“Softly laid—roughly slept”
“Well, this time, I hope you’re not just visiting for three days? Come stay longer with us?” Emily! Why aren’t you speaking?
“Happy birthday once more, Margaret! Take care, stay healthy! Dave and I will call soon as things are sorted.”
Emily quickly hung up, shivering at the thought of the call.
*Ugh, how do people even endure this?* She thought, setting down the phone. *The conversation seemed warm, her mother-in-law seemed cheerful today, and the reason was her milestone birthday—but from the first to the last moment, I only wanted the call to end.*
Emily dreaded visiting her in-laws for the summer break, which had finally coincided with her husband’s time off. She genuinely believed there were countless better places for her, Dave, and the kids to spend time than Margaret’s countryside cottage. She’d tried hinting to Dave that perhaps, just this year, they could choose an alternative destination instead of Margaret’s home, but Dave wouldn’t budge. He’d been brought up to revere elders. To skip visiting parents out of respect was unthinkable—ruled out, even.
* * *
“Liv, I see my parents once a year, at most. Do you really want us to stop visiting their cottage during holidays? The kids might forget their grandparents even exist!”
“Love, maybe you could phrase it more gently? But have you ever felt these visits are only about you?”
“What do you mean?” Dave frowned, confused by his wife.
“That your parents have grown content living apart from us, far from your heritage, and it’s fine. They’re not suffering for missing out on time with the kids. They’re perfectly happy.”
“Liv, what made you say this all of a sudden?”
“Because, come on, all your mother ever asks for in our correspondence is photos of the older boys or a video of the baby, and that’s it. Does she ever ask how the kids are doing? How they’re learning? Whether they’re ill? Your parents see the grandchildren only as a way to show off their portrait to friends or a neighbor. A cute, flawless image—nothing more. What’s beneath that? None of it concerns her. She’s not interested in our struggles, our problems.”
“I disagree, Liv. We live far apart. They simply lack the chance to spend time with Thomas, take him to school, or pick up the boys from their lessons. If we lived nearby, things would be different.”
“You know what, Dave? My mom lives in another city too, but she’s always there for us. She’s like Chip and Dale—always eager to help. Just think: how often did she take time off or fly here for any work-free spell when we asked? From your parents, I’ve never seen similar urgency.”
“Fair, Liv. I’ll admit, Margaret’s a goldmine. I’m grateful to her. I’ve told her that often. She’s always been our go-to.”
“And when we visit her, she always makes time for the boys. Cycles with them, swims in the lake, plays hide-and-seek, chases, football. She adores them, and they adore her. That’s how a family should be—warm, caring, full of love.”
“Liv, what are you even asking me? People are different. Your mom’s a go-getter. She’s youthful, vibrant, a real goer. My parents are older, different temperaments. You can’t expect me to stop visiting them, can you?”
Emily clamped her lips, holding back her latest thought. This time, she wouldn’t.
“I feel unwell there. The children do too. It’s awkward, uncomfortable. I don’t even know how to describe it.”
“How come? They have a lovely cottage, separate rooms for us, everything clean and convenient. What more could we want for a vacation?”
“Dave, there’s a saying: *‘Softly laid, roughly slept.’* It fits perfectly when I’m staying with her.”
“Unexpected, to say the least. You never mentioned this before. You always seemed happy. Visiting my parents’ cottage felt like the ideal family break to me. My parents get to see their grandkids, and you get quality time. What’s wrong, Liv?”
“Everything. The moment we arrive with the whole family, their peaceful world My parents built collapses.”
“You’re imagining things, Liv. You’re just being paranoid as time passes.”
“Dave, while you’re busy helping around the cottage, assisting my parents, you barely spend time with me or the children. I can always hear and see what’s really happening there. All the biting remarks, the cold looks. You think I don’t care? We’ve been married ten years, yet it feels like Margaret still can’t accept me as your wife. Maybe she’s not even happy that you’ve got a family now.”
“What’re you talking about, Liv!” Dave had long been tense, eager to end this conversation.
“Here’s the deal: we’ll visit them this time, but you’ll pay more attention to what’s really happening there. Then, maybe, the miscommunication will stop. You won’t keep resenting me or thinking I’m being petty about Margaret.”
They agreed on this.
* * *
The following days, Emily packed the family’s belongings. Dave, however, walked around like a storm cloud. His wife’s words must have stung him deeply.
