Staff for His Mum
Alex, I get it, but I didnt sign up to be your mother’s housemaid, Emily hissed as she dropped a tin of peas into the trolley, her irritation barely contained. Honestly, I just want to throw in the towel, jump in the car and head home. You promised me a quiet evening, just the three of us, and now were cooking for an entire battalion of relatives while your mum lounges about. Is that supposed to be normal?
Alex shrank, staring hard at the ingredients on the crab sticks as if studying them for an exam, guilt etched into his face. He looked like a naughty puppy caught stealing scraps from the kitchen.
Em, please keep it down, people are watching he mumbled, reaching for her elbow, but she pulled away sharply. Mum didnt quite expect so many guests, you know. Happens to everyone. Lets just grab everything on her list, head back and bang out these salads. Pleasefor me, and for the occasion.
“Didnt expect.” What a charming understatement.
Emily pressed her teeth together, fighting back anger. She knew perfectly well his mother had calculated everything down to the last detail.
It all began a week ago, with a phone call. Margaret Anderson rang to wish them Happy New Year, and then suddenly invited them round.
My loves, Margaret cooed, her sugar-sweet voice enough to give anyone diabetes. Why dont you come over for Christmas? I miss you so much! Just the three of us, reminiscing, catching up. Its so lonely here, just four walls and me.
Emily tensed immediately. Her instincts screamed trouble. Margarets “cozy family gatherings” always descended into interrogations about grandchildren.
The first time Margaret broached the subject, Emily and Alex werent even married.
Emily darling, have you thought about children yet? Margaret asked one evening when they were alone.
Emily fumbled.
Well, she began hesitantly, frantically searching for the right answer. I want kids, but not right now. Alex and I are only dating, after all.
Oh, Emily, dont let paperwork stop you! Its age that matters, love The clocks ticking, youre not getting any younger. And neither am I Ill die without ever meeting my grandchildren.
At first, Emily stumbled and brushed it off with jokes. Then she started snapping back. Eventually, almost without realising it, she began avoiding Margaret just to keep her sanity in tact.
So it was that she hardly knew her mother-in-law. Emily would have kept her distance, but Alex stepped intoo soft and loving to refuse his mum anything.
Em, please, just this once, he pleaded after another phone call, searching her face. Shes getting old. She is lonely, honestly. Just one visit, for my sake.
Alex, Im not stopping you. Go see her. You know I dont celebrate Christmas.
Dont think of it as Christmas, just a family dinner, he insisted. Mum genuinely wants to make things right. We are family after all
Emily resisted for ages, but finally agreed. She hoped a polite smile and tea with cake would be enough. She couldnt have been more wrong.
Everything went sideways the day before. Margaret demanded they arrive by eight oclock so they could “have more time together.” Emily was firmly against it: she wanted a lie-in on the weekend. She managed to negotiate a compromiseten oclock.
Bleary-eyed, they finally crossed the threshold into Margarets flat and nothing. No scent of roasting meat, no sizzling butter. The hostess herself greeted them in a stained dressing gown and curlers.
Well, finally! Decided to grace us, did you? came Margarets welcome. Its nearly half eleven! Guests are about to arrive, and nothings ready. Up early next time! Youll be helping me today.
Emily froze, still clutching her coat.
Guests? she asked, confused.
Oh yes Linda and Vic are popping in on their way from Liverpool, couldnt resist inviting them. Aunt Maureen from downstairs will drop by. My niece said shell come I cant just turn them away now, can I? Enough chit-chat, kitchennow! Were nearly out of time!
And then Emily realised the disaster in full. They werent guests. They were free labour.
What was supposed to be a holiday turned into a nightmare. Margaret swiftly transformed from hostess to drill sergeant, waving a tea towel like a baton and barking orders up and down the flat. She didnt so much as lift a finger in preparation. Worse, it turned out she hadnt even bought all the groceries: some things were missing, and others forgotten altogether. She thrust a shopping list at Alex and sent them both out to the shops.
Emily nearly bolted, but stayed for Alexs sake.
Back home, each returned to their stationEmily at the chopping board, Alex with the potato peeler. Instead of festive cheer, they were handed a chore listand worked in steamy sweat for five solid hours with no break.
By four, the guests began to arrive: well-dressed, fragrant, laughing. Emily and Alex, meanwhile, were soaked and sudsy. They barely crawled to the table in time. Faces flushed, clothes stained, teetering with exhaustion Celebration was the last thing on their minds.
Margaret, however, had managed to change into a decent dress and dabbed on lipstick. Now she sat at the head of the table, graciously receiving compliments.
Margaret, as usual Youre such a star! All this food! praised a woman Emily didnt know, piling up salad Emily had made.
One tries. All for you, Margaret replied, smiling modestly.
Later, Margaret found a moment to launch again into her favourite topicchildren. She raised a glass for a whole lecture about “clocks ticking.” If not for Alex pressing his knee against Emilys under the table, she might have upended the bowl of beetroot salad right then.
That was the last time, Emily said dryly to Alex as they drove home late that night. I will never set foot in your mothers house again. Visit her if you want, help her, work yourself to the bone, but alone. Ive had enough.
