“Just bear with it, love! You’re part of another family now, and youve got to respect their ways. You didnt marry into this family to be treated like a guest.”
“What ways, Mum? Theyre all bonkers here! Especially my mother-in-lawshe hates me, its obvious!”
“Have you ever heard of a kind mother-in-law? Weve all been through it, and so will you. Just keep your head down.”
“Out all night again, is he? Bloody typical!” Margaret stood in the middle of the kitchen, her face red with fury. “If a man strays, its his wifes fault. Must I spell it out for you?”
Margaret was in a rage, shouting at her daughter-in-law, Emily, like a madwomanall because Emily had dared to suspect her husband, Thomas, of cheating.
Emily, a delicate young woman with wide, innocent eyes, pressed herself against the wall, trying to reason with the furious woman.
“Margaret, this isnt right. He has a family, children”
“Family? Your child barely lets us near him!” Margaret scoffed. “Thats your doing!”
“Hes only a year old, Margaret. Hes just a baby.”
“Baby? The Harrises grandson is younger, and hes already walking! Yours just screeches like a banshee.”
“Well, hes your grandson too,” Emily muttered, her voice trembling. “Maybe he senses youre not kind.”
“So were the villains now?” Margaret shrieked. “Who puts a roof over your head? Who feeds you? Ungrateful little”
Emily had stopped arguing long ago. Shed begged Thomas a thousand times to move out, but hea spoiled mummys boysaw no reason to.
Why would he? His parents handled everythinglaundry, cleaning, meals. Life was easy.
Meanwhile, Margaret made Emilys life miserable. At first, Emily had tried to win her overhelping around the house, listening to her endless complaints. But soon, she realised it was pointless.
No matter how kind Emily was, Margaret despised her.
“Brought home this useless girl like there werent any decent ones around,” Margaret gossiped to her neighbour, Agnes, while Emily gathered Thomass scattered toys nearby. “Had to go clear to another village for her! Waste of time. Our girls are betterhardworking, sharp.”
“Too right,” Agnes agreed. “At least the Harris boys got manners. Yours just screams. Must be the bloodline.”
When it became unbearable, Emily called her mother in the next town over, weeping.
“Bear with it, love,” her mother sighed. “Youre part of their family now.”
“Family? Theyre all mad! Especially Margaret!”
“When were mothers-in-law ever kind? We all endure it. Just dont let them see it hurts.”
Frustrated, Emily threatened to tell her father.
“Dont!” Her mother panicked. “You know hes on probation. One wrong move, and theyll lock him up again!”
Emily knew. Her father adored her. Hed gotten his suspended sentence after decking a bloke whod insulted her in the local shop. If he found out how she was treated, hed explode.
“Fine, I wont tell Dad,” Emily conceded. “But if this keeps up, I swear”
“Itll get better, love,” her mother soothed. “Youll see.”
But things only worsened. Margaret seemed to blame Emily for everything. Even her weary husband, George, snapped one morning.
“Why do you keep shouting at the girl? Shell leaveand rightly so!”
“Let her!” Margaret screeched. “Ill take her to court for every penny shes cost us! And Ill take the childshes raising him wrong!”
The rumours about Thomas and his ex, Lucy, were just village gossipspread by women like Margaret.
But Margarets big mouth was her undoing. Bragging about tormenting Emily, she told Agnes, who embellished the tale until it reached Emilys father.
William, a towering man with shoulders like an ox, didnt hesitate. Grabbing the axe hed just used to chop wood, he mounted his old motorbike and rode to the next townto fetch his daughter.
Meanwhile, chaos erupted at the house. Emily had left baby James for a moment to fetch a fresh nappy. When she returned, a small brown stain marred the bright yellow sofa.
To Margaret, it was a catastrophe.
“Ruined! My new sofa! Do you know how much this cost?”
“Ill clean it”
“Clean what? Its ruined! Youve never worked a day in your life!”
“Neither have you!” Emily shot backher first defiance.
“How dare you!” Margaret roared.
Then she froze. A shadow filled the doorway.
William stood there, the axe in his grip. Margaret paled. She knew his temper. Knew his record.
“William! I was just”
“I heard how you just,” he growled, stepping inside. He raised the axeshe flinchedbut he only slung it over his shoulder.
“Come on, Emily. Youve no business here.”
“Wait!” Margaret recovered. “What do I tell my son?”
“Let him come to me. For his wife. Well talk. Man to man.” His icy glare said enough.
William took Emily and James home. Thomas hesitated for days, fearing his father-in-law. But eventually, he went.
William spoke calmly, the axe on the table lending weight to his words.
Thomas promised theyd move out. That Margaret would never interfere again. That hed protect Emily and James.
When William gripped his hand, Thomas knew he meant every word.
From then on, Margaret avoided Emily and James. She didnt speak to them. Didnt even nod in passing.
Thomas and Emily lived apart, in peace. Whether from fear of William or true love, no one knew. But harmony, at last, was theirs.