The drive took about four hours. Emily did her best to keep the mood upbeat—singing songs, playing with the younger boys. She understood it was painful for Dave to hear her outbursts, but she couldn’t stay silent any longer.
The weight of pleasing everyone had tired her. For years, she’d smiled at her in-laws, ignored their barbs, never revealed how they ruined her. Margaret, sensing her boundless power, never let an opportunity to jab pass.
*The children are too loud—Liv’s a bad parent. Dave is too thin—Liv’s a bad cook. Her skirt is too short. Etc. etc.* Liv had finally cracked.
“Well, hello, dears—welcome!” Mrs. Myles greeted them, clearly overjoyed. “Come inside, we’ve been aching for your visit.”
Dave shot his wife a disapproving look: *see how wrong you were?*
“Son, bring your stuff upstairs to your room. What’s this mess?”
Dave obediently hauled suitcases up.
“What’s all this luggage? You really ought to learn to pack smarter. Too many extras cluttering, and Dave has to carry them all. You could at least be kind to your husband. He works 7 days a week to feed you all, eats poorly, which is why he’s so thin.”
“Margaret,” Liv loudly responded, ensuring Dave heard.
Margaret flinched. In other situations, Liv would have stayed quiet, but today, she pushed back.
“Dave eats well, balanced. His thinness is hereditary—see how he resembles his father? Do you feed him well yourself? And this isn’t excessive. We have five people in the house. The boys are here, dirt all over, none of us can wash properly. We need spare clothes. It’s not my fault.”
Margaret’s eyes widened in shock. Dave descended, overhearing everything. He stayed silent but clearly wasn’t pleased. They were barely past the threshold, and already, Mrs. Myles had grievances.
“Come to the dining room. You must be starving after the trip.” Margaret quickly regained composure, motioning toward the table.
Mr. Myles joined from the garden.
“Oho, you’ve arrived. G’day, lads. What did you destroy this time? Your grandmother spent half the day hiding her vases and trinkets. Scared to death over her treasures.” He chuckled, and the boys in the living room froze.
“Those kids have *never* broken anything. Please don’t make things up,” Liv snapped.
Mr. Myles scowled, shuffling to the table.
“Van, behave. Sash, don’t make a mess. Thomas, eat properly,” Margaret scolded the grandkids throughout the meal.
Finally, Liv snapped.
“Stop nagging them. They’re *children*. They can’t sit patiently like adults. Be a little patient, Margaret.”
Her face flushed with anger, but she resisted lashing out in front of her son.
The kids eventually finished and ran off, of course causing ruckus. Even adults struggled to converse.
“Liv!” Margaret finally snapped. “Shush the children. You’ve been at it all day. How long can this go on? I can’t live in this chaos. It’s unbearable.”
“They’re children. They play, they’re loud. How do you expect three boys to behave? Sitting neatly reading books in a chair? Only in movies. This will last a week. Until we return home. Try playing with them. It’s fun, you’ll see.”
“Fun? I haven’t played in years. And Liv, you’re being strange. You’re out of line today.”
“Believe me, I’m in line, Margaret. *Precisely* in line.”
Dave watched silently, stunned. Only now did he realize how much his mother disliked his wife and children. While Liv had stayed pleasant, things were tolerable. Now, it was impossible.
Liv stood up, fetched a ladle, and was about to serve herself. Before she could, Margaret exploded:
“What are you doing? That ladle is only for soups! I never use it for meat. Who taught you to run a household? How does Dave put up with this?”
“You never let me help at all. Hunger and no food for the kids until I ask? This is a prison?” Liv retorted, her anger breaking free.
“I forbid you from touching anything in my home!” Margaret spat, out of control. “Go home and cook there. I won’t have my things ruined!”
“Enough!” Dave finally intervened. “Mother, I only need one answer: why do you invite us to visit every summer if being with us is so hard for you? Yes, we’re a big family, but I’ve believed you loved us. Yet here we are—your dislike is real. From now on, we’ll visit less. *Much* less.”
He left the table, joining the boys to play. Neither grandparent had shown even a flicker of interest in the grandchildren before. He was hurt, but Liv was spot on.
Morning came, and Margaret awoke to a quiet house. The boys, her son, and granddaughter had vanished.
Dave had honored his promise—to take the family to a proper vacation. Where they’d all be comfortable, happy, and loved. Liv smiled in the car, hugging the boys, relieved to be free.
Time had taught her one truth: Comfort is only as perfect as the boundaries you set.
