Family Secrets and the Road to Happiness
Margaret Whitmore had bought a basket of ripe, fragrant strawberries at the market in the sleepy village of Mapleford and decided to treat her son and daughter-in-law. It was a Sunday—surely Daniel and Emily would be home. The door to their flat in the old brick house was slightly ajar, so Margaret stepped inside without knocking. Just as she was about to call out, she heard Emily sobbing bitterly on the phone in the other room. *Goodness, what’s happened to make poor Em cry like this?* Margaret tiptoed closer, holding her breath, and what she overheard left her utterly stunned.
Margaret had just fancied some juicy strawberries from the market and thought she’d drop by Daniel and Emily’s place. Sunday—they must be in. The door wasn’t fully shut, so she slipped inside without ringing.
She opened her mouth to announce herself—then froze. Emily was in tears on the phone. Margaret hovered in the hallway, listening.
“Sophie, he hardly even looks at me anymore,” Emily sniffled. “I bought a new dress, and all he did was grunt and walk off. He’s always silent, always sulking. Comes home, scrolls through his phone, then goes to bed. It’s like I don’t even exist. He never goes out—I don’t think there’s someone else. We used to talk about having a baby, but now I’m scared to even mention it. I think he’s fallen out of love with me but won’t say it. Sophie, it’s over. I can’t live without Danny—I don’t want anyone but him!”
“Thanks for listening,” Emily went on. “There’s no one else to talk to. Mum’s wrapped up in her own life, and my mother-in-law would just take his side. So I keep quiet.”
Margaret waited a beat, then called out cheerfully, “Anyone home?”
“Yes, hello, Margaret!” Emily emerged, hastily wiping her eyes.
“Em, love, I’ve brought fresh strawberries. Thought you might fancy some,” Margaret said, holding out the basket.
“Oh, thank you! I was just about to buy some,” Emily replied. “Come in—fancy a cuppa? I’ve got biscuits.”
“That’d be lovely, thanks.”
As Emily put the kettle on, Margaret mulled over the conversation. So, things weren’t all sunshine in her son’s marriage.
“How’s Danny?” she asked. “He never calls, never visits. I don’t pry—you must be busy…”
“Oh, he’s always working,” Emily sighed. “Comes home, eats, watches telly, then sleeps. We never go out—it’s like we’re pensioners.”
Margaret chuckled. She adored Emily for her honesty. They’d been married three years after dating for ages. Couldn’t ask for a better daughter-in-law—clever, beautiful. Margaret had taken to her instantly, no silly jealousy there.
“Odd behaviour for Danny,” Margaret mused. “You’re young! No kids yet—you should be out enjoying yourselves!”
“That’s what I keep saying!” Emily’s voice wobbled. “Maybe he doesn’t love me anymore.”
She burst into tears. Flustered, Margaret leaned in.
“Em, don’t be daft! Course he loves you. Maybe work’s got him down. Talk to him.”
“I’ve tried! He just says, ‘It’s fine, stop imagining things,’” Emily hiccuped. “And I want a baby, but for that, you need to… well, *try*.”
“I don’t know how to help,” Margaret sighed. “Can’t force him to listen—wouldn’t want him thinking you’re complaining to me. We’ll think of something…”
Then her eyes lit up. “Listen—there’s one way to shake him up. Make him jealous.”
“How?” Emily dabbed her eyes. “I’ll try anything.”
“My neighbour’s nephew, Oliver—tall, handsome, works in theatre. Girls fawn over him. What if Danny sees you with him? My friend’s husband went cold—until she got a lift home from a colleague. That woke him right up! I’ll talk to Oliver—we’ll stage a little drama. Just because I’m his mum doesn’t mean I don’t want you both happy!”
Emily blinked. “No, that’s… silly.”
“Up to you,” Margaret winked. “Just an idea!”
“Thanks for caring,” Emily murmured. “Maybe things’ll fix themselves. Oh—Danny’s home.”
