The doorbell buzzed insistently, announcing an arrival. Lorna wiped her hands on her apron and went to answer. There stood her daughter with a young man in tow. She let them inside the flat.
“Hello, Mum,” the girl kissed her cheek. “Meet Eddiehell be living with us now.”
“Pleasure,” the lad nodded.
“And this is my mum, Auntie Lorna.”
“Just Lorna,” she corrected.
“Mum, whats for dinner?”
“Pea soup and bangers.”
“I dont eat pea soup,” Eddie muttered, kicking off his shoes before slouching into the sitting room.
“Well, Mum, Eddie doesnt like peas,” the girl said, blinking wide-eyed.
The lad sprawled on the sofa, dropping his bag on the floor.
“This is actually my sitting room,” Lorna pointed out.
“Eddie, come on, Ill show you where well stay,” called Lily.
“But I like it here,” he grumbled, reluctantly peeling himself off the cushions.
“Mum, think of something else for Eddie to eat.”
“Dunno. Theres half a pack of sausages left,” Lorna shrugged.
“Fine with mustard, ketchup, and a bit of bread,” he said.
“Right,” Lorna sighed, heading to the kitchen. “First it was stray cats and dogs, now this. Another mouth to feed.”
She helped herself to the pea soup, fried two sausages, and settled in with a plate of salad, enjoying her meal in peace.
“Mum, why are you eating alone?” Lily barged in.
“Because I got home and Im hungry,” Lorna said between bites. “If youre hungry, fix something yourself. And one more thingwhys Eddie living with us?”
“What d’you mean, why? Hes my husband.”
Lorna nearly choked.
“Your what?”
“Yeah. Im an adult, I decide if I marry or not. Im nineteen.”
“You didnt even invite me to the wedding.”
“Wasnt one. Just signed the papers. Now were husband and wife, so we live together,” Lily said, eyeing her chewing mother.
“Congratulations, I suppose. Why no wedding?”
“If youve got money for a wedding, give it to uswell find a way to spend it.”
“Got it,” Lorna continued eating. “And why here, exactly?”
“His place is a one-room flat with four blokes.”
“Thought about renting?”
“Why rent when Ive got my own room here?” Lily looked baffled.
“Right.”
“So, are you making us food?”
“Lily, the soups on the stove, sausages in the pan. If thats not enough, theres half a pack in the fridge. Help yourselves.”
“Mum, you dont get ityouve got a SON-IN-LAW now,” Lily stressed.
“And? Should I start doing the Highland fling to celebrate? Im knackered, Lily. Skip the theatrics. Youve got handsuse them.”
“No wonder youre still single!”
Lily shot her a glare and stormed off, slamming her bedroom door. Lorna finished eating, washed her dishes, wiped the table, and left for the gym. She was a free woman, spending evenings lifting weights or swimming laps.
Around ten, she returned, hoping for a cuppa. Instead, the kitchen was a bombsitesomeone had attempted cooking. The soup pots lid was missing, leaving the contents dried and cracked. Sausage packaging littered the table beside a half-eaten loaf. The frying pan was burnt, its surface crusted with unidentifiable gunk. The sink overflowed with dishes, and a sticky puddle of fizzy drink pooled on the floor. The flat reeked of cigarettes.
“Blimey. New development. Lilyd never leave it like this.”
She pushed open her daughters door. The couple were drinking wine and smoking.
“Lily, clean the kitchen. Buy a new pan tomorrow,” Lorna said, walking off without closing the door.
Lily sprang up and chased after her.
“Why should we? And where do I get money for a pan? Im a student, not working! Too good for your precious pans?”
“Lily, house rules: clean up after yourself, break itreplace it. Everyone fends for themselves. And yes, I liked that pan. It cost money.”
“You dont want us here,” Lily shrieked.
“No,” Lorna said calmly.
She had no energy for this. Something had shifted in her daughtersomething unfamiliar.
“But this is my home too!”
“No, the flats mine. I paid for it. Youre just registered here. Fix your own mess. Want to stay? Follow the rules.”
“Lived by your rules my whole life! Im married nowyou cant boss me about!” Lily wailed. “Youve had your turngive us the flat!”
“You can have the hallway and the bench outside. Married? Didnt ask me. You sleep here alone or with him, but he doesnt stay,” Lorna said firmly.
“Stuff your flat!” Lily screeched. “Eddie, were leaving!” She began shoving things into a bag.
Five minutes later, the new son-in-law lurched into Lornas room.
“Listen, Mum, dont stresswell sort it out,” he slurred. “Were not going anywhere. Be nice, and well keep the noise down at night.”
“What sort of parents raised you?” Lorna scoffed. “Go back to them. Take your brand-new wife.”
“Oh yeah? Ill” He raised a fist in her face.
“Go on then.”
Lorna seized his wrist, her manicured nails digging in.
“Ow! Let go, you nutter!”
“Mum, whatre you doing?” Lily lunged, trying to pry them apart.
Lorna shoved her aside, kneed Eddie in the groin, then elbowed his throat.
“Ill sue you for assault!” he wheezed. “Courts gonna hear about this!”
“Hold on, Ill call the policeeasier to document,” Lorna replied.
The young couple fled the well-kept two-bedroom flat.
“Youre not my mum anymore!” Lily screamed. “And youll never see your grandkids!”
“What a tragedy,” Lorna said drily. “Peace at last.”
She inspected her handsa few nails were broken.
“All this damage for you lot,” she muttered.
After they left, she cleaned the kitchen, binned the rock-hard soup and ruined pan, and changed the locks.
Three months later, Lily turned up at her workplace. She looked haggard, hollow-eyed, miserable.
“Mum whats for dinner?”
“Dunno,” Lorna shrugged. “Havent decided. What dyou fancy?”
“Chicken and rice,” Lily swallowed. “And coleslaw.”
“Then lets get chicken,” Lorna said. “Make the coleslaw yourself.”
She asked no questions. Eddie never reappeared.
