Mum, are you really thinking of giving the flat to my brothers son? And then you expect me to move in with you? I wont let that happen!
Dont even entertain the thought! Emily, are you losing your mind? Do you hear yourself? Hell evict you the moment you step through that door, can you not see that?
Emily, stop arguing with me! Ive made up my mind!
At first the mother, Eleanor Harper, tried to cling to her pride, to appear independent and sure of her own words. Then, tears slipped down her cheeks, because deep inside she realised she was being cruel to her own daughter.
The truth was that Matthew, Emilys younger brother, had always been the golden child. Eleanor had welcomed him into the family when she was already over thirty, while Emily had been left to fend for herself from a very young age.
Thats why Eleanor treated Emily the way she didfine, youll do. She raised her mostly on her own, having promised herself back then to finish university despite the odds.
Matthew, on the other hand, was the one shed planned for once shed remarried and finally tasted the comforts of motherhood.
Emily watched it all with growing disquiet. She could not understand why her mother was so openly favouring her brother. Most parents hide their preferences, yet Eleanor never concealed that Matthew was her favourite.
She even went so far as to wonder aloud why the siblings never seemed to have a warm relationship. It was odd, she thoughtperhaps there were reasons after all?
From childhood, Matthew had always received the best of everything. While Emily was expected to make do with what was left, never daring to complain.
Money always flowed to him in larger sums. Hes a man now, so thats how it should be, the house echoed. The fact that he was a few years younger than Emily meant nothing.
Remember, Matthewwhen youre grown, youll earn your own living and support your own family. Until then, Im obliged to help him.
Mum, what about me?
What about you? Your task is to find a good husband and hold onto him, she declared, spreading a teatin across the kitchen table.
Emily snapped back, refusing to be a dependant. I wont lean on a husband. I want to build myself, career and all.
What nonsense are you spouting, you hear? Have you any sense of honour? the mother snapped.
Whats so funny about that?
At least youre the first in our line to think like that.
Emily could not grasp her mothers logic and refused to follow it. Within weeks she moved into a rented flat of her own. The escape felt like a breath of fresh air; sharing a roof with her brother and mother had become unbearable, especially as the years piled on.
Five years slipped by. In that time Emily managed to secure a mortgage on a modest terraced house in Leeds and pay it off. Meanwhile, Matthew was still living with their mother, had married his sweetheart Alice, and was expecting their first child in a few months.
Eleanor, by nature, was the sort of woman who was content with what she had, and she clung to that stance for a long while.
Can you imagine, love? Our neighbour bought a dishwasher. Not by herself, of courseher kids gave it to her.
Thats nice.
Id love one too, but Im scared to splurge!
Why?
Because Matthews job is on the rocks. Theyll cut his hours and hell have to look for something else, while Alice is on maternity leave, surviving on a pitiful allowance.
Matthew also had a habit of hoarding his cash. He was perfectly happy to live off his mothers support, as if groceries appeared by magic in the fridge.
One afternoon, Emily ran into Matthew at the supermarket. He was loading up on crisps and a packet of chips for the upcoming football match.
Whats with the attitude?
Help Mum with money! Her pension isnt endless. Shes buying all the food on her own.
Matthew averted his gaze, looking elsewhere, knowing Emily was right.
Whats it to you? You dont even live with us.
I feel sorry for Mum!
Have some pity for yourself. You have no family, no husband. The only thing youre hurting is yourself!
He turned and walked away, leaving Emily standing, stunned. He had hit the exact nerve that hurt the most.
By the time Emily turned thirtyfive, she still hadnt married. Her former boyfriend, whom shed dated for years, had cheated on her, leaving her wary of new relationships.
Can I help you, miss? a shop assistant asked.
No, thank you, Im fine.
Emily knew she was doing the right thing. Matthew was no longer a teenager; he was a husband and a new father, and therefore should shoulder his responsibilities instead of leaning on his mothers purse strings.
Emily, how dare you speak to him like that? Eleanor began, her voice trembling with accusation.
Mum, I only said the truth and defended you.
Did I ask you to? Because thanks to you, Matthew started shouting at the whole flat. We have a newborn, do you understand?
Because of me? What does that even mean?
Emily didnt know how to answer her mothers barrage.
And you had no right to say that to him. You know how fragile he is.
It was strange how Eleanor constantly talked about Matthews feelings while never considering Emilys own, the daughter who had always loved her mother.
Even when Emily stepped in to defend her brother, she ended up bearing the blame.
About six months after that heated exchange, Emily stopped all contact with the family. Then, out of the blue, her mother called, begging her to return.
Nothing had changed in the flat. The dishwasher was still a dream.
Wheres Matthew and his wife?
Theyve been invited to a wedding. Im here with little Sam. Want some tea?
No, Mum, I dont want any. You seemed to want to talk to me about something?
Yes, Ive made a very important decision. I want to give the flat to Sam.
Emily at first thought her mother was joking, testing her reaction.
You mean you want to give the shared flat to my brothers son? Mum, are you out of your mind?
Emily, stop arguing! Ive decided!
Naturally, Emily tried to explain the disastrous consequences, but Eleanor stood firm.
So not only do you run the whole house, you now want to transfer the ownership?
Im just trying to help.
And whats Alice doing now?
Shes looking after the baby. You know thats harder than any job.
Did Alice tell you that? I see her posting on social media all the time.
You understand nothing, Emily! Its because you have no children of your own that you think you know everything.
Emily realised she shouldnt have come back. Six months of silence had changed nothing.
I see youve got a new car. Did you finance it? her mother asked, eyeing the sleek vehicle outside.
No, I bought it outright.
Still, you didnt help your brother. You heard hes been laid off and is scrambling for work.
Emily kept being puzzled by her mothers reasoning. Matthew, after all, was an adult and should once in his life take responsibility for his own family.
What are you implying?
Im not implying, Im saying it outright. I could have bought the child a new cot, but we were forced to use an old one. And I need that dishwasher, my hands ache from washing dishes.
Ill have to go, Mum.
Emily headed for the door, but Eleanors tirade continued.
Before leaving, Emily threw a final question at her mother.
Mum, if you rewrite the lease in their childs name, theyll kick you out. Where will you go then?
Eleanor, stubborn as ever, refused to listen.
Oh, Emily, youre so headstrong! Sam is my only grandson! Youll never have grandchildren, and youll never marry. Im not surprisedyour temper is terrible, you only think of yourself!
Those words crushed any remaining fire in Emily. She thought, let them buy their dishwasher; Ill sort out my own life. It hadnt been easy, but she would manage. Eleanor had made her choice long ago.
So it goeswhats sown is reaped. She forgot that old age was creeping up.
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