Gran, can I stay with you for a bit? Emily sniffled as she spoke. I just cant live with him anymore.
Of course you can, love, stay as long as you want, replied Margaret, giving her granddaughter a warm hug. Is he giving you grief again?
Emily let out a weary sigh. Yeah, he is. But Mum wont let me leave him. She doesnt want to fall out with his parents. I just cant take it anymore.
If Margaret was honest, shed never been too fond of her daughter-in-law, Alison. She was cold and calculatingalways valued her own interests and appearances above anyones feelings, least of all Emilys. It was Alisons cunning that pushed Emily into marrying David in the first placehis dad holds a prestigious government position.
Davids hitting you, isnt he? Margaret asked, her brow furrowing.
Emily burst into tears. He is.
Do your mum and dad know? Margaret sounded more tense now.
They do, Emily answered, sobbing.
They know and still wont let you leave him? Margaret was astounded.
Thats right. Emilys eyes were red-rimmed. They say Ill embarrass them in front of their friends if I go, and that its all my fault, that I should be more accommodating. But how am I supposed to please him when hes just nasty and cruel? I cant do it anymore, Gran.
If you cant, then dont, her gran said, soothing her hair. Stay here. Ill have a word with your mum and dad.
What do you mean, shes left her husband?! Alison shrieked when Margaret rang her. She needs to go backright now!
Dont shout, Margaret said sharply. Emilys not going anywhere.
Do you have any idea how much money we spent on that wedding? Alison went on furiously. He comes from a well-respected family and now shes humiliating us!
Youre the one making a spectacle of yourself, and we put up with you somehow, Margaret shot back. Ive had enough of this conversation. You heard me.
Margaret hung up before Alison could reply. In a fit of rage, Alison hurled her phone across the room and cussed out her mother-in-law at the top of her lungs. At once, Margaret picked up the phone again and rang her own son.
Did you know that little rat Davids been hitting Emily? she demanded.
Well Tom hesitated. Ive heard something, but who knows, maybe Emilys exaggerating.
Are you seriously saying that right now? she raised her voice, livid. Your daughters being hit by her husband and youre mumbling into your sleeve?
What am I supposed to do? Tom replied helplessly. Hes her husband.
Youre supposed to knock his block off! she yelled. So that he remembers for the rest of his life not to lay a finger on our girl! He needs to learn shes not on her own and someone will stand up for her.
Just stay out of it. Theyll sort themselves out, he said irritably.
Its clear what you lot care about, Margaret was fuming. Trading your daughters wellbeing for comfort and status.
Two days later, Alison marched into Margarets house trailing Tom and Emilys dad behind her.
Emilys got to go back to her husband right now! Alison declared, barely inside the front door.
She doesnt have to do anything of the sort! Margaret retorted swiftly. Shes your daughter, your flesh and blood, and this is how you treat her? Honestly, what sort of parents are you?
This is all your bad influence! Alison tried to turn the blame on her. Im not going to ruin our ties with Mr. Graham, not because shes being dramatic!
Why doesnt Mr. Graham teach his son not to hit women before you go worrying about your standing? Margaret fixed her gaze on David, who lowered his head.
Alison rushed to defend him, He didnt even hit her that hard. You know what they say, lovers quarrels and all that nonsense.
Tom, do you seriously agree with this? Margaret demanded of her son.
Let them sort it out themselves, Mum, Tom muttered, uncomfortable. Emily just takes everything to heart, she needs to lighten up.
Without warning, Margaret smacked him round the face and turned on Alison and David too. Thats my way of showing love, see? Just a little tiff. She looked at their shocked faces. Dont like it? Feel hard done by? Maybe youre just sensitive. Off you all go, and change your sensitive personalities.
She opened the door and ushered them out, adding, Go on, get out. And take this nasty boy with you. And you can tell his father to try raising him better. And you, Alisonif you love the Graham family that much, why not marry his son yourself?
Ill never step foot in this house again! Alison shouted as she stormed down the stairs.
I call that a blessing! Margaret shouted after her. Youve never been much cop as a daughter-in-law, and as a mum youre dreadful!
Once the door was firmly shut, Margaret rubbed her hands together and said to Emily, still timidly waiting in the bedroom, Ah, Emily, you have to stand up for yourself. Youll meet plenty more people like that in your life, and you need to learn to fight your corner. Sacrificing your happiness just to please others only ever causes you pain. No one will ever thank you for it.
