My daughter-in-law dropped off my granddaughter for the weekend again, my neighbour Barbara grumbled when I met her on the stairwell. I just cant get the child to eat properly! Mummy says princesses dont eat much, she tells me, nibbles a couple of bites, and thats that! The poor girl is so thin, you can practically see right through her!
Barbara had taken a fierce dislike to her son Toms wife, Emma, the very moment they first met. The reason was simpleEmma was a whole seven years older than Tom, who was barely out of sixth form at the time.
He hadnt ever known other women before her! Barbara would huff. So of course she swept him off his feet with all her experience!
Emma was strikingstylish, slender, always put-together. She took care of herself, dressed with flair, and was climbing the career ladder. Honestly, it was no mystery why Barbaras son fell so hard. Theres no magic to itmen are visual, after all, and she certainly turned heads.
Her healthy lifestyle was important to her, and she was quite strict about nutrition. She taught her daughter to eat sensibly, avoid overeating, and to always be mindful of her health and figure.
A few months after theyd started seeing each other, Emma discovered she was pregnant. Was it a retort to her critical future mother-in-law, or simply fate? Whos to say. Regardless, Tom was resolutehed marry Emma, even if hed just turned eighteen and she was twenty-five.
After finishing his A-levels, Tom enrolled at the local college. He balanced classes with work, as he and his new wife soon set up house away from their families. First they rented a flat, then bought a small bedsit.
The young couple were happy, but Barbara wouldnt give up. She found fault with everythingEmmas cooking, how she dressed their daughter, whether Toms shirts were ironed. In Barbaras eyes, Emma had no redeeming qualities, only flaws. She never missed a chance to lecture Tom about them.
Eventually, Emma all but severed ties with her mother-in-law. She took their daughter everywhereto nursery, to gymnastics, even to chess club herself. She was always on the run, between work and shuttling her little girl to activitiesand still tried to squeeze in the gym, a manicure, the hairdressers. The truth was, she hardly had time to be at home as much as shed like.
Tom would return after work to an empty flathis daughter was still at clubs, and Emma was either with her or off on her own errands.
One evening, their neighbour Saraha 38-year-old widow with two teen sonsknocked at the door. Thered been a mishap in the communal kitchen; the tap had burst and water was pouring everywhere, and she asked Tom to help out before it flooded.
Tom was handy, so he shut off the mains and got to work. While he fixed the tap, Sarah was making teapasta and meatballs for her boys. As a thank you, she offered Tom a plate, and he gratefully accepted. Emma hardly ever had time these days to cook proper meals.
After that, Sarah often invited Tom over for supper when Emma and his daughter were outjust the two of them on the shared kitchen, tucking into homemade pies and chatting. One thing led to another, and before either of them realised, their friendship had grown into something impossible to ignorethey simply wanted to spend time together, quietly enjoying each others company.
Of course, in a bedsit, everyone sees everything; theres no privacy. It didnt take long for someone to let Emma know that Tom was spending his evenings at Sarahsand it certainly wasnt to borrow her books.
The row that followed shook the entire building. Emma, ever proud, packed Toms bags and sent him off.
With nowhere else to go at that hour, Tom ended up on Sarahs doorstepshe welcomed him in without hesitation.
Their daughter was six by then. Tom was 25, Emma was 32, and Sarah was nearly 39.
When Barbara heard Tom had finally left Emma, she was over the moonshed won! But when she found out whom hed gone tothe widow next door, fourteen years his senior and with two of her own kidsshe was uncharacteristically silent.
Frankly, I found Barbaras change of heart bizarre. Shed spent years tormenting Emma for being a mere seven years older than her son, and now, suddenly, there was calm acceptance. Maybe it was the shock of it all, or perhaps shed finally realised the error of her ways.
Tom and Emmas divorce is ancient history by nownearly fifteen years ago. All this time, Toms been with Sarah; they never had children together, but theyre as happy as can be. The age gaps never seemed to bother themthese days, hes 40 and Sarah is 54. Barbara welcomes them round with warmth, never a word of reproach. Their family is peaceful, content, and from where I stand, Tom looks truly happy.
What do you reckoncan a couple really be happy if the woman is older?
