It was already evening when my son-in-law brought my mother-in-law home. He plonked two of her bags down in the hallway and hurried off to see Emily. When her mother appeared, Emilys disappointment was almost comical. So, now I have to take care of you for the rest of my life? Dont tell me you wont want to go back to your little village someday
Not too long ago, I heard a tale about an old friend of mine with an impressively sour attitude regarding her elderly mums fate. Good to know it all wrapped up nicely, and her mother-in-law was looked after by her son-in-law, who promptly enrolled her in a rather decent, rather expensive clinic. Emily, mind you, was blissfully unaware of all this until after her mum had been discharged.
Emilys husband had fetched her mum and said to his wife: Your mothers healthy now, Ive bought her everything she might need, but shell need a bit of supervision for a while. So shell be staying with us for a bit. You dont mind, do you?
Obviously, it would have made much more sense if Emily herself had been the one to ask her husband this question. It was, after all, her own mother. Instead of thanking her husband for caring for her mum, Emily put on a rather bizarre performance: Mum, I only just moved to London, Im finally sorting my life out, and now here you are! And you want to live with me, in this tiny house? So thats itis caring for you my life now? Surely youll want to go back to your little village eventually?
Her retiree mother was naturally unsettled by all this, but the most astounded person of all was Emilys husband.
At long last, his wife was showing her true self. He certainly didnt know this version of Emily when he proposed. The mother-in-law, flustered, began quietly packing her things to return to her village, while Emily, arms flailing dramatically, stormed out to her friends house. When she came creeping home late that night, she found her own suitcases neatly packed and a train ticket sticking out of her coat pocket. Utterly confused, she asked her husband:
So, Mum hasnt left yet? Or are you off somewhere?
No, Emily, thats your stuff and your ticket. Maybe we ought to try living separately. Ive wanted a child for a long time, but tonight I realised Im not quite ready for my children to have a mum like this. Have a think about what youre doing. Go spend some time in the country at your mums house; shell stay here with me for now. And if you come to your senses, youre welcome back, her husband calmly concluded. The thought that her husband might actually do something so drastic had never even crossed Emilys mind.
