“Mum, you’ve had your fun at our cottage, now off you pop,” the daughter-in-law shooed her mother-in-law off the property.
Emily still couldnt believe it. Had they really just bought their own countryside retreat? Theyd dreamt of this for ten long years, but life kept throwing obstacles in their waymortgages, school fees for the kids, another economic downturn Now, after checking their savings, they decided: it was now or never.
Her husband, William, worked for an insurance firmnothing extraordinarywhile Emily was a paediatric physiotherapist. She earned decently, but a country home had always seemed out of reach. Then fate intervened: both her grandmother and Williams passed away around the same time, each leaving behind a flat in quiet market towns.
After lengthy discussions, the couple sold both properties, pooled the money, and finally made their dream come true.
The perfect plot came up quickly. Few people sell in winter, waiting instead for peak season, but William wouldnt hear of delaying.
“Next thing, well talk ourselves out of it,” he grumbled.
Emily agreed wholeheartedly. Everything had fallen into place!
The land was idealelectricity, gas, utilities already connected. All they needed was a modest summerhouse. Come spring, William took leave and, with his mate Nigel, set to work.
They laboured tirelessly, without breaks or weekends, and within a month, the young family celebrated their housewarming.
Sleeping arrangements were makeshiftair mattresses on the floor, blankets brought from the citybut the essentials were there: a stove, running water. The rest could wait.
“Heres to you, William!” Nigel raised a toast.
The men knocked back their drinks, loaded skewers of grilled meat with onion and ketchup, and dug in.
“Whod have thought itd happen so fast?” Emily marvelled. “At New Years, I never imagined having our own place, and nowhere we are!” She gestured proudly at the cottage.
Despite the fading light, they lingered outside, enjoying their impromptu barbecue.
“Hello, love, hows things?” came Margarets sugary voice over the phone.
If she was being this sweet, she wanted something.
“Mum, brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!” William chirped.
“Oh, I know. The grandkids told meyouve bought a cottage!”
“Thats right! Not just a cottagea proper country escape!”
“Oh, dont be silly,” Margaret laughed theatrically, her tone suddenly flat. “Well, good for you”
“How are you, Mum?” William asked belatedly.
“Oh, whats there to say at my age? The doctors say I need peace, quiet, no stress. Might help me recover But where to find such a place? Spas are so dear, I couldnt possibly afford”
“Mum, come stay with us!” William cut in.
“Oh, love, dont be ridiculous! As if youve nothing better to do! And Emily wont like it”
“Mum, stop. Just come.”
“Well if you insist. Ill bake my Victoria sponge, your favourite.”
When William broke the news to Emily, she was less than thrilled.
“So, we get a cottage, and suddenly the doctors prescribe her fresh air?” she said drily.
“Pretty much.”
“How convenient.”
“Shes got high blood pressure.”
“Will, wake up. Shes not coming for her healthshes coming to snoop!”
“Relax. Shell stay a week, then go home.”
“Forgotten what happened last time?”
William had. Emily hadnt. Margaret had done everything to sabotage their marriagespreading gossip, stirring arguments, implying her eldest son had “married beneath him.” Petty tricks toooversalting soup, swapping sugar for salt. Emily had finally sent her packing on the first train home.
She had no doubt Margaret would stir trouble again. But badmouthing her to William felt wrong. Maybe this time would be different?
“Oh, its simply lovely here! A proper little paradise! The air, the trees, this adorable cottage” Margaret gushed. “Emily, you clever thing! Hold onto her, Willa wife like this is rare!”
“New approach, Margaret? Whats brought this on?” Emily arched a brow.
“Youve always been my favourite. My sons a numpty, but youre golden. Weve had our bumps, but let bygones be bygones.”
“So Im the numpty?” William laughed.
“Yes, but my numpty,” Margaret smiled. “Now, whats for dinner?”
“Barbecue every night here!” Emily grinned. “Hope thats alright? Were still in our grilling phase.”
“Lovely! Last time I had proper barbecue was in BrightonWill was still in school. Can you imagine?”
“Right, Willfire up the grill. Ill fetch the meat.”
“Mind if I join? Fancy another look at the house.”
“Of course!”
This time, Margaret seemed differentwarm, joking, especially kind to Emily. Maybe time had softened her. Or perhaps shed realised meddling wasnt worth it? Theyd been together years, raised kids, and now had this place. And Emily was a good wifepractical, loyal, a great cook.
While Will and his mum fetched plates, a phone buzzed, screen-up. Emilys eyes caught a message she couldnt unsee.
*When are you back in town? Have you told her about us? Waiting to hear. Kisses.*
Her hands trembled; the phone dropped into the grass.
*How do I tell the kids? Split the house? Who is she? How could Will do this?*
“Plates are here!” William set them down.
“I need a minute.” Emily couldnt face him. She rushed inside, splashing cold water on her face.
“Whats wrong?” Margaret barely dodged as a ketchup bottle toppled.
Emily scrubbed at her cheeks, tears mixing with water. Finally, she gripped the sink.
“Wills having an affair.”
“Oh, love, come here.” Margaret hugged her, unsurprised.
“You knew?”
“I hoped hed come to his senses. Youve been together since uni, kids, this place Like I saidnumpty.”
Emily sobbed. If hed told his mother, it was serious. Their marriage was over.
“Listen. Dry your eyes. You dont want a scene, do you?”
Emily shook her head, dabbing her face.
“Well figure it out. No way were handing him to some floozy.”
The words steadied her.
Next morning, William left for town”to fetch warmer clothes,” he said, citing a cold snap.
Emily knew the real reason. Playing along, she kept quiet.
Once his car vanished, Margaret sat beside her on the porch and laid out a plan.
“You need a man.”
“What?!”
“Not seriously. Just enough to make Will jealous. Sometimes men get complacent, take wives for granted. But if he sees youre desirable, he might snap out of it.”
Absurd as it sounded, there was logic.
“Who, then?”
“Nigel? Hes single. Helped build this place.”
“Call him. Barbecue, drinks, a short dress. Let Will come home to find his spot taken!” Margaret smirked.
To Emilys shock, Nigel agreed, though theyd barely spoken before. Arriving, he asked:
“Wheres Will?”
“Back tonight. Im hopeless at grillingneed a mans touch,” Emily demurred.
Margaret watched from the window.
“More wine?” Nigel reached for the bottle.
“Go easyIm a lightweight,” Emily flirted.
“Youre stunning, Em,” Nigel passed her fruit. “Wish I had someone like you. Dont tell Willjust thinking aloud.”
Emily flushed. What if he got handsy? Will would be back soonnot that she cared anymore.
Her thoughts swirled. She took another sipthen tires screeched.
Will slammed the brakes, nearly hitting the fence.
“What the hells going on?!” he roared.
“Back early?” Emily feigned surprise.
“Mum calledsaid some bloke was all over you the second I left! And its bloody Nigel?!”
“And whats it to you? Go fuss over your mistress. Ill be single soon.”
“What mistress?”
“The one you raced to town for! I saw the text!”
“I saw it toothought it was a wrong number. Theres no one!”
Emily glanced at the window. Margaret yanked the curtains shut.
“Mum! Get out here!”
“Oh, it was just a joke!” Margaret cackled, dabbing her eyes. “Your faces!”
“Breaking up a marriagea joke?!” Emily hissed.
“Ill go. Sort this out later,” Nigel muttered, but no one listened.
“You set this up? The message?”
“Course. Ive
