– Mum, this is Emily, my fiancée Arthur announced as soon as he crossed the threshold, wrapping a protective arm around the waist of the blushing young woman. We handed in our notice of marriage today at the registry office.
– Oh, congratulations Ruth managed, wiping her hands on a tea towel as shed just finished preparing supper. Come in, dont just hover in the doorway.
Ruth was startled. Arthur was her pride, the centre of her world A good lad, well-mannered and obliging, and now this! Hed simply dropped the news of his engagement on her without warning.
She felt awfully hurt to be the last to know something so important. Did he see her as some sort of ogre, incapable of understanding her sons yearning for a family? If anything, she would have been glad for him, would have helped organise the wedding
– Sorry, Mum, I shouldve said sooner Arthur said awkwardly, giving his mother a hug. Everything happened so fast I fell for her, head over heels! From the moment I saw her, and forever.
– Youre still just a boy, really twenty-five, is that any age? Ruth smiled, pushing her disappointment down. Lets talk about the future. Where do you plan to live?
– Here, with you for now, if you dont mind Arthur breathed out in relief, reassured that his mother wasnt angry. Well get our own place eventually.
– Why would I mind? Ruth sounded genuinely surprised by the question. This flats big enough for all of us.
Emily, still politely standing by the door, gave a pleased smile before quickly correcting her expression. Her main task right now was to make a good impression on Arthurs mother thered be plenty of time to be herself after the wedding.
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The wedding was a splendid affair. Ruth went all out for her dear son, even using up her precious savings. She paid for a proper honeymoon to Cornwall on top of everything the newlyweds deserved a proper break. And soon thered be no time for such things, since Emily had just announced she was expecting.
Ruth wasnt exactly disapproving of Arthurs choice but something about Emily seemed off. She agreed with everything, always smiled sweetly it made Ruth uneasy.
Ruths sister, Margaret, only laughed when she heard these concerns.
– Count your blessings, love, she said. Just you wait. Shell change soon enough, once she feels at home. Suddenly, Margarets tone turned serious. Keep your eye on her, if you dont have peace in your soul. Nobody knows, she might play the angel for Arthur, but might be a right devil underneath.
Margarets words turned out to be spot-on. After getting that coveted stamp in her passport, Emily transformed completely. Taking advantage of the fact that Arthur was out working all hours, she started making Ruths life a misery.
She even had the nerve to say, quite directly, that outsiders were unwelcome in their home. Ruth nearly missed the chair the first time she heard that her, an outsider! That very night she went to Arthur, asking him to talk some sense into his wife.
– Mum, you must have misunderstood her Arthur dismissed, refusing to believe his beloved could say anything like that. Shes good, kind honestly, shes wonderful!
Hearing her husband take her side, Emily only smirked, satisfied that her plan was working.
A couple of days later, Emily greeted Arthur home in floods of tears. She claimed she was frightened to stay alone in the flat with Ruth his mother had tried to kill her.
– You know I have that dreadful honey allergy she sobbed. I couldnt sleep, so I thought Id help your mum with breakfast. As I went to the kitchen, there she was, pouring honey into the pancake batter! Im scared, Arthur!
Arthur snapped. He stormed into the kitchen to confront his mother, shouting that he wasnt a child anymore and that hed make his own choices, that he wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt the people he loved.
Ruth stared at him in shock. She hadnt a clue what shed done to deserve this outburst. She tried to ask questions but was met with even more aggression. Her chest ached, she pulled out her medicine with trembling hands, but Arthur seemed blind to her distress and kept shouting.
Ruth couldnt take it. She grabbed her coat and went straight to her sister. She couldnt figure out where shed gone wrong, why her boy had turned on her like this The pain and injustice felt unbearable.
She barely made it to the entrance to Margarets flats before she collapsed, her strength gone.
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Itd been two weeks since Ruths funeral. Arthur wandered about in a daze, blaming himself for everything. Emily did her best to comfort him, handing him glasses of water.
– Darling, I know youre hurting, but youve got to think of the living now she said, stroking her well-rounded belly. It hurts me to see you like this.
Arthur stayed silent which drove Emily up the wall. Her plan had worked, though she hadnt wanted it to go this far. Shed only hoped Ruth would agree to swap the flat, and that would be the end of it. But, to be honest, this suited her even better.
Suddenly, someone came in. Margaret entered, using her own set of keys.
– How dare you waltz in here as if you own the place? Emily snapped, glaring at the unexpected visitor.
– Thats because I do own it Margaret replied, amused. Didnt you know? This flat belongs to me.
The glass slipped from Emilys hand. All this time spent scheming for the flat, wasted?
– Arthur, whats going on? she screeched.
– Its exactly as she said Arthur answered dully. Mum was saving up to buy this place from Aunt Margaret
– And she spent it all on your wedding! Margaret finished. I had planned to sign it over to your baby, but Ive changed my mind. Youve got three days to get out, or Ill call the police.
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P.S.
Arthur stayed on in his aunts flat. Alone. Emily packed her things the very same evening and, declaring the baby wasnt even his, walked out.
Looking back, I realise the most expensive thing I ever bought was peace of mind and I should have valued the people who truly cared for me before it was too late.
