Edward, are you joking? I snapped, eyes on the battered rucksack. Youre heading back to your mother again?
What else do you suggest, throw her out in the cold, without light or water? I muttered, digging through the bag. Would you do that to your own parents?
My parents never treat me like that. They know I have a family and they dont drag me into their drama, Emma replied, her voice tight. Your mother, she began, but I cut her off.
No nonsense, love. You know I have to help, I said, waving a hand.
I get it, but it still hurts. Not because the boys will soon forget their fathers name, but because you never try to teach her to stand on her own.
She made the porridge herselflet her eat it herself. And you pick where your family belongs: out in the village or here.
Emma turned and headed for the bedroom. Within half a minute the hallway door clicked shut. I left, leaving her alone with the kids, to whom shed promised a family walk in the park that afternoon.
Meanwhile, their father had once again slipped away from the household, and the blame fell squarely on Emma.
Two years earlier things had been entirely different. Emma remembered that day clearly. Theyd visited her parents cottage in the Cotswolds, taking Olivia, her motherinlaw, along so she wouldnt be lonely. Olivia got on well with the inlaws, so nobody objected.
While sipping tea and nibbling biscuits under a grapevine arbor, Olivias mind drifted to a brilliant idea that would turn Emmas life upside down.
Ah, its lovely here! she exclaimed, taking a deep breath. I ought to move into a private house at my agepeace, quiet, fresh air.
Emmas mother, Margaret, only smiled. At first she thought Olivia was just daydreaming aloud.
Its nice when youre a guest, the matchmaker interjected. But without a husband, theres nothing to do in a house. It isnt a holiday resort. Theres always something to fix or mend. And you, Olivia, arent cut out for housekeeping.
Olivia pursed her lips, though there was no real offense to take. She wasnt lazy, but she was perpetually exhausted, even when she did nothing.
Im not planning on running a farm or tending greenhouses. This place has chickens and pigs, but Ill be content with flowers and trees.
Just to sit in the shade and admire beauty. The grandchildren will love it. Ill buy them an inflatable pool; theyll splash on the grass, not on petrol fumes.
Flowers and trees need care too. Youll be inside most of the time, but theres still workdust once a week, mop the floors every couple of days, vacuum, then rest, Margaret chided gently.
Do you think we keep a farm out of love for labour? the soninlaw snorted. It sounds nice in theory, but a house is a bottomless pit.
Today the boiler blew, tomorrow the roof, the day after the fence. Everything needs money, so were always scraping by.
Itll be fine. Im not alone, Olivia insisted, glancing at Edward.
Emma raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Influencing the motherinlaw proved harder than convincing a hungry goose not to eat cabbage.
From that day Olivia stopped arguing with the inlaws, smiling mysteriously like the Mona Lisa. Six months later she proudly showed off her new home, inhaling the strange scent of roses from the neighbours garden. The house was indeed comfortable.
See? I told you Id make it, she declared, swaggering. Im not a step away from your town!
Happiness, however, was shortlived. First Olivia asked her son to help with a cosmetic renovation. He dragged it out for six months because Edward only visited on weekends.
Emma grumbled but endured, believing the work would eventually finish and life would return to its former rhythm.
When the paint on the fence dried and fresh wallpaper covered the walls, the todo list only grew. The power was cut for nearly two days; water vanished as well. Edward rushed to Margaret with bottled water and a jug of ValcoClear to calm her nerves.
All the chores are on hold! The heats gone, no shower, no A/Cterrible! Im not living, Im surviving, Olivia complained.
Later Olivia tried to warm a stray dog, only to discover it suffered kidney problems. With no vet in the village, the animal had to be taken to the cityby Edward, of course.
Nothing we can do, the pups ill At least we have a guard dog now, Olivia muttered, soothing the animal.
Soon Emma had to clean the cars interior because the guard kept rolling around. The dog also needed special food, but the village had no pet shop or delivery service, so Edward became the courier.
I wont abandon my mother with a sick animal! You know how sentimental she is. Shell keep blaming herself, he told his wife when she started berating him.
Right, sentimental. She feels sorry for the dog, but not so much for people
Edward spent every weekend with his mother, and sometimes slipped in after work on weekdays. Occasionally he even stayed the night at Margarets.
Ill be home soon; youll probably already be asleep, he explained. That way I can get up early and head straight to work.
Emma waited for relief, but it never came. The roof leaked, the septic tank clogged, snow fell, grass grew She refused to tend the house alone, unable to call in specialists herself.
What if there are scammers? Thieves? Theyll strip the place bare Edward, youre a man, and men are feared. Help me find a decent hand and stay with us, Olivia begged.
Emmas patience snapped when the power went out again, this time late autumn. Fortunately it lasted only a short while, but it was enough to send Olivia into a panic.
Emma, Ill buy mum a generator tomorrow, Edward said matteroffactly.
Emmas eyes narrowed. From our pocket? Thats not cheap.
Its tight for mum now. She spent almost everything from the flat sale and lives on a single pension, Edward shrugged.
Great, so were funding not just ourselves but also her dream house. Isnt your mother a bit too demanding? Emma asked.
He grimaced, waving his hand. Emma, stop. Their lights are flickering already. Do you want her to freeze?
Emma rolled her eyes, swallowing the bitterness once more.
Now she sat alone in their bedroom, pondering divorce. Were not doing badly overall, are we? No, divorce is too extreme. I need another plan, something to keep me sane, she thought.
And she devised one
A week later Emma rose early, dressed quietly, and was about to slip out when Edward stirred.
Up already? he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Visiting my parents, Emma replied calmly, checking herself in the mirror.
You mean today? I promised mum Id prune the hedges.
You never agreed with me first. Besides, I have my own parents who need help too.
But you have two of them!
Old age doesnt get cancelled. From now on well alternate: one weekend for your mum, the next for mine, Emma said, stepping into the hallway and pausing.
Right, I hadnt forgotten. The chore list is on the fridge. Dont miss the kids homework, and make them pizza for lunchthey asked for it.
She left, feeling Edwards weighty stare behind her, but didnt look back. On the way to her parents, she caught herself not thinking about urgent tasks or hurrying anywhere.
The help to her parents was mostly symbolic. Emma spent the afternoon on the second floor, then relaxed. She read a book on the garden swing, recalled funny childhood lunches, and lounged in bed, finally eating properly instead of gulping her food under the endless chorus of Mum!.
Perhaps there will never be a perfect solution. Maybe Olivia will never sell the house or sort out the repairs without her sons aid.
But now Emma would have a slice of personal space shed never surrendera small victory in the battle for her sanity and fairness.
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