“Support your sister when she’s struggling,” their mother reminded them after the divorce.
“You dont want to help your sister? Shes going through a hard time since the split,” the mother scolded.
The two sisters sat around the round table at their mums, listening to her complaints.
“Your James is such a spoiled brat!” Mrs. Thompson said bluntly. “He works temp jobs but barely brings home enough to scrape by!”
“Mum, is three thousand pounds not enough for you?” snapped the younger sister, Emily.
“I dont care. What matters is whether he can provide for you,” the mother retorted, pursing her lips.
“He does,” muttered Emily with a frown.
“Oh really? Just yesterday, you had to borrow two hundred quid from me,” Mrs. Thompson shot back. “If he cant even feed you, divorce him! Find someone better! And lets be honesthes not the sharpest tool in the shed.”
“Mum, thats going too far,” said Charlotte, finally speaking up in her sisters defence.
“Im just telling the truth! Hes ginger, for heavens sake, and cant even speak properly,” Mrs. Thompson scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Honestly, Emily, you can do better. Before its too late, end it,” she added, turning to the younger girl.
“Mum, James is brilliant with his hands. And looks shouldnt matter,” Charlotte argued, watching her mother pressure Emily. “If moneys all you care about, hes got a flat, a car, and he loves Emily. Anyone can see that!”
Mrs. Thompson gave her eldest a disdainful look, as if she had no business interfering.
“Youre pushing forty and still singlespare us your advice,” the mother snapped, shoving Charlotte aside. “At your age, youll take what you can get.”
“Yet here you are, fawning over hima tiny flat in some old building, a car thats nothing special nothing to brag about!” Mrs. Thompson sneered.
“Emily, what do you think?” Charlotte asked her silent sister. “You must have an opinion?”
“I dont know maybe Mums right,” Emily murmured, her earlier defence of her husband wavering. “He said recently I should look for a job”
“There, you see?” Mrs. Thompson crossed her arms. “Were already at this point. Its terrifying to think whats next!”
“Why shouldnt Emily work? Hardly anyone gets to sit around doing nothing. Im surprised James didnt push her sooner,” Charlotte fired back.
“Why are you defending him?” the mother snapped.
“Because Im afraid your meddling will ruin her life,” Charlotte said calmly.
“This isnt your business!” Mrs. Thompson barked at her eldest. “You give advice, but Emily deserves better. If James truly loved her, hed make sure she was happy. Since hes not much to look at, he should at least have money!”
Emily sat wide-eyed, hanging on her mothers every word.
The criticism worked. Soon, Emily began nitpicking at James herself.
“Are you happy with your salary?” she asked him.
“Its fine. Why?”
“Well, Im not,” Emily retorted. “You ought to find something better.”
“Another job? I like where I am,” James replied casually, though a slight edge crept into his voice.
“Well, I dont!” she snapped. “A poky flat, a nothing-special car nothing to impress the neighbours with!”
“Thats oddyou were fine with it before,” James mused. “What changed?”
“Nothing. I just see things clearly now. Love blinded me,” Emily said defensively.
“Fine,” he muttered, assuming that would be the end of it.
Under her mothers continued influence, Emily kept nagging.
“Listen, your whinging is getting old,” James finally growled. “Ive heard you, but I cant magic up more money.”
“I want a husband who improves, not one whos stuck,” she said coldly.
“Sorry Im such a disappointment!” James shot back, heading to the bedroom. “Pack your bags.”
“Where am I supposed to go?” Emily demanded, eyebrows raised.
“Somewhere with a posh flat and a flash car,” he said flatly. “Id never forgive myself if you wasted your life on a deadbeat like me. Im sure youll find someone who can shower you in gold and diamondsI cant.”
Mrs. Thompson was the first to hear James had kicked Emily out.
“What a wretch! Whod have thought hed do that? You never shouldve married him!” she fumed, cursing her son-in-law.
“I only asked him to do better,” Emily wept.
“Dont worry, youll find someone better, and James will regret this. Hell crawl back to you,” Mrs. Thompson reassured her.
With no home or husband, Emily moved back into her old room at her mums.
“What will you do now?” asked Charlotte, summoned by their mother.
“Nothing,” Emily muttered, staring at her phone.
“Any thoughts about finding a job?” Charlotte hinted.
“No. Whats the point? Ill marry someone richer than James,” Emily declared.
“Why hassle her? She needs rest after all this,” Mrs. Thompson cut in, defending her youngest.
For nearly two months, she supported her daughter, who did nothing but lounge on the sofa.
But soon, the strain became too much, and she called Charlotte for help.
After work, Charlotte rushed over, thinking there was an emergency.
“Dont you want to help your sister?” Mrs. Thompson demanded.
“With what?”
“Financially. Its tough for us both.”
“Who made you put the idea of divorce in Emilys head?” Charlotte shot back. “Without your meddling, theyd still be fine.”
“How dare you!” Mrs. Thompson gasped, clutching her chest. “James is a fool, a coward! He couldnt handle a woman like Emily and gave up. Get out! I dont want to see you! Instead of helping, you criticise!”
Emily stormed in, glaring at her sister.
“Youre defending the man who threw me out?”
“You did this to yourself! Stop listening to Mum”
“Youre going to lecture me? You, still single at your age?” Emily exploded.
Charlotte shook her head, listening to her sister and mothers outburst, and headed for the door.
She was done arguingjust as Emily and Mrs. Thompson had no interest in speaking to her again.
