“Love, we’ve had our fun at the cottage, now off you pop back home,” the daughter-in-law shooed her mother-in-law off the property.
Emily still couldnt believe it. Had they really just bought their own countryside cottage? Theyd dreamed of this for ten long years, but life kept getting in the waymortgage payments, the kids schooling, one financial crisis after another. But now, after checking their savings, theyd decided: it was now or never.
Her husband, James, worked at an insurance firmnothing extraordinarywhile Emily made a decent living as a paediatric physiotherapist. Still, buying a place outside the city had always felt out of reach. Then fate stepped in: both her grandmother and Jamess passed away within months of each other, leaving them each a small flat in provincial towns.
After long discussions, they sold both properties, pooled the money, and finally made their dream a realitya plot of land to call their own.
They found the perfect spot quickly. Not many people sell property in wintermost wait for summer to get the best price. But James was adamant.
“Well talk ourselves out of it if we wait,” he grumbled. “A million excuses, and well never do it.”
Emily agreed. Everything was falling into place!
The land was idealelectricity, gas, utilities, all already connected. All they needed was to build a modest summer house.
Come spring, James took time off work, and with his mate Nigel, they got to work. They made quick progress, hardly taking breaks, and within a month, the little house was ready.
It wasnt exactly luxuriousair mattresses on the floor, blankets brought from the citybut it had a stove and running water. The rest could come later.
“Cheers, James! Well done,” Nigel raised his pint.
The men clinked glasses, grabbed their burgers, slathered them in ketchup and onions, and dug in.
“I still cant believe how fast it happened!” Emily beamed. “At Christmas, I never imagined wed have our own cottage, and here we are!” She gestured proudly at the little house.
Even as dusk settled, they lingered outside, enjoying their impromptu barbecue under the open sky.
“Hello, darling, hows everything?” came Margarets sugary-sweet voice over the phone.
Whenever she sounded this pleasant, it usually meant trouble.
“Mum, everythings brilliant!” James chirped.
“Oh, I know. The grandkids told me youve bought a cottage?”
“Thats right! Not just any cottagea proper countryside retreat!”
“Oh, dont be silly,” Margaret laughed theatrically, but her tone suddenly dimmed. “Well, good for you.”
“How are you, Mum?” James asked carefully.
“Oh, whats there to say at my age? The doctors say I need peace, quiet, no stress. Maybe then my health will improve. But where do I find that? Spas cost a fortune, you know.”
“Mum, just come stay with us!” James offered eagerly.
“Oh, darling, I couldnt! Youve got enough on your plates. And Emily wouldnt want me underfoot…”
“Dont be ridiculous. Just come!”
“Alright, if you insist. Ill bake your favouritemy Victoria sponge.”
When James told Emily his mother was visiting, she wasnt thrilled.
“So, we finally get a cottage, and suddenly the doctor prescribes her fresh country air?” she said dryly.
“Yeah,” James shrugged.
“Not suspicious at all, is it?”
“No? Shes got high blood pressure.”
“Youre missing the point. Shes not coming for her healthshes coming to inspect our new place!”
“Come on. Shell stay a week, then go home.”
“Did you forget what happened last time?”
James had, but Emily hadnt. Margaret had done everything to sabotage their marriagespreading gossip, stirring arguments, even sprinkling salt instead of sugar in the tea. Emily had finally sent her packing on the first train home.
Emily was sure Margaret would stir up trouble again. But she didnt want to turn James against his mother. Maybe this time would be different?
“Oh, this is just lovely! A proper little paradise!” Margaret gushed as she arrived. “The air, the trees, this adorable houseEmily, youve outdone yourself! Hold onto her, James, a wife like this is hard to come by!”
“Thats new,” Emily raised an eyebrow. “Whats brought on this sudden affection?”
“Youve always been my favourite. My sons a bit of a fool, but his wife? Pure gold. We had our differences, but let bygones be bygones.”
“So Im the fool now?” James laughed.
“Yes, but my favourite fool,” Margaret smiled sweetly. “Now, whats for dinner?”
“Burgers on the grill every night!” Emily grinned. “Hope thats alright? We just cant get enough of cooking outdoors.”
“Delightful! The last time I had a proper barbecue was in Brighton, when James was still in school. Can you believe how long ago that was?”
“Right, James, fire up the grill. Ill fetch the meat.”
“Mind if I join? Id love another look at the house.”
“Of course!”
This time, Margaret seemed differentwarm, joking, kind. Emily thought maybe time had softened her. After all, why would she ruin things now? Theyd been married years, their kids were grown, they had this cottage. And Emily was a good wifehardworking, loyal, a great cook.
While James and his mother fetched plates, his phone buzzed, screen-up. Emilys gaze caught a message she couldnt unsee:
*When are you back in town? Have you told her about us? Waiting for news. Kisses.*
The phone slipped from her fingers, landing softly in the grass. Her mind raced*How do we tell the kids? How do we split the house? Who is she? How could James do this?*
“Plates are here!” James announced.
“II need a minute,” Emily stammered, rushing inside. She splashed cold water on her face, trying to steady her breath.
“Whats wrong?” Margaret stepped back, nearly dropping a bottle of ketchup.
Emily wiped her face, tears mixing with water. “James is seeing someone.”
Margaret didnt seem surprised. She pulled Emily into a hug.
“You knew?”
“I hoped hed come to his senses. Youve been together since uni, youve got kids, this place. Like I saida fool.”
Emily sobbed. If hed told his mother, it was serious. Their marriage was over.
“Listen to me. Dry your tears. You dont want a scene, do you?”
Emily shook her head.
“Well figure it out. Hes not getting off that easy.”
Somehow, that helped.
The next day, James headed back to town. “Need warmer clothes,” he said, citing a cold snap in the forecast.
But Emily knew the real reason. Playing along, she didnt let on.
Once his car disappeared, Margaret sat beside her on the porch and laid out her plan.
“You need a man.”
*”What?*”
“Not seriously. Just enough to make James jealous. Sometimes men get complacent, take their wives for granted. But if he thinks youre desirable too, he might snap out of it.”
As absurd as it was, there was logic in it.
“Who did you have in mind?”
“Nigel? Hes single. Helped build the house.”
“Call him. Burgers, drinks, a short dress. Let James come back to find his spot taken!” Margaret grinned.
Surprisingly, Nigel agreed. When he arrived, he asked, “Wheres James?”
“Not back till tonight. Im hopeless at grillingneed a mans touch,” Emily smiled coyly.
Margaret watched from the window.
“Another glass?” Nigel offered.
“Please, but eat upIm a lightweight,” Emily flirted.
“Youre gorgeous, Em,” Nigel handed her a plate of fruit. “Wish I had a woman like you. Dont tell James I said that.”
Emily flushed. This was spiralling. What if he tried something? James would be back soon. But then againwhy should she care?
Her thoughts tangled. She took another sipthen tires screeched outside.
James slammed the brakes, nearly hitting the fence.
“What the hell is going on here?!” he roared.
“Back so soon?” Emily feigned innocence.
“Mum called saying some bloke was all over you the second I left! And its *Nigel*?!”
“Whats it to you? Go deal with your side piece. Ill be a free woman soon.”
“What side piece?”
“The one you raced back to town for! I saw the text!”
“I saw it toothought it was a wrong number. Theres no one else!”
Emily glanced at the window. Margaret hastily drew the curtains.
“Mum! Get
