**Family Secrets and the Path to Happiness**
Margaret Thompson bought a basket of ripe, fragrant strawberries from the market in the village of Oakley and decided to treat her son and daughter-in-law. It was a Sunday, so James and Emily would surely be home. The door to their flat in the old brick house was slightly ajar, and Margaret stepped inside without knocking. Just as she was about to call out, she heard Emily weeping bitterly in the bedroom, speaking on the phone. “What on earth has upset her so much?” Margaret wondered, concerned. She tiptoed closer, holding her breath, and listened. What she overheard made her gasp in shock.
Margaret had picked up the strawberries and thought she’d drop in on James and Emily. The door was unlocked, so she let herself in. She meant to announce herself, but then she heard Emily sobbing into the phone. Margaret froze in the hallway, straining to listen.
“Sarah, he barely even looks at me anymore,” Emily sniffled. “I bought a new dress, and all he did was grunt. He’s always silent, always unhappy about something. Every evening, he just buries himself in his phone and then goes to sleep. It’s like I’m not even there. He comes straight home after work—I don’t think there’s someone else. We used to talk about having a child, and now I’m afraid to even mention it. I think he’s fallen out of love with me but won’t say it. Sarah, it’s over. I can’t live without James—no one else will ever matter to me!”
“Thanks for listening,” Emily continued. “I’ve got no one else to confide in. Mum’s wrapped up in her own life, and his mother would just take his side, so I’ve been keeping quiet.”
Margaret realised the conversation was ending, so she cleared her throat and called out, “Anyone home?”
“Yes, hello, Mrs. Thompson,” Emily said, emerging while wiping her tears.
“Emily, I brought some fresh strawberries—thought you might like them,” Margaret smiled, holding out the basket.
“Thanks, I was just about to buy some,” Emily replied. “Come in, would you like tea? I’ve got some biscuits.”
“Please,” Margaret nodded.
While Emily put the kettle on, Margaret mulled over what she’d overheard. So, things weren’t as smooth as they seemed between her son and his wife.
“How have you been? How’s James?” she asked. “He hardly calls or visits. I didn’t want to intrude—you must be busy.”
“Oh, he’s always at work,” Emily sighed. “Comes home, eats, watches TV, and then straight to bed. We never go anywhere—it’s like we’re an old married couple already.”
Margaret chuckled. She liked Emily for her honesty and warmth. They’d been married three years after dating for some time. She couldn’t have asked for a better daughter-in-law—smart, kind, lovely. Margaret had taken to her straight away, never feeling that petty jealousy some mothers-in-law harbour.
“James is acting odd,” Margaret mused. “You’re both young, no children yet—why not go out, enjoy yourselves?”
“That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking,” Emily’s voice wavered. “I think he’s fallen out of love with me.”
She burst into tears. Margaret hesitated, then quickly comforted her.
“Emily, don’t be silly—of course he loves you! Maybe he’s stressed at work. Talk to him.”
“I have. He just says, ‘Everything’s fine, don’t overthink it,’” Emily sniffled. “But I want a baby, and that means… *trying*.”
“I don’t know how to help,” Margaret sighed. “I can’t force him to listen, and I don’t want him to blame you for confiding in me. We’ll have to think of another way…”
An idea struck her. “You know what might work? Spark a little jealousy.”
“How?” Emily wiped her tears. “I’ll do anything—I don’t want to lose him.”
“My neighbour’s nephew, Daniel, is visiting. Tall, handsome, works in theatre—women adore him. What if James saw you with him? A friend of mine tried it—her husband had gone cold, but when another man showed interest, he snapped out of it. I could arrange for Daniel to ‘bump into you.’ Just a little harmless theatre to wake James up. I know I’m your mother-in-law, but I’m a woman too—I want you both happy.”
Emily stared. “No, that’s ridiculous. Maybe things will sort themselves out…”
“Your call,” Margaret winked. “But if you change your mind, I’m in.”
“Thanks for caring,” Emily whispered. “I hope it won’t come to that. Oh—James is home.”
“Mum! What brings you here?” James walked in. “Everything alright?”
“Hello, love,” Margaret smiled. “Brought you strawberries. Emily and I were having tea. How’s work?”
“Eh, same as always,” James muttered. “Dad around?”
“Off fishing with his mate for the weekend,” Margaret said. “Why don’t you two go out? Lovely weather, and you’re cooped up inside.”
“Can’t be bothered,” James shrugged. “Rather stay in and watch a film.”
Emily shot Margaret a helpless look. Exactly as she’d said—James had become withdrawn. What was wrong with him? A wife like Emily, and he couldn’t even muster a smile.
A few days later, Emily called Margaret, her voice trembling.
“Mrs. Thompson, I’ll try your plan. I can’t take it anymore! I changed my hair—everyone says it suits me, but James didn’t even notice! Maybe he *needs* shaking up. Let’s see if I still matter to him. Talk to Daniel. We’ll pretend he’s a new client—I’ll say I’ve got a design project. If James sees us together, maybe he’ll realise what he’s losing.”
“Emily, brilliant!” Margaret beamed. “Let’s give it a go—might just rekindle things!”
That same day, Margaret spoke with her neighbour’s nephew. Daniel laughed but agreed to help. She passed his number to Emily.
The next evening, Emily called again, sobbing.
“Why did I listen to you?! James left! Your plan ruined everything!”
“Tell me what happened,” Margaret urged.
“James was home after work. I dressed up, did my makeup—he didn’t even ask where I was going. Daniel called, and I said I’d meet him downstairs. *Then* James finally asked what I was doing. I said a client wanted to discuss a project at a café. He just nodded. Daniel picked me up outside—I know James saw us from the window. Daniel dropped me off, I sat alone for an hour, then came home… James was gone. So was his car. Some of his things too. He won’t answer my calls… This was a terrible idea!”
“I’ll talk to him,” Margaret promised. “This is my fault—I’ll fix it.”
Margaret was distraught. Why had she meddled? They’d have worked it out. Now Emily would resent her.
“Mum? You there?” James’s voice echoed from the hall. He still had a key to his parents’ place.
“Here, love.”
“Mind if I stay over for a bit?”
“I do, James. Go home to your wife. *That’s* your home.”
“I can’t. I just… can’t.” His voice broke.
“Why not? Emily loves you. What’s wrong?”
“I love her too. So much,” James choked out. “That’s why I have to let her go. Let her find someone who can give her a child. I… Mum, I can’t have kids. The doctor confirmed it.”
“Why didn’t you tell Emily?” Margaret’s heart ached.
“I couldn’t. She wants a baby so badly… Better she finds a proper man. Seems she already has—that ‘client’ I saw from the window. Handsome bloke. The way she looked at him… I knew.”
“James, don’t be angry,” Margaret said gently. “*I* set that up. Emily was heartbroken over your distance. She thought you didn’t love her anymore. Daniel’s my neighbour’s nephew—he’d never met Emily before. There was no meeting; she sat alone. I shouldn’t have interfered. But now I understand *why* you’ve been like this.”
“Have you seen another doctor?” she pressed. “First opinions can be wrong.”
“Bloody hell, Mum—why the charade?” James exhaled. “Thanks for telling me. I’d imagined the worst.”
“Go home. Tell Emily the truth,” Margaret said firmly. “See another doctor tomorrow. If there’s hope, fight for it. You’re a team—face this together.”
“I know. But when I told my mate, he said Emily would leave me. I believed him… Thanks, Mum.That Christmas, as Margaret rocked her newborn granddaughter Lucy in her arms, she silently vowed never to meddle again—though she couldn’t help but smile at the thought that sometimes, even misguided plans could lead to the happiest endings.
