Family Secrets and the Path to Happiness
Martha Whitmore picked up a basket of ripe, fragrant strawberries from the market in the quaint village of Willowbrook and decided to drop by her son and daughter-in-law’s place. It was the weekend, so Oliver and Alice were bound to be home. The door to their flat in the old brick building was slightly ajar, so Martha let herself in without knocking. Just as she was about to call out, she heard Alice sobbing loudly on the phone in the living room. “What on earth’s happened to make her cry like this?” Martha frowned, stepping closer and holding her breath to listen. What she overheard left her stunned.
Martha had bought the strawberries on a whim, thinking Oliver and Alice might enjoy them. The door was open, so she walked right in, not bothering to ring. She was about to announce herself when she caught Alice’s tearful voice from the other room. Martha froze in the hallway, straining to hear.
“Emma, he barely even looks at me anymore,” Alice sniffled. “I bought a new dress, and all he did was grunt and walk off. He’s always silent, always in a mood. Comes home from work, buries himself in his phone, and that’s it—like I don’t even exist. And no, I don’t think he’s seeing someone else. But we used to talk about having kids, and now I’m scared to even bring it up. It’s like he’s fallen out of love but won’t say it. Emma, it’s over. I can’t live without Ollie—he’s the only one I’ve ever wanted!”
“Thanks for listening,” Alice went on, voice thick with tears. “I’ve got no one else to talk to. Mum’s wrapped up in her own life, and his mum would just take his side, so I keep it all in.”
Martha quickly realised the call was ending, so she cleared her throat and called out, “Hello? Anyone home?”
“Oh, hello, Mrs. Whitmore,” Alice said, hastily wiping her face as she stepped into view.
“Alice, love, I brought some fresh strawberries—thought you two might fancy them,” Martha smiled, holding out the basket.
“Thank you, I was actually just thinking of picking some up,” Alice replied. “Come in, would you like tea? I’ve got cakes.”
“Yes, please,” Martha nodded.
While Alice put the kettle on, Martha’s mind raced over what she’d heard. So, things weren’t as rosy as she’d thought.
“How’s Oliver?” she asked casually. “He hardly rings or visits. I didn’t want to intrude—figured you two were busy…”
“Honestly, he’s always at work,” Alice sighed. “Comes home, eats, watches telly, then straight to bed. We never go anywhere—it’s like we’re pensioners.”
Martha chuckled. She adored Alice’s honesty. They’d been married three years after dating for ages, and Martha couldn’t have asked for a better daughter-in-law—smart, kind, beautiful. She’d taken to Alice instantly, without any of that awkward rivalry some mothers-in-law had.
“Bit odd for a young man to be so dull,” Martha mused. “No kids yet—you should be out enjoying yourselves! Why coop yourselves up?”
“That’s what I keep saying,” Alice’s voice wavered. “I think… I think he’s fallen out of love with me.”
She burst into tears. Flustered, Martha reached out to comfort her.
“Alice, don’t be silly—of course he loves you! Maybe he’s stressed at work. Talk to him.”
“I’ve tried,” Alice sniffed. “He just says, ‘Everything’s fine, stop imagining things.’ But I want a baby, and for that, we’d actually have to… you know.”
“I don’t know how to help,” Martha admitted. “I can’t force him to listen, and I don’t want him blaming you for ‘tattling’ to me. But there must be a way…”
Suddenly, she brightened. “I’ve got an idea. We need to wake him up—make him realise what he’s losing.”
“How?” Alice wiped her eyes.
“My neighbour’s nephew, James, is visiting. Tall, handsome, works in theatre—women swoon over him. What if we make Oliver jealous? My friend’s husband was the same—completely indifferent until another man showed interest. Then he snapped right out of it. Let me talk to James—we’ll stage a little ‘chance encounter.’ I know I’m your mother-in-law, but I’m still a woman. I want you two happy.”
Alice looked at her, baffled.
“No, that’s… silly,” she shook her head. “Maybe it’ll sort itself out.”
“Your call,” Martha winked. “But if you change your mind, I’m game.”
“Thanks for caring,” Alice murmured. “Hopefully, it won’t come to that. Oh—Oliver’s home.”
“Mum, hey,” Oliver walked in. “Everything alright?”
“Hello, love,” Martha smiled. “Just brought some strawberries. Tea with Alice—how’s work?”
“Fine,” he mumbled. “Dad okay?”
“Gone fishing with his mate for the weekend,” Martha said. “Why don’t you two get out more? Gorgeous weather, and you’re stuck indoors.”
“Can’t be bothered,” Oliver shrugged. “Rather watch a film.”
Alice shot Martha a look—just as she’d said. Distant, moody. What was wrong with him? Such a wonderful girl, and he acted like…
Days later, Alice called Martha, voice trembling.
“Mrs. Whitmore, I’ll do it! It’s unbearable! I changed my hair, dyed it—everyone says it suits me, but Ollie hasn’t said a word! Maybe we *should* shake him up. Let’s see if he even cares. Talk to James. We’ll pretend he’s a client—I am a designer, after all. Let Oliver see us together—maybe jealousy will snap him out of it!”
“Brilliant!” Martha beamed. “Let’s try it—spice things up!”
That same day, Martha spoke to James, who laughed but agreed to help. She gave his number to Alice.
The next evening, Alice called Martha, sobbing.
“Why did I listen to you?! Ollie’s *left*! Your plan ruined everything!”
“Calm down—what happened?” Martha’s stomach dropped.
“He came home from work,” Alice choked out. “I got dressed up right in front of him—didn’t even ask where I was going. James rang, I said I’d meet him outside. *Then* Oliver finally asked where I was off to. I said a client meeting at a café. He just… went quiet. James pulled up, I got in his car—Oliver *had* to have seen from the window. James dropped me off, I sat alone for an hour, came back… and Ollie was *gone*. His car, some of his clothes—he won’t answer my calls! This was a *stupid* idea!”
“I’ll talk to him,” Martha vowed. “This is my fault—I’ll fix it.”
She was gutted. Why had she meddled? They’d have worked it out. Now Alice would resent her.
“Mum, you there?” Oliver’s voice startled her. He had a key and let himself in.
“Here, love. What’s happened?”
“I’m staying here for a bit,” he said flatly. “If that’s alright.”
“No, it’s not,” Martha said firmly. “Go home to your wife.”
“I can’t,” Oliver’s voice cracked. “I love her. Too much. That’s why I have to let her go. She deserves someone who can give her a child. Because I… Mum, I *can’t*. I got tested—there’s a problem.”
“Why didn’t you *tell* her?” Martha’s heart ached.
“I couldn’t,” he whispered. “She wants a baby so badly… Let her find a real man. Looks like she already has. That ‘client’? I saw him from the window. Handsome bloke. The way she looked at him… I got the message.”
“Oliver, listen,” Martha said gently. “*I* set that up. Alice was heartbroken over how distant you’d been. She thought you didn’t love her anymore. James is my neighbour’s nephew—he’d never met her before. There was no ‘meeting’—she sat alone. I messed up, but now I understand *why* you’ve been so cold.”
“Did you see another doctor?” Martha pressed. “First opinions aren’t always right.”
“God, Mum, why the *drama*?” Oliver exhaled. “But… thank you. I feel lighter. I’d invented all sorts in my head…”
“Go talk to Alice,” Martha insisted. “See a different doctor tomorrow. If there’s a chance, fight forOliver took a deep breath, wiped his eyes, and headed back home to finally tell Alice the truth.
