A Nasty Surprise: The Mother-in-Law’s Secret Plan
Emily was still asleep when a sharp knock at the door shattered the morning quiet of their flat in the outskirts of Manchester.
“Tom, get that,” she mumbled, nudging her husband in the ribs.
“I’m sleeping,” he grumbled, pulling the duvet over his head.
With a sigh, Emily dragged herself out of the warm bed, shuffled to the door in her slippers, and froze. Standing on the doorstep was her mother-in-law.
“Margaret? What are you doing here?” Emily’s eyes widened in shock.
Without a word, Margaret brushed past her, leaving a trail of strong perfume in her wake.
“Em, who is it?” Tom rubbed his eyes as he appeared in the hallway.
“Cat got your tongue? Go on, tell your wife about our little surprise!” Margaret smirked at her son.
“What surprise?” Emily spun around to face Tom, her stomach knotting with dread. She knew they were hiding something, but she couldn’t imagine the blow that was coming.
“Again?” Emily stared at Tom in disbelief. “We were just at your mum’s last weekend, helping her with everything! I’m exhausted, Tom—can’t we just have a quiet weekend to ourselves?” Her voice trembled, pleading, but Tom refused to budge.
“Em, you know how hard it’s been for Mum since Dad passed. She’s on her own now, struggling. I’m her only son—I’ve got to help.”
“Why has she come now?” Emily forced herself to stay calm.
“She needs wallpaper—light beige—and a few bits and bobs for redecorating.”
“Couldn’t she just order online?” Emily asked hopefully.
“She doesn’t know how. We’ll pop over this weekend, make a day of it.”
“A fun day out at the DIY store? Brilliant,” Emily muttered, resentment bubbling up.
Not wanting to ruin her weekend, she grabbed her phone, ordered everything on the list for delivery, and even picked out the materials herself. Surely now Margaret wouldn’t have a reason to turn up unannounced. The delivery was set for Friday evening, and Emily breathed a sigh of relief—everything was under control.
So imagine her shock when, on Saturday morning, Margaret appeared at their door with massive bags stuffed with wallpaper and paint tins.
“Did you really expect me to haul all this by myself?” Margaret gave her a frosty look. “Tom, didn’t you tell her anything?”
“Margaret, this was supposed to be a surprise,” Emily stammered, still in her pyjamas.
“Well, I’m thrilled,” Margaret sneered before turning to Tom. “What’s the matter—lost for words? Tell your wife about our surprise!”
“What surprise?” Emily turned to Tom, her voice shaking. She could feel her world about to collapse.
“I’m moving in with you for a few months,” Margaret announced triumphantly, slipping off her coat.
Before Emily could process that bombshell, her mother-in-law dropped another one.
“And you—you’re moving to the countryside.”
Margaret swept into the kitchen like she owned the place, while Emily grabbed Tom’s arm, hissing,
“What’s going on? We never discussed this!”
“Sorry, I meant to tell you,” Tom shrugged like it was nothing. “Mum suggested it. Don’t worry—it’s not happening right away.”
Fuming but refusing to argue in front of Margaret, Emily stormed off to the bedroom. By the evening, Tom finally explained.
“Em, think about it—this is a chance! We’ll do up the cottage just how you like. Great for your portfolio, more clients! We’ll stay there while we work. Mum shouldn’t breathe in all that dust, and someone’s got to oversee the builders.”
“And that someone is me?” Emily choked.
“What’s the big deal? You need work—Mum and I are helping you out!”
“Helping? By exiling me to the middle of nowhere? I don’t want to go! I love our flat!”
“We’re not leaving yet,” Tom waved her off. “You’ve already ordered the wallpaper—we’ll start with one room so Mum’s comfortable.”
“And how will she avoid the dust then?” Emily shot back.
“We’ll open a window—she won’t notice. Besides, we’re in no position to dictate terms. The flat’s hers, and the cottage is technically mine.”
“The flat’s only hers because you never sorted the paperwork!” Emily snapped.
