. Sell it, buy a one-bed for yourself and one for Sophie, Nicholas suggested.
Oh, *very* clever, Margaret huffed. That flats *mine*youve no claim! Why should I squeeze into a shoebox in my old age? Ive lived there my whole life, and Im not moving!
Its not Nicholas being cleverits *you*, Charlotte cut in. Wont sacrifice your own flat for your daughter, but youll drool over someone elses.
So Sophie stayed put. Emily rented out the flat, sold it after graduating, and bought a place in the city.
She did visit Londonfor a week. As they say, the grass is always greener
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