The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the garden as Emily tightened her grip on the railing.
“Honestly, Mum, you’ve had your fun. Time to go back to town,” her daughter-in-law said firmly, ushering her off the property.
Emily still couldnt believe this was happening. After ten years of dreaming, they finally had their own countryside cottage! Life had always thrown obstacles in their waymortgages, school fees for the kids, economic downturnsbut now, after checking their savings, theyd decided: it was now or never.
Her husband, William, worked a steady job at an insurance firm. Nothing extravagant, but reliable. Emily was a paediatric physiotherapist, earning decently, yet a country home had always felt out of reach. Then fate intervenedboth her grandmother and Williams passed away within months of each other, leaving behind modest flats in quiet market towns.
After countless discussions, they sold both properties, pooled the money, and took the leap.
The perfect plot came quickly. Few people sold in winter, most waiting for springs buzz. But William wouldnt hesitate.
“Well talk ourselves out of it otherwise,” he grumbled.
Emily agreed wholeheartedly. Everything had fallen into place.
The land was idealelectricity, gas, plumbing all connected. All they needed was to build a small summer house.
Come spring, William took leave and, with his mate Nigel, got to work. They laboured tirelessly, weekends included. Within a month, the family celebrated their move-in.
Sleeping arrangements were makeshiftair mattresses and old blankets from the city. But they had a cooker and running water. The rest could wait.
“Cheers, Will! Youve done it!” Nigel raised his pint.
The men knocked back their drinks, piled grilled sausages onto buns, and dug in.
“Whod have thought wed get here so fast?” Emily marvelled. “At Christmas, I never imagined this. And nowhere we are!” She gestured proudly at the cottage.
Dusk settled, but no one hurried inside, enjoying the impromptu barbecue under the fading light.
“Hello, love, hows it all going?” came Margarets saccharine voice over the phone.
When she sounded this sweet, she wanted something.
“Brilliant, Mum!” William beamed.
“Oh, I know. The grandkids told meyouve bought a cottage?”
“Thats right! Not just any cottagea proper country retreat!”
Margaret laughed theatrically, then her tone flattened. “Well, good for you.”
“How about you, Mum?”
“Oh, whats there to say at my age? Doctors reckon I need peace and quietno stress. But where? Spas cost a fortune.”
“Come stay with us!”
“Dont be silly. Youve got enough on your plate. And Emily wont want me underfoot.”
“Mum, stop. Just come.”
“Alright, love. Ill bake your favouritemy lemon drizzle.”
When William told Emily, her smile didnt reach her eyes.
“So, we get a cottage, and suddenly the doctor orders her to the countryside?”
“Yep.”
“Nothing suspicious there.”
“No, her blood pressures bad.”
“Will, shes not coming for her health. Shes coming to snoop.”
“Dont start. Shell visit, leave in a week.”
“Remember last time?”
William had forgotten. Emily hadnt. Margaret had sown discord, whispered poison, even sabotaged mealssalt instead of sugar, vinegar in the tea. Emily had sent her packing.
This time, she hoped for the best. Maybe Margaret had changed.
“Oh, its lovely here! A proper little paradise!” Margaret gushed, admiring the garden. “This mustve been Emilys idea! Clever girl. Hold onto her, Willwives like her dont grow on trees!”
“New tactic, Margaret?” Emily arched a brow.
“Youve always been my favourite. My sons a numpty, but you? Gold.”
“Cheers, Mum,” William laughed.
“Joking! Youre my sweet lad. Now, whats for dinner?”
“Barbecue every night!” Emily said brightly. “Hope thats alright?”
“Lovely! Last time I had proper sausages was in Brighton, when Will was in school!”
“Right, Willfire up the grill. Ill get the meat.”
“Mind if I join? Want another look at the place.”
“Of course!”
This time, Margaret was differentwarm, joking, almost affectionate. Maybe time had softened her.
As William and his mother fetched plates, a phone buzzed. Emily glanced at the screenand froze.
*When are you back in London? Have you told her? Waiting for news. Kisses.*
The phone slipped from her fingers.
*How do I tell the kids? Split the house? Who is she? How could he?*
“Plates are here!” William set them down.
“I need a minute.” Emily fled inside, splashing cold water on her face.
“Whats wrong?” Margaret recoiled, dropping a ketchup bottle.
Emily scrubbed her cheeks, tears mixing with the water.
“Wills seeing someone.”
Margaret hugged her. No surprise in her eyes.
“You knew?”
“I hoped hed come to his senses. Youve been together since unikids, this place. Silly boy.”
Emily sobbed. If hed told his mother, it was serious.
“Listen. Dry your eyes. You dont want a scene, do you?”
Emily shook her head.
“Well handle it later. Shes not getting him that easily.”
The next morning, William left for the city”for warmer clothes,” he said, citing a forecast.
Emily knew the truth. She kept quiet.
Once his car vanished, Margaret laid out her plan.
“You need a man.”
“What?!”
“Just for show. Make him jealous. Sometimes men forget what theyve got. If he sees you wanted, he might snap out of it.”
It was madbut had logic.
“Who?”
“Nigel. Hes single. Helped build this place.”
“Call him. Sausages, drinks, a short dress. Let Will come home to his spot taken!”
To her shock, Nigel agreed.
“Wheres Will?” he asked upon arrival.
“Back tonight. Im hopeless with the grill.”
“Wine?” Nigel offered.
“Go easyIm a lightweight,” Emily flirted.
“Youre stunning, Em,” Nigel murmured. “Lucky bastard, Will.”
She blushed. What if he tried something? Not that she owed William anything now.
A car screeched to a halt.
“What the hells going on?” William roared.
“Back early?” Emily feigned innocence.
“Mum calledsaid you had a visitor the second I left! And its Nigel?!”
“Why care? Sort out your mistress.”
“What mistress?”
“The one you raced to London for! I saw the text!”
“I thought it was a wrong number! Theres no one!”
Emilys eyes darted to the window. Margaret yanked the curtains shut.
“Mum! Get out here!”
“Just a joke!” Margaret cackled. “Your faces!”
“Breaking us upa joke?!”
“Ill go,” Nigel muttered, but no one listened.
“You set this up? The text?”
“Obviously! Two phones, dear.”
“Mum, this isnt funny. I nearly lost everything.”
“But you didnt! Im keeping you on your toes! Retirements dull.”
“Pack your things. Will takes you to the station in the morning.” Emily steeled herself.
“Youre kicking me out?”
“Youve entertained yourself enough. Piss off.”
“Where do I sleep?”
“The car. Its not winter.”
At dawn, William drove his mother to the station in silence.