Meanwhile, Alison was ranting to Tom, You need to get your crazy mother to keep out of our lives! What will people think? Marrying Emily into the Grahams opened every door for usand if she divorces him, its all finished! You understand?!
What more could you want? Tom asked, exhausted. Isnt it enough?
No! No! Alison shrieked. I want more money, status, standing! I want people to envy us!
Tom just sighed, his head ringing, wishing he could find somewhere to hide. Lately, Alison seemed completely unhinged. He wanted to yell at her to shut up, but all he said was, Calm down, Ill have a word with Mum.
Oh, youll have a word will you? Alison sneered. Pathetic!
Tom retreated to another room, desperate to avoid more rows, always finding it easier to agree than to argue.
The next day, Tom turned up at Margarets again.
Dont even ask, she said as soon as she saw him at the door.
Wasnt going to, he replied quietly.
Then what are you here for? she eyed him suspiciously.
Can I stay with you for a while? he asked.
She finally wore you down? she asked, genuinely sympathetic.
Im knackered from her constant nagging, Tom sighed. Shes completely lost it.
Suit yourself, Margaret said. But you need to learn to stand up for yourself and defend your own boundaries. All this time you shouldve put your foot down, but you just keep quiet and go along. No wonder she walks all over you.
Tom nodded, and Emily came to sit beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. She knew full well her mum had always bullied her dad, and he, quiet and well-mannered, never stood a chance against Alison.
Its a good thing Emily got out before it was too late, Margaret said, beaming lovingly at her granddaughter. Youre both responsible for your own lives and you both need to make your own decisions. Only you can shape the kind of lives you want. Understood, my dears?
Emily and Tom nodded dutifully and Margaret shook her head, adding, Ive still got a lot to teach you two.
That very day, Tom packed up his things and told Alison he was leaving. Her reaction was true to formscreaming, smashing dishes, throwing anything she could lay her hands on. With her, nothing outside her script fit.
David rang Emily every day, pleading at first, then demanding, then threatening. She stood her groundnothing would make her return to the life shed left behind. Especially now, when she was starting to see new possibilities for herself.
A week later, Mr. Graham himself turned up on Margarets doorstep in a fury. Have you all gone mad? One runs away from her husband, the next leaves his wife! Whats the matter with you lot? Get back to your families at once! And you, Margaret, stop humouring their nonsense!
Before Emily or Tom could reply, Margaret put her hands on her hips and fired back, Who are you to give me life advice? Go teach your own son how to behave!
Ive already spoken to him, Mr. Graham replied, rather less bombastic. He wont do it again.
You should have done that before, so he never even thought about it, Margaret countered.
Why cause all this fuss and ruin the girls life? Mr. Graham tried a reasonable tone. Our David loves herhell change. Dont drag our good names through the mud with a divorce. I could just as easily ruin your granddaughters reputationsay David left her cause she cant keep herself to herself, or doesnt keep house, or whatever else.
Dont try to scare me, Graham, Margaret replied calmly. Because I could tell everyone at the local social club how you used to wet yourself in primary school. What do you think would be the juicier story in the villageyour son being such a useless husband his wife left him, or a man in your position not making it to the loo as a lad?
Graham went very pale. You wouldnt.
Shed been his teacher back thenpeople would take her word for it, true or not. Prove it later all you want; the story would linger.
Well see, Margaret said gravely. Depends how you behave now.
He paused, clearly back to being a nervous little boy, but recovered quickly and said, Understood.
Good lad! Margaret cheered. A nice holiday in the Cotswolds for me and Emily then, lets say, to recover our spirits. And youll tell everyone Emilys away looking after her gran.
Graham considered her proposal. No matter how far hed gone in life, Margaret was still his first teacher. He was wise enough to realise there was no winning against herbetter to make peace.
Fine, you shall have your trip, Graham said, almost sheepish. Sorry about everything. Sorry about my useless sonnot much of a job I did, eh?
Well, theres always time to fix things, Margaret replied. Take it from me, Grahamlive with integrity, not just by what people say. If you do right by others, folk wont judge you.
Without another word, Graham nodded and left. He sent Margaret and Emily off on their countryside break, as promised. He never stopped respecting Margaret, despite everything. He thought the world of Emily too, and genuinely regretted his son hadnt known how to keep his marriage.
Emily and Davids divorce went through a year later. By then, both had moved on and were in new relationships, so it all happened quietly. Emily remarried and now lives happily with her husband and two kidsand shes brought her gran to live with them, just as her gran once took her in.
Tom never did divorce Alison, though to this day he keeps mainly to his mums.
