Natalie Preston, hello. Its Emma, your future daughter-in-law. Id like to meet and talk. When and where would suit you?
Natalie Preston stiffened, especially at the wordsfuture daughter-in-law. What news was this? Adrian hadnt mentioned he intended to marry her.
“Good afternoon, Emma. Come to my home at six this evening. Ill be expecting you.”
She wondered what the girl wished to discuss. Was she expecting a child? Of course. Shed surely done it on purpose to trap Adrian into marriagea tale as old as time.
What could he be thinking? She wasnt his equal, not like Adrian. An architect with a brilliant future, his own flat in London, a fine motorcar, handsome and clevera catch any girl would envy. Yet hed chosen this slip of a thing.
Natalie adjusted the cushions, fetched biscuits from the shop, but unease gnawed at her.
Shed seen Emma a handful of times and taken an instant dislike to her. Adrian had brought her round to introduce her, then later just for tea. Each time, Natalie made her disapproval plain.
“Son, are there no other girls? Why her? Whats so special about her? Plain, slight, unremarkable. In my day, men fancied proper women! And shes no match for you.”
“Mum, I love her, and to me, shes perfect. And her cookingheavenly! Her beef stew is divine.”
That stung. Hed always praised her cooking, but now this girl made heavenly stews.
Emma arrived precisely at six, bearing cream puffsNatalies favourite. “Clever, buttering me up,” she thought.
“Natalie,” Emma began, “I wont mince words. Adrians proposed, and Ive accepted. Hes waiting for the right moment to tell you. Hes afraid youll disapprove.”
“Of course I do! Why on earth should I rejoice?”
“Id like to propose an agreement. Hear me out.”
“I know you raised Adrian alone. You married because of the child, but happiness didnt follow. Your husband left. My mother raised me alone toomy father died young. I know what its like.”
“You poured your soul into your son. Thank you. Hes kind, thoughtful, well-manneredyour doing. Youve every right to be proud.”
Natalie nodded. Quite right. Her efforts alone had made him the man he was.
Emma went on.
“You dream of him wedding some elegant, accomplished, wealthy girl. Then along comes me. Plain, ordinary, modest means. A poor match, in your eyes. Now youre at a loss. How to dissuade him?”
Natalie shrugged. Exactly so.
“Heres how it will go. Adrian wont listen. Hes determined. Youll argue. Youll refuse to attend the weddingwhy should you? Hes defied you.”
“Yes, thats how itll be.”
“Youll tell everyone what an ungrateful son he isafter all youve done! Some will pity you, others smirk. Meanwhile, well be happy. Youll sulk, ignore us. When our child comes, youll refuse to see your grandchild. You dont recognise our marriage, so why acknowledge the baby?”
“My mother will dote on her grandchildtell them stories, spoil them rotten. Shell be their favourite.
Youll sit alone in your flat, watching telly, nursing grievances. Holidays will be bleak. Resentment will fester. Your health will fail. Others will have visitorsyoull have only a neighbour or friend. Youll live out your days alone, never knowing your grandchild. No one will call you Gran. No birthday wishes. And thatll be your choice.”
“Oryou could reconsider. Accept your sons decision. If he loves me, there must be a reason.”
“Im not so terrible. At work, Im respected. My mother adores me. Ill be a good wife and mother. And I love Adrianhe loves me.”
“When he tells you of our engagement, praise him. Say you accept his choice. You may never warm to me, but civility will suffice.”
“Ive no great fondness for you either, but Im willing to try.”
“At the wedding, youll sit in pride of place. When our child comes, youll always be welcome. Two loving grandmotherswhat could be better?”
“Ill never speak ill of you, nor you of me. Weve one shared purposeAdrians happiness. So lets cooperate. Think it over. Ring me with your answer. Thank you for the tea. Goodbye.”
After Emma left, Natalie sank into her armchair by the window. The girl was right. That was exactly how it would unfold.
What did it matter if she disapproved? Adrian would marry her regardless. Shed seen how his eyes lit up when he looked at Emma. Even her own stew no longer pleased him.
What would she gain by fighting? Nothing. Just loneliness while another woman played grandmother. But she wanted that too. Unless
She picked up the telephone.
“Emma I agree to your terms. I wont spend my days sulking. I want to be part of my sons lifeand yours. And youll let me have the baby on weekends, yes? Andwhat exactly do you put in that stew of yours?”
Emma laughed.
“Yours is just as good, I promise. But Ill share the secretits the herbs. Im glad youve agreed. This is best for everyone. Adrian always said you were wise and loving.”
Three years later
“Adrian, love, look at little Thomashes the very image of you! What a darling boy. Im so glad to be his grandmother. And Emmathank you for that agreement. You were right.”
“What agreement? This is the first Ive heard of it!”
“Oh, just a little secret between Emma and me.”
Natalie exchanged a knowing glance with her daughter-in-law, who winked back.
