Emily and her mother-in-law, Margaret, sat huddled together on an old bed, bundled up in thick jumpers. Winter had set in, and the cottages fireplace had only just been lit.
“Dont worry, Mum,” Emily said softly. “Well be alright. We wont starve. Let me just get your medicine.”
She did her best to comfort the older woman, though Margaret wasnt even her real motherjust her mother-in-law, and barely that anymore.
It had all started when the three of them lived together: Margaret, her son Daniel, and his wife Emily.
Emily had married late, at thirty. She was Daniels second wifeshe hadnt broken up his first marriage; hed already been divorced when they met.
Margaret had taken to her straight away, and Emily had felt the same. She was kind, warmthe sort whod give you a hug and really listen. Emily had lost her parents young and had been alone for years. In Margaret, shed found family.
“Thick as thieves,” Daniel used to say about them.
Five years of marriage had passed in a blink. Then Daniel turned bitter, snapping at both of them, always late coming home, reeking of booze. The reason? Another woman.
One day, he announced he was leaving. Gave Emily two days to pack. Before she could even leave, his new girlfriend showed up with a suitcase.
Maybe shed timed it on purposewanted to gloat, to sneer. But she didnt get far. Tall, bleached blonde, with huge lips and cow-like lashes she could barely blink.
Emily actually laughed.
“You traded me for that? Well, good luck with her. I dont regret a thing.”
“At least shes fun,” Daniel shot back. “You and Mum are like two old hens.”
“Fine, insult me, but why drag her into it?”
“Babe, is his mum staying with us?” the woman whined, batting those ridiculous lashes. “She should take her. We dont need her, babe…”
“Mum, its time you left too,” Daniel said coldly.
“Where am I supposed to go?” Margaret clutched her chest. “I gave you every penny from selling my flat to build this house!”
“Spare me the drama. Fine, staybut dont leave your room. Albinas in charge now.”
“Kitty, just kick them both out.”
“Shes my mother!”
“Your mother? You expect me to live with her? Ugh, baby…”
Emily had heard enough.
“Mum, youll come with me to the countryside, wont you?”
“Better there than with him and that… creature.”
“Sit tight. Ill pack your things quick.”
“Dont forget my medicine. And my little box. And my handbag.”
Emily grabbed another suitcase, shoving in clothes, documents, the box, the pillseverything.
“Take it all. We dont want your rubbish,” Albina sneered. “Right, babe?”
Daniel just watched. He knew his mother would never forgive him. Or maybe she wouldmothers did that.
Half an hour later, Emily stood by the car. Margaret sat in the back, silently wiping tears. She didnt even glance at her sonjust sighed.
Hard to accept, giving everything and still being thrown away.
“How will we manage now, love?”
“Well be fine. Ive got savingsenough till I find work. Youve your pension. Well get by. Bread and butter, at least.”
They drove to the village where Emily had grown up. Thankfully, it was still daylight. The cottage was freezing, but Emily soon had the fire going, water boiled, tea ready.
“Youre so good at this. Like youve lived here forever.”
“Grandad taught me. Lucky we bought groceriesno need for the shop. Hate village gossip.”
Slowly, the cottage warmed.
“Ill give the place a proper clean tomorrow.”
A knock at the door.
“Back for a visit? Saw your car. What brings you here in winter? Trouble?”
“Alls well, Uncle Jack. Ill explain later. Fancy a cuppa?”
“Actually came to invite you. Youre not alone?” He spotted Margaret.
“This is Margaret. Margaret, this is Jack Wilson.”
“Give us a shout if you need anything.”
“Nothing yet. Ta.”
A week passed. The cottage was cosy now.
“You know, Emily, Im village-born too. Married a city man. He died when Daniel was twenty-three. I sold the flathe promised Id always have a home with him. Look how that turned out.”
“Dont cry. I know its hard. Im hurting too. Maybe youll have grandkids one day.”
“From her? God forbid. Jackwhos he got?”
“Lives alone. Wife drowned saving a neighbours kid years back. Never remarried. No children. Just putters about. Was pals with my grandad, even though hes younger. About your age, actually.”
A month laterstill no word from Daniel. Then, an unknown caller.
“Emily?”
“Speaking.”
“Your husbands dead.”
“Youve got the wrong person.”
“No mistake. Daniel… drunk driving. Crashed. The girl with him survivedflung clear, not a scratch. Come ID him.”
Oh God, poor Margaret. How to tell her? Uncle Jackhed help.
“Emily, youre white as a sheet!”
“Sit down, Mum. Daniels gone.”
“Oh” Margaret wailed. “Its my fault! I left him!”
“He threw you out!”
“Yes. But Im his mother. Oh… this is punishment.”
“Ill go ID him. Uncle Jackll stay with you.”
“Im coming too.”
“So am I,” Jack said firmly. “Well take my car. No arguing.”
After the funeral, Emily and Margaret went to Daniels housenow theirs. Hed never filed for divorcetoo busy partying.
Uncle Jack insisted on escorting them.
“Just in case you need backup.”
The place was a wreckdirty clothes, mouldy dishes, reeking of booze and rot.
“My son did this? He was never like this before! Whats she done to him?”
“What are you doing here? This is my houseget out!” The blonde stomped out, followed by a half-dressed bloke.
“Show us the deeds!” Jack barked.
“What deeds? My husbands dead! We even had a wedding!”
“He wasnt divorced!”
“We celebrated early, so its mine now!”
“Enough drunk nonsense! Out! Anyone else here?”
The man slunk off. Jack made sure the girl took nothing.
“Check the paperwork. Might be a will. And change the locksshe might have keys.”
The documents were in order. Locks replaced.
Most of Daniels things went to the tip. Jack stuck by them the whole time.
“Shame youre leaving. Grown fond of you two.”
“Well visit. You come see us too.”
“Feel twenty years younger. Margaret reminds me of my late wife.”
“Ive noticed how you look at her, Uncle Jack. And her at you. Blimeyyoure sweet on her, arent you?”
“Cheeky,” he muttered, flushing.
A year later, Jack and Margaret married. They were happywith Emily, like their own daughter. But the family grew.
Emily became a mothernot by birth, but fostering siblings. Shed wanted one child; fate gave her two.
Family isnt always blood. Sometimes, its made in the hardest moments.