“Stay out of family business!” Tom cut her off. “Mum and I have decided. I’m her only heir—it’ll all be ours eventually.”
“If the flat was in your name, your mum wouldn’t be kicking us out to the sticks! Now we’re stuck there because you couldn’t be bothered!”
Margaret, who’d been eavesdropping, couldn’t take it anymore. She swung the bedroom door open.
“Keep your mouth shut!” she barked. “You came into this family with nothing, and now you’re after my property?”
“With nothing?” Emily gasped.
“That’s right! Without my son, you’d have nothing! And now you’re making demands?”
“I think it’s fair,” Emily stood her ground. “You’ve cut Tom out of everything! What if you remarry?”
“Me? Remarry?” Margaret burst out laughing, momentarily flattered. “Fine—do up the cottage, and I’ll transfer the flat to Tom. But the house stays mine. Happy now?”
Emily exhaled in relief. Tom, though upset by the argument, forced a smile.
“Still feels a bit wrong, though…,” he mumbled later in the car.
A week later, they finished one room and moved to the countryside.
“She’s doing this out of love, and we…,” Tom sighed.
“And we’re just claiming what’s ours,” Emily said firmly. “We’ll fix this place up, and the flat’s ours. Just imagine!”
The cottage was grim—peeling walls, creaky floors, and endless work ahead. The cost was daunting.
“Don’t worry—we’ll take out a loan,” Tom said. “But we’ll get the flat.”
Reluctantly, Emily agreed. Throwing herself into the project, she oversaw every detail. Slowly, the house transformed, and to her surprise, she fell in love with it.
“We should plant flowers out front,” she mused. “Maybe roses.”
She even started gardening, though it wasn’t part of the plan. Every evening, she gushed to Tom about her progress.
“We’ll plant peonies here—I’ve already ordered the seeds.”
“Em, that’s over budget,” Tom frowned. “Mum can deal with it when she moves in.”
The words struck like a slap. She’d poured her heart into this place, and he was already talking about his mum taking over?
“Tom… what if we stayed here?” she asked hesitantly. “I love it. The house is yours—no need to change anything.”
“What about the flat?” he blinked.
“It’s cramped, stuffy. Here, there’s space, fresh air!”
“I’ll talk to Mum,” he promised.
Elated, Emily threw herself into decorating, even starting a little vegetable patch. Everything felt perfect—until Margaret showed up.
“Hello, Margaret,” Emily greeted her with a smile, eager to show off the renovations. “No warning?”
“Why should I warn anyone when I’m coming home?” Margaret snapped. “You’ve dragged your feet—I’m here to check on things.”
“Home? Tom didn’t tell you? We’re staying. The house is his—no paperwork needed.”
Margaret paled and sank into a chair.
“You shameless little—stealing my house? I bent over backwards for you, and this is how you repay me? Over my dead body! I’m staying! Tom will side with me—pack your bags!”
Emily was stunned. She’d had no idea Margaret cared about this place. She’d always raved about their city flat, scoffing at “country life.”
They sat in silence, waiting for Tom, each praying he’d take her side.
When Tom finally walked in, looking grim, their gazes pinned him.
“What’s happened?” Nervous under their stares, he swallowed hard.
“The firm went under. I’ve lost my job. Em, we’ll have to stay here. Cheaper in the countryside—grow our own food, no expensive shops. We’ll manage.”
Margaret stayed silent, watching him. Inside, Emily rejoiced—Tom had made the choice himself. No persuasion needed.
“Mum, I’m sorry, but this makes sense,” Tom continued. “We’ve got loans to pay off—we’ll live simply here.”
Unable to refuse her son, especially when he looked so broken, Margaret nodded. She left without another word. Tom turned to Emily with a grin.
“How was my acting?”
“What?”
“I knew Mum wanted the house back, but I saw how happy you were here. Made up the job thing so she’d back off. Didn’t want a proper rowEmily hugged him tightly, laughing through happy tears, knowing their little cottage was finally home—for good.
