When the key turned in the lock, Helens heart sank. She knew that sharp click of heels down the hallway better than the rhythm of her own pulse. Eight months pregnant, every movement was agony, and now she had to face the person she feared more than labour itself. The door swung open, and in swept a whirlwind of criticism in the form of Margaret Whitmore.
“What on earth!” her mother-in-law exclaimed instead of a greeting. “Why does my daughter-in-law look like shes at a funeral?”
Margarets arrival was the last thing Helen wanted. Shed planned to rest after lunchthe weight in her belly demanded constant pauses. Even simple chores had become endurance tests. Finally on maternity leave, shed hoped for some relief, but those plans shattered in an instant.
“Welcome, Margaret,” Helen murmured, stepping aside.
“Wheres my Jeremy?” Margarets eyes darted around, searching for her son.
“At work,” Helen replied quietly. “Providing for us and the baby.”
“Cant you manage on your own?” Margaret dropped her absurdly heavy suitcases and swept past, nearly knocking Helen over. “Youre a grown woman, soon to be a mothertime to act like one!”
Once inside, Margaret inspected every corner like a drill sergeant. Helen tensed.
“Did you come for something specific?” Helen asked carefully. “Did you forget something?”
Margaret turned, feigning surprise. “Im moving in.”
Helens legs nearly gave way.
“Buthow?” she stammered.
“That insufferable man I was renting fromIve had enough of his cheek,” Margaret snapped. “I wont tolerate disrespect. My flats in my late husbands name, and finding a new one is impossible. So Ill stay here.”
Helens dismay deepened. Their house was spacious, but did that give Margaret the right to invade?
She wanted to argue, but exhaustion won. Silently, she retreated to the bedroom to wait for Jeremy.
His return changed littlehe pitied his mother. Though Margaret was impossible, shed raised him, and he couldnt abandon her. Helen resigned herself, hoping for help with chores.
That hope died quickly. Within days, Margaret seized control of the household. Jeremy worked long hours, leaving Helen to adapt to her mother-in-laws demandsan impossible task.
Margaret criticised everything. Unwashed floors, crumbs on the table, a single unrinsed cupnothing escaped her scorn.
“Margaret,” Helen pleaded, exhaustion thick in her voice, “I cant bend easily. My back aches, my feet hurt”
“Oh, your back!” Margaret scoffed, arms crossed. “Women bear the weight of the world! Pregnancy doesnt excuse laziness! I raised a sonI know better!”
Helen bit her tongue. Stress wasnt good for the baby.
One weekday, with Jeremy still at work, they ran out of groceries.
“Fine, Ill go with you,” Margaret huffed when Helen asked for help. “Cant have you messing it up.”
“Thank you,” Helen said, though shed have preferred going alone. But in her state, even shopping was daunting.
The trip to the market passed without incident, aside from Margarets constant griping.
“Hurry up!” Margaret snapped as they left. “Take the bags and lets go. Enough dawdling.”
Helen blinked. “Take the bags”?
“Margaret,” she whispered, fear creeping in, “could you help? I shouldnt strain”
“Strain!” Margaret mocked. “Its barely anything! Manage on your own!”
Helen obeyed, but after a few steps, dizziness hit.
“Oh,” she gasped, wobbling. “I feel faint”
“What now?” Margaret didnt flinch as Helen swayed. “Cant even carry bags?”
Helens ears rang. A stranger rushed over.
“Miss! Are you alright? Should I call a doctor?”
“No, itll pass,” Helen murmured.
“Women these days,” Margaret muttered. “Useless.”
Luckily, Helen recovered quickly. Margaret, with a grudging sigh, took some bags. They made it home.
When Jeremy heard, he rushed back.
“My darling Helen,” he whispered, stroking her hand. “Why didnt you wait for me? Id have gone myself.”
“I thought I could manage,” Helen said. “You work so hardI wanted to help.”
“Why didnt you ask Mum?”
Helen closed her eyes. “I didnt want to say, but… Margaret made me carry the heavy bags.”
Jeremy froze. “Mum…?”
“And when I felt ill,” Helens voice cracked, “she just… dismissed me.”
Silence fell. Helen wept quietly.
“Ill handle it. Rest, love,” Jeremy said, marching to his mothers room.
The argument was loud but indistinct. Helen could only hope Margaret would back off.
Then the baby camea tiny daughter, cradled in Helens arms. Jeremy wept with joy, and Helens heart swelled. A new beginning, she thought.
But reality was harsh. Sleepless nights, endless crying. Helen was drained.
“And you call yourself a mother!” Margaret sneered, still relentless.
If anything, shed grown worse after Jeremys scolding. She nitpicked constantly but never lifted a finger to help.
One evening, as Helen finally ate after putting the baby down, Jeremy returnedsilent, grim. He shut the bedroom door. Helens stomach dropped.
He sat beside her, hollow-eyed.
“I lost my job,” he said flatly.
Helens shoulders sagged. They sat in heavy silence. Life was already hardthis was a crushing blow.
Then the baby wailed. Helen forced herself up.
“Ill figure something out,” Jeremy said.
“I know,” Helen whispered, kissing him before tending to their daughter.
The next day, they strategiseduntil Margaret barged in.
“Planning, are you?” she sneered. “Whys my son the only one working? Shouldnt you be earning too?”
Helen gaped. Jeremy looked stunned.
“What do you mean?” Helen asked weakly.
“Isnt it obvious?” Margaret crossed her arms. “Jeremy can take leaveyou go back to work.”
Helen couldnt believe it. A newborn in her arms, sleepless nights, endless careand Margaret called her lazy?
Her heart plummeted. She fought tears, bracing for another scolding.
But Jeremy snapped.
“Mum, how can you say that?” he snarled. “How can you treat Helen this way?”
Margarets brows shot up. She hadnt expected defiance.
“Jeremy?” she sputtered. “Youre defending her? Shes a burden! Earns nothing, does nothing!”
“Shes raising my child!” Jeremy shouted. “Shes exhausted! She cooks, cleans, cares for our daughterwhile you do nothing but torment her!”
He took a breath, steadying himself.
“Youre the one who doesnt help,” he said coldly. “You criticise, belittleour babys your own granddaughter! Do you even care?”
“Im thinking of you!” Margaret cried.
“Then stop making my wife miserable,” Jeremy said.
He straightened.
“Start looking for a flat. Youre not staying here forever.”
Margarets mouth fell open. Then she scowled.
“After all Ive done!” she shrieked. “Fine! Ill leave! Living here is unbearable!”
“Good. Were done,” Jeremy said.
For days, Margaret hunted for a place, still lashing out at Helen. But Jeremy shielded his wife, keeping Margaret at bay.
“I cant stand you!” Margaret finally declared. “Id rather move back with that wretched landlord!”
“No ones stopping you,” Jeremy said. “Leave. We want peace.”
“Ungrateful brat!” Margaret spat.
The next day, she packed and left. The house felt lighter. Jeremy found new work; Helen grew more confident with the baby. He helped whenever he could.
They never heard from Margaret again. Shed vanished, nursing her grudge. But Helen and Jeremy didnt mind.
Better no grandmother than one whod make their daughter suffer as Helen had.
