Emily and her mother-in-law sat huddled together on an old bed, wrapped in thick layers against the winter chill. The fireplace had only just been lit, and the house was still bitingly cold.
“Don’t worry, Mum,” Emily whispered, pressing a hand to the older womans shoulder. “Well be alright. We wont starve. Let me get your medicine.”
She tried to soothe herthough, in truth, this wasnt her real mother. Margaret was her mother-in-law, her husbands mother. Almost her *former* mother-in-law now.
Their lives had once been simpleMargaret, her son Daniel, and Emily, his wife.
Emily had married late, at thirty. She was Daniels second wife, but she hadnt stolen him from anyonehed been divorced long before they met.
Margaret had liked her instantly. And Emily had grown to love Margaret like her own motherwarm, kind, always ready with a hug or a word of comfort. Emily had lost her parents young, left alone in the world. In Margaret, shed found family.
“Thick as thieves,” Daniel used to grumble about them.
Five years of marriage passed in a bluruntil Daniel turned cold and bitter. He shouted at Emily, at his own mother. The reason? A mistress. He came home late, reeking of whisky.
Then, one day, he announced he was leaving her. Gave her two days to pack. Before Emily could even gather her things, the other woman arrivedsuitcase in hand.
Maybe shed timed it deliberately, wanting to gloat. But it backfired. She was a lanky blonde with pouty lips and cow-like lashes that fluttered dramatically.
Emily couldnt help itshe laughed.
“You left me for *this*? A walking doll with eyelashes like a Friesian? Well, good luck with her. I wont miss you.”
“At least shes fun,” Daniel sneered. “You and Mum are like a pair of old hens.”
“Fine, insult mebut why drag your mother into it?”
“Baby,” the blonde cooed in a shrill voice, batting those ridiculous lashes, “why do we even need *his* mum around? She can take her with her.”
“Thats right,” Daniel said coldly. “Time to go, Mum.”
“*Where*?” Margaret clutched her chest. “I gave you *everything*the money from my flat sale so you could build this house!”
“No dramatics. Fine, staybut keep to your room. Albinas the lady of the house now.”
“Kitten, just kick them *both* out.”
“*Shes my mother*!”
“Your *mother*?” The blonde gasped theatrically. “You expect me to live with *that* for a mother-in-law? *Ugh*!”
Emily had heard enough.
“Mum, youre coming with me. To the countryside.”
“Better there than with *him* and that”
“Just sit. Ill pack your things.”
“Dont forget my medicine. And my jewellery box. And my handbag.”
Emily hauled out another suitcase, shoving in clothes, documents, medicineanything theyd need.
“Take it all,” Albina sneered. “We dont want your rubbish.”
Daniel just watched, silent. He knew his mother would never forgive him. Or maybe she wouldshe *was* his mother, after all.
Within half an hour, Emily stood by the car. Margaret was already inside, wiping quiet tears. She didnt even glance back at her sonjust sighed heavily.
How do you accept it? Giving everything to someone, only to be thrown away.
“How will we manage, love?” Margaret whispered as they drove.
“Well be fine. Ive got savings. Enough until I find work. Youve got your pension. We wont starve.”
They arrived at the cottage where Emily had spent her childhood. Thank God it was still daylightthe place was freezing. Emily lit the fireplace, boiled water.
“Youre so good at this,” Margaret murmured. “Like you never left.”
“Grandad taught me. Lucky we brought foodno need for the village shop. I hate small-town gossip.”
Gradually, warmth seeped into the cottage.
“Ill scrub the place tomorrow.”
A knock at the door.
“Back at last, eh?” A grizzled man stood outside. “Saw your car. Why come in winter? Trouble?”
“Were fine, Uncle Colin. Ill explain later. Fancy some tea?”
“Came to invite *you*, actually. Ohyoure not alone?” He spotted Margaret.
“This is Margaret. Margaret, this is Colin.”
“Shout if you need anything.”
“Nothing yet. Thanks.”
A week passed. The cottage was clean, homely.
“You know,” Margaret said one evening, “Im a country girl too. Married a city man. He died when Daniel was twenty-three. I sold the flatDaniel promised Id always have a home with him. And look how *that* turned out.”
“Dont cry. Its hard, I know. But maybe youll have grandchildren one day.”
“From *her*? God forbid. What about Colin? Any family?”
“None. His wife drowned saving a neighbours child years ago. Never remarried. No kids. He and my grandad were close, despite the age gap. Hes about your age, actually.”
A month slipped by. No word from Daniel. Thena call from an unknown number.
“Emily?”
“Yes.”
“Your husbands dead.”
“Youve got the wrong person.”
“No. Daniel He was drunk. Crashed his car. The girl survivedthrown clear, not a scratch. Come identify the body.”
*God. Poor Margaret.* How to tell her?
“Uncle Colin!”
“Emily, loveyoure white as a sheet!”
“Sit down, Mum. Daniels gone.”
Margaret wailed. “*My fault*! I left him!”
“He threw *you* out!”
“Im his *mother*! Oh Godthis is my punishment!”
“Ill go to the morgue. Uncle Colin will stay with you.”
“Im coming too.”
“And me,” Colin said firmly. “Well take my car. No arguments.”
The funeral passed. Emily and Margaret returned to Daniels housenow rightfully theirs. Hed never filed for divorce. Too busy with his new love, his parties.
Colin came with them.
“Youre not going alone. God knows what youll find.”
The house was a wreck. Clothes strewn everywhere, plates crusted with old food. The stench of booze and rot hung in the air.
“My son lived like *this*?” Margaret whispered.
“Oi! This is *my* house now! Get out!” The blonde strutted out, followed by a half-dressed, shaggy-haired man.
“Show me the deeds!” Colin barked.
“What deeds? My husbands dead! We *celebrated* our wedding early!”
“He wasnt even divorced!”
“So? Its *mine* now!”
“Enough of this drunk nonsense! Out! Now!”
The man fled. Colin made sure the blonde took nothing.
“Well check the paperwork. Change the locks. God knows who else has keys.”
The documents were in order. Locks replaced. Most of Daniels things were thrown out. Colin stayed close.
“Ill miss having you nearby.”
“Well visit. You come too.”
“Youve made me feel young again. Margaret she reminds me of my late wife.”
Emily smirked. “Ive seen how you look at her. And she at you. Is it love, Uncle Colin?”
The old man flushed. “Dont talk daft.”
“Admit it!”
A year later, Colin and Margaret married. They were happywith Emily, like a daughter to them. But their family grew.
Emily became a mothernot by birth, but through fostering. A brother and sister she refused to split. Shed wanted one child. Fate gave her two.
Family isnt always blood. Sometimes, its found in the wreckage of broken promisesand built anew.
