The Storm at Home: Emily’s Dilemma
Emily waves her husband, James, off to work, looking forward to a moment of peace in their cosy flat in Manchester. But before she can settle into bed, the doorbell rings sharply.
“Open up, now!” comes the sharp voice of her mother-in-law from behind the door.
Worried by the harsh tone, Emily opens it. There stands Margaret Wilson, her eyes burning with determination.
“Margaret, is something wrong?” Emily asks cautiously, her stomach knotting with dread.
“Were you sleeping? Get up—we need to prepare a room for me! I’m moving in!” Margaret declares, as if issuing a challenge.
“Moving in? Why?” Emily freezes, struggling to process the words.
Emily and James have been overjoyed—she’s five months pregnant. But their happiness is clouded by Margaret. Ever since learning about the baby, she’s smothered Emily with suffocating “care,” making her want to run for the hills.
Margaret has always doted on her son, but her attention toward Emily borders on invasive. Her manner is heavy-handed—every compliment laced with poison.
“I look at you and worry,” she remarks one day, arriving unannounced again.
“Why?” Emily asks, glancing down at herself.
“Have you even looked in the mirror?” Margaret narrows her eyes. “Thin as a rake! Narrow hips—how will you give birth? It’s only your eyes that are pretty, and I suppose that’s what fooled my James. The rest of you? Nothing.”
Emily is stunned. A compliment? An insult? She doesn’t know how to respond.
“Bet you were sickly as a child,” Margaret persists. “What were your parents thinking?”
“I wasn’t sickly!” Emily snaps. “My parents took me to the seaside every summer!”
“Exactly—because you were weak! You just forgot!” Margaret cuts in, as if she’s settled the matter.
This is her trademark “care”—never a kind word without a sting. The only exceptions are James and his sister, Claire, who lives in another city. She adores them without reservation.
By the seventh month, Emily dreads not the birth but Margaret’s visits. She even considers cancelling her birthday just to avoid her. But James insists.
“I want to make you happy, love. Family celebrations are special!”
James, used to his mother’s ways, doesn’t see how her remarks wound Emily.
“Let’s celebrate your birthday at home?” he suggests a week before. “Restaurants are crowded, and in your condition, it’s risky.”
“Why at home?” Emily asks flatly.
“You’re due soon—why risk getting ill?” he argues.
“Fine,” she sighs. “But no big feast—I don’t have the energy to cook.”
“Mum will come early and help!” James beams.
Emily stiffens, her eyes darkening.
“Was this Margaret’s idea?”
“What’s Mum got to do with it? I decided myself!” he defends.
“Of course! Nothing without her input!” Emily flares up.
“Love, she means well!”
“Quiet! We’ll celebrate at home, but my mum will help!”
“Your parents live an hour away—Mum’s just down the road,” James counters.
“Mine are staying the night!”
“What’s the problem?”
“One more word, and I’ll ask them to bring the dog!” she snaps.
“You know I can’t stand dogs,” he reminds her.
“Exactly!” Emily storms off, slamming the bedroom door.
The night before the party, Emily’s parents, Helen and Peter, arrive with gifts—homegrown vegetables and baby clothes. Helen knows Emily isn’t superstitious, so she buys things early. Emily and James have already bought a cot and pram but keep it from Margaret.
“Mum, don’t mention the baby things in front of Margaret,” Emily pleads.
“Still pushing her superstitions?” Helen asks.
“Honestly, she won’t let me breathe,” Emily admits. “Since my maternity leave, I flinch at every doorbell.”
“And James?”
“Fine when he’s at work. But Margaret…”
“That’s not right,” Helen frowns. “I’ll have a word tomorrow.”
“Mum, don’t!”
“I’ve been a mother for 30 years—I won’t let anyone mistreat you!”
On Emily’s birthday, her parents are already bustling in the kitchen.
“Happy birthday, love!” Peter hugs her first.
“Our beautiful girl—be happy!” Helen joins in.
Emily shows off James’ gift—a ring and tickets to an exhibition she’s dreamed of.
“Lucky with your husband, darling!” Peter smiles. “I’d never remember which exhibition Helen fancied.”
“Just freshening up, then I’ll help,” Emily says.
“I’ll set the table,” James offers.
The mood shatters when Margaret buzzes in.
“Oh, the in-laws! Fancy seeing you—hardly ever visit your pregnant daughter. What’s the point of dragging yourselves across the county?”
Helen doesn’t hold back.
“Unlike some, we don’t barge in uninvited. At least we send money regularly.”
Margaret scowls but stays silent—Helen’s struck a nerve. The party remains tense, Emily and James straining to keep the peace.
The next morning, Emily’s parents leave. James goes to work, and Emily, craving sleep, heads to bed—until the buzzer shrieks again.
“Open up!” Margaret barks.
Emily, uneasy, lets her in.
“Margaret, is everything alright?”
“Sleeping again? Up! We’re preparing my room—I’m moving in before the birth!”
Emily freezes. Living with Margaret? A nightmare.
“Please don’t. James and I can manage. Where would you even stay? The living room?”
“Don’t be daft! Buy a sofa bed for the nursery. I’ll raise my grandchild properly—night feeds, routines, everything!”
Emily’s blood runs cold. Margaret already makes life hard—now this?
“I lived with James in student digs! Cooked, cleaned, even helped with his dissertation! He’s successful because of me!”
Trembling, Emily calls James. He rushes home and, seeing his mother, says firmly:
“Mum, go home. Don’t move in. I’m a grown man!”
Margaret flares with hurt.
“Ungrateful wretches! You won’t see me again!” She storms out.
Until the birth, peace reigns—Margaret stays away. At the hospital, Emily’s parents arrive—and, unexpectedly, Margaret. They take photos outside, then head to the couple’s flat. No grand feast—the baby’s too young. Helen and Peter, seeing Emily’s exhaustion, soon prepare to leave.
But Margaret announces:
“You go. I’ll stay—they need help!”
Emily nearly cries. Helen, seeing her daughter’s face, steps in.
“Margaret, help when Claire has a baby. Emily has me—she’ll call if needed. Need a lift?”
“How dare you throw me out? You don’t care about my grandchild—I do! I’m staying!”
The fight escalates. James intervenes, driving his mother home.
“Don’t come back uninvited,” he says firmly.
Margaret argues, but James stands firm. They fall out. Now, she ignores both, waiting for an apology. But the young couple feel no guilt—and aren’t rushing to make amends.