Alex didnt argue. He simply nodded quietly.
Three months passed. Emilys back no longer ached from that dreadful ordeal, but the bitterness lingered. So when Alex announced in early March that his mother was inviting them again, Emily clenched her jaw.
Mum wants us over for Mothers Day. She swears itll just be us threemaybe Aunt Jean for a quick hello, but just that, Alex said, then hurriedly added, seeing Emilys look, But Im not forcing you. Just letting you know.
Alex braced for a scene: shouting, accusations, ruined plans. But Emily just glanced at the window, thinking, then
Fine. Tell your mum well come.
Em Are you sure? You said
I remember what I said. But if I refuse, shell be ringing and guilting us every day like last time. I want to do something so she never invites us, never whines, never plays the pity card again. Just trust meif you dont want to be chained to that stove again.
Alex looked down, choosing not to ask.
Mothers Day, to Margarets visible disappointment, did not begin with frantic alarms and panic. Emily and Alex lounged in bed, watching silly sitcoms and eating ice cream straight from the tub. No preparations, makeup or shirt searching.
By noon, Margaret grew anxious and started calling.
Hello, Margaret? You wont believe it weve only just woken up, Emily faked remorse over the phone. Had friends round last night, overslept.
Emily, Ive been waiting for you, Margaret snapped. Hurry up, the roast goose is getting cold.
Were getting ready now! An hour, topswell be right there! Emily promised, hanging up and going back to the sitcom.
Alex eyed her anxiously, but said nothing. Better a warm bed than another marathon on his mum’s stove.
At one o’clock the phone rang again. Emily let it buzz before picking up.
Were just about to head out, Margaret! Calling a taxi nowshould be with you in no time, she chirped, still curled beneath the duvet.
Another hour passed, and the story changed.
Theres been a crash on the main road, total gridlock, Emily informed Margaret, muting the telly. Its dreadful, but hopefully itll clear up soon.
By half past three, Margarets patience snapped.
Where are you?! she barked, gone was the syrupy tone from the morning. How long does it take? Might as well have walked by now!
Emily distinctly heard voices and laughter in the background. She squinted.
Margaret, youre not alone, are you? she asked plainly.
Alone, not alone What does it matter? Margaret replied, irritated. Some relatives came by to say hello. Cant turn them away. Are you coming or not? I can barely stand anymore, Im worn out!
Oh, so Margaret once again expected them for unpaid help, only the plot had backfired and shed had to do the cooking herself.
You know were not coming, Emily said calmly.
What?!
I suddenly feel unwell. Mustve got motion sickness. Were heading home now.
Silence, then Margaret exploded.
How dare you?! Ungrateful little thing! Ive been slaving in the kitchen all morningwho did I do this for?! Who?! she raged. Youre doing this on purpose! If I have a stroke nowAlex! Give the phone to Alex!
Alex heard it all, but didnt move. He simply looked away. Emily, thoughtful, pressed “end call” and switched off her phone.
Exactly as expected, she told Alex. Another crowd, and we were meant to be their waitstaff. Let your mum handle her own guests. She made her bed, she can lie in it.
In the evening, Emily and Alex went to Emilys parents.
The difference was obvious from the moment they walked in. There was bustle, yesbut the mood was completely different. No one sat sour-faced waiting for servants. Emilys mum struggled to balance a giant salad bowl on the table, while even her dad sliced up sandwiches.
Ah, the younguns are here! her dad beamed as he saw daughter and son-in-law. Alex, fetch the folding chairs from the bedroomno seats ready for you yet.
Alex hopped off to help. Emily stood beside her mum, helping set the crockery.
They helped, yesbut willingly. Here, it didnt feel like exploitation, but just natural cooperation. Everyone pitched in, so everyone enjoyed themselves.
Seated at the table, Emily watched her smiling mum and Alex chatting brightly with her dad, and felt the tension slip away. Justice had been done, at last. Maybe harshly, maybe with scandal, but Margaret was unlikely to repeat her little trick again. The bridge between Emily and her mother-in-law was burned for good, but far better that than serving as staff at someone elses celebrationAs laughter filled the room, Emily glanced at Alex, who returned her gaze with a gentle, grateful smile. For the first time in months, she felt lightfree from obligation, from guilt, from someone elses expectations.
Her mum caught her eye and winked, sliding over a plate piled high with her favourite cheese scones.
You two look like youve had a hard day, she said warmly. Now eat, and forget all your troubles. Family is supposed to lift you up, not wear you out.
Emily smiled, letting herself be enveloped by the warmth surrounding her. She realised that sometimes the hardest boundaries brought the sweetest peace. Margarets kitchen nightmares were finished; she had drawn her line, and now she sat among people who truly cared about her happiness.
Later, as they stepped out into the dusky evening, Alex squeezed her hand.
Thank you, Em. For sticking up for us. For sticking up for yourself.
Emily looked up at him, her resolve softened by love.
We deserve better, she said simply. And now we know we can have it.
He nodded, content.
They walked home together beneath the starsno chores, no guilt, just the quiet certainty that, from now on, family meant choice, not duty. And that was a freedom Margaret would never take from them again.
