“No. Weve decided its best if you dont bring your wife and child into this flat. We wont tolerate the inconvenience for long, and in the end, well have to ask you to leave.”
“Then your wife will go around telling everyone we threw you out onto the street with a baby,” he added coldly.
“Emma, you look awful. Whats happened?” asked their neighbour, concern knitting her brow.
“Nathan said the landladys ordered us out. Immediately. Apparently, she rented the flat to a couple without children, and now were bringing in a baby. Hell cry at night, the neighbours will complain, and she doesnt want the hassle.”
“So where will you go? Youve got no other options?”
“Nathans parents have a three-bedroom house, but his younger sister still lives there. And my parents are out in the villagetwenty miles from the city,” Emma replied, her voice tight.
“Stay with your in-laws for a week or two while you find somewhere new,” the neighbour suggested.
“Nathans already tried. The moment landlords hear weve got a baby, they refuse.”
“Thats a problem. But youve still got two daysyour husband will think of something.”
But Nathan didnt. After a few fruitless calls, he simply packed their things from the rented flat and moved them into his parents home.
His parents and sister, however, were far from thrilled.
“Son, we agreed before your wedding that you and your wife wouldnt live with us,” his mother said firmly. “Youre welcome to stay in your old room, but we dont want outsiders in our home.”
“Emma isnt an outsidershes my wife!”
“Not to us. You chose her; we didnt.”
“Mum, its only temporaryjust until we find somewhere decent.”
“Nothings more permanent than a temporary arrangement. A week turns into a month, and a month into forever.”
“No. Besides, your father and I work, and your sisters studying. We need proper rest. With a baby in the house, thats impossibleno talking, no telly, and waking up at all hours to crying.”
“Well find something soon,” he promised.
“No. Weve decided its better if you dont bring your wife and child here. We wont put up with the disruption, and sooner or later, well have to ask you to leave.”
“And then your wife will tell everyone we threw you out with a baby. Thatll ruin our reputation, and I wont have people gossiping about us. So dont even think of bringing Emma or the child here. Sort it out some other way.”
With that ultimatum, Nathan went straight to the hospital.
“Listen, Em maybe you and the baby could stay with your parents for now?” he ventured.
“Does your mother even *want* to see her grandchild?” Emma asked, stunned.
“I dont know. She said not to come.”
“Brilliant. Other women get met by familyflowers, gifts, joy. And us? Like were homeless and unwanted. They cant even stand the sight of us.”
That evening, she called her parents. On the day she and the baby were discharged, her father came to collect them.
“Pack up, darling. Were going home. And you,” he said, turning to Nathan, “bring Emmas things and whatever youve bought for the baby.”
The drive to the village took barely half an hour. Everything was readya cot with bunny-printed sheets, a chest of drawers, a rocking chair. In the dining room, a celebratory lunch awaited them. No outsidersjust Emmas parents, her grandmother, and her younger sister, Lily.
No mention was made of Nathans family. Instead, they debated names over lunch and settled on Oliver.
Nathan left right after, promising to return with Emmas belongings the next day.
When he did, there was news.
“Emma, Nathan,” her father said, gathering everyone at the table. “Your mother and I have talked. Well sell Grans cottage and give you the money.”
“Well sign it as a gift to Emma. But theres one conditionthis house will go to Lily in the will. Emma, do you agree?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Ill list the cottage tomorrow.”
It took three months to sell. Emma and Oliver stayed in the village; Nathan lived with his parents in the city, visiting on weekends.
Another six weeks passedflat hunting, mortgage paperwork, renovations.
Finally, the day came. Emma, Nathan, and little Oliver moved into their own home. A month later, once everything was in its place, they held a housewarming.
Emmas parents, her friends, and Nathans mates were there. His parents? Nowhere. They only learned about the flat by chance.
When Nathan collected his things, his mother assumed it was just another rental.
“So, you invited your wifes country family but didnt even tell us youd bought a flat? You couldve asked us round!”
“And we still havent met our grandson. This isnt how family behaves,” she scolded over the phone.
“Like *family*? Throwing your sons wife and newborn out onto the streetthats family to you?”
“I *explained*were older, we need peace. But now we could visit!”
“Why?”
“Hes our *grandson*!”
“Olivers nearly six months old, and youve only just decided you want to see him. Odd, isnt it?”
“Not at all. Babies all look the same at that age.”
“No. I think you were just protecting your precious space, terrified wed move in. And now that weve got our own place, suddenly youre eager to visit. Well, were not ready to see you.”
“Youre *offended*?” she snapped. “And here I was, about to invite your wife and child to stay at our cottage all summer!”
“Why the sudden change?”
“Fresh air! The citys stifling in Mayimagine July! Shed have the place to herself. Wed only come weekends.”
“Ah. You want a free gardener. No thanks. If we want fresh air, well go to Emmas parents.”
Nathans mother and sister finally saw Oliver at two and a halfby accident, in a shopping centre. They watched from a distance but didnt approach.
Some grandmothers. Some mothers.