“Mum! What brings you here?” Daniel strode in. “Everything all right?”
“Just brought strawberries, darling. Em and I were having tea. How’s work?”
“Fine,” he mumbled. “Dad?”
“Off fishing with his mate for the weekend,” Margaret said. “Why don’t you two go out? Weather’s lovely!”
“Can’t be bothered,” Daniel shrugged. “Rather watch a film.”
Emily shot Margaret a look—*See?* What was wrong with him? Such a wonderful girl, and he acted like she was wallpaper.
Days later, Emily called, her voice shaking.
“Margaret, I’ll do it—your plan! It’s unbearable! I changed my hair—everyone says it suits me, but Danny didn’t even notice! If this doesn’t wake him up… Oliver’s in, right? We’ll say he’s a client—I’m a designer, after all. Let Danny see us together. Maybe he’ll care then!”
“Brilliant!” Margaret cheered. “Let’s give romance a nudge!”
She popped next door and enlisted Oliver, who found the scheme hilarious but agreed. Margaret passed his number to Emily.
The next evening, Emily rang in tears.
“Why did I listen to you?! Danny’s left! Your plan ruined everything!”
“What happened?” Margaret gasped.
“He was home,” Emily sobbed. “I put on a dress, did my makeup. Didn’t even ask where I was going. Then Oliver called, and I said I’d meet him outside. Danny finally asked where. I said, ‘Client meeting at the café.’ He just nodded. Oliver pulled up, I got in his car—pretty sure Danny watched from the window. Oliver dropped me off, I sat alone for an hour, came home… and Danny’s gone! So are his things! He won’t answer his phone! Stupid, stupid idea!”
“I’ll talk to him,” Margaret vowed. “My fault—I’ll fix it.”
She was mortified. Why had she meddled? They’d have sorted it themselves. Now Emily would resent her.
“Mum, you in?” Daniel’s voice echoed—he still had a key.
“In, love. What’s wrong?”
“Can I stay here a bit?”
“No, Daniel. Go home to your wife.”
“I can’t,” he whispered. “I love her. That’s why I’m letting her go. Let her be happy with someone who can give her a child. I… I can’t. Saw a doctor. There’s a problem.”
“Why didn’t you tell Em?” Margaret’s heart ached.
“Couldn’t. She wants a baby so badly… Let her find a proper bloke. Think she already has—saw him pick her up. Handsome devil. The way she looked at him… I knew.”
“Daniel, listen,” Margaret said gently. “I found that ‘handsome devil.’ Em was heartbroken over how distant you’d been. She thought you didn’t love her anymore. She adores you—no one else! I suggested making you jealous. Oliver’s my neighbour’s nephew. Never met Em before. There was no ‘meeting’—she sat alone. I messed up. But now I know why you’ve been so withdrawn.”
“Did you see another doctor?” she pressed. “First opinions can be wrong.”
“Christ, Mum, why the charade?” Daniel exhaled. “Glad you told me. I’d imagined the worst…”
“Go home. Tell Em everything. See another doctor tomorrow. If there *is* a chance, fight for it. You’re a team.”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “My mate said Em would leave me if she knew. I believed him…”
Margaret hugged him. Grown man, still her little boy.
Next day, her husband returned from fishing. She told him everything, earning a scolding.
“Why’d you interfere?” he groaned. “They’d have sorted it!”
“It’s fine now,” Margaret smiled. “Em called—she’s grateful, bizarrely. They saw a specialist. There’s hope.”
“Thank God,” he grunted. “But keep your schemes to yourself.”
That summer, Daniel and Emily holidayed by the seaside. They returned with news.
“You’re going to be grandparents!”
“Darling, we’re overjoyed!” Margaret wept.
In time, Emily gave birth to a girl, Charlotte.
They laughed about the “jealousy plot” now. Margaret was just glad they were happy—that’sAnd as little Charlotte giggled in her grandmother’s arms, Margaret couldn’t help but think—sometimes the best family secrets are the ones that turn into happy endings.
