The doorbell rang insistently, breaking the silence. Margaret wiped her hands on her apron and went to answer it. On the doorstep stood her daughter, Emily, with a young man in tow. Margaret stepped aside to let them in.
“Hello, Mum,” Emily kissed her cheek lightly. “Meet Jameshes going to be living with us.”
“Pleasure,” the young man muttered.
“And this is my mum, Auntie Margaret.”
“Just Margaret,” she corrected.
“Mum, whats for dinner?”
“Pea soup and bangers.”
James wrinkled his nose. “I dont eat pea soup.” He shrugged off his jacket and slouched into the living room, dropping his rucksack on the floor.
“Well, Mum, James doesnt like peas,” Emily said, widening her eyes.
James sprawled on the sofa, making himself at home.
“This is actually my sitting room,” Margaret pointed out.
“James, come on, Ill show you where were staying,” Emily called.
“But I like it here,” he grumbled, reluctantly hauling himself up.
“Mum, can you think of something else for James to eat?”
“I dont knowweve got half a pack of sausages left,” Margaret sighed.
“Fine with mustard, ketchup, and a bit of bread,” James said.
“Right then,” Margaret replied, heading to the kitchen. “First she dragged home stray cats, then dogs, and now shes brought this onefeeding him too.”
She served herself the soup, fried two sausages, and sat down to eat, savoring the quiet.
“Mum, why are you eating alone?” Emily appeared in the doorway.
“Because Ive just got home from work and Im hungry,” Margaret said between bites. “If anyone else wants to eat, they can help themselves. And Ive got a questionwhy is James living with us?”
“Why? Hes my husband.”
Margaret nearly choked.
“Your what?”
“Yes. Im an adult nowI decide whether to marry or not. Im nineteen.”
“You didnt even invite me to the wedding.”
“There wasnt one. We just signed the papers. Now were married, and were living together,” Emily said, watching her mother chew.
“Well, congratulations. Why no wedding?”
“If youve got money for a wedding, give it to uswell find a way to spend it.”
“Right,” Margaret went back to her meal. “And why here?”
“Because he shares a one-bed flat with four others.”
“Ever thought of renting?”
“Why rent when weve got my room?” Emily looked baffled.
Margaret exhaled. “Fine.”
“So, will you make us something?”
“Emily, the pots on the stove, sausages in the pan. If thats not enough, theres half a pack in the fridge. Help yourselves.”
“Mum, you dont understandyouve got a SON-IN-LAW now!” Emily stressed the last words.
“And? Should I break into a Morris dance? Ive just got home from work, Im tiredskip the theatrics. Youve got hands, sort yourselves out.”
“Thats why youre still single!”
Emily stormed off, slamming her bedroom door. Margaret finished eating, washed her dishes, wiped the table, and left for her gym. She was a free woman, spending her evenings swimming or working out.
By ten, she returned, hoping for a cup of teabut the kitchen was a disaster. The pot lid was missing, the soup dried and cracked. Sausage packets lay open, bread gone stale. The frying pan was burnt, its surface scratched. The sink overflowed with dishes, and a sticky puddle of soda stained the floor. The flat reeked of cigarettes.
“Christ, this is new. Emily would never leave this mess.”
She pushed open her daughters door. The pair were drinking wine and smoking.
“Emily, clean the kitchen. And buy a new pan tomorrow,” Margaret said, turning away without shutting the door.
Emily sprang up, chasing after her.
“Why should we? And where do I get money for a pan? Im not workingIm at uni. Too stingy to replace a pan?”
“Emily, you know the rulesclean up after yourself, replace what you break. Everyone fends for themselves. And yes, I mind about the panit costs money, and now its ruined.”
“You dont want us here!” Emily screamed.
“No,” Margaret said calmly.
She had no energy for this, and shed never seen Emily like this before.
“But this is my home too!”
“No, the flats mine. I paid for it. Youre just registered here. Dont make your problems mine. If you want to stay, follow the rules.”
“Ive lived by your rules my whole life! Im married nowyou cant tell me what to do!” Emily sobbed. “Youve had your lifeyou should let us have the flat!”
“You can have the hallway and the bench outside. Oh, youre married now? Then dont answer to me. Sleep here alone or with your husband, but hes not staying.”
“Fine, well go! James, were leaving!” Emily grabbed her things.
Five minutes later, her new son-in-law barged in.
“Dont worry, Mumitll all work out,” he slurred, swaying. “Were not going anywhere. Be nice, and well keep the noise down at night.”
“What sort of father raised you?” Margaret snapped. “Go back to them, and take your new wife with you.”
“Yeah? Ill” He raised a fist.
“Go on, then.”
Margaret grabbed his wrist, digging in her manicured nails.
“Ow! Let go, you nutter!”
“Mum, what are you doing?” Emily shrieked, trying to pull her off.
Margaret shoved her aside, kneed James in the groin, then elbowed his throat.
“Ill sue you for assault!” he howled.
“Wait, Ill call the policeeasier to file a report,” she shot back.
The couple fled the well-kept two-bed flat.
“Youre not my mother anymore!” Emily screamed. “And youll never see your grandkids!”
“What a tragedy,” Margaret said dryly. “Finally, I can live in peace.”
She checked her handssome nails were broken.
“So much damage for them,” she muttered.
After they left, she cleaned the kitchen, tossed the hardened soup and ruined pan, and changed the locks. Three months later, Emily showed up at her workgaunt, hollow-eyed, miserable.
“Mum, whats for dinner?” she asked.
“Dunno,” Margaret shrugged. “Havent decided. What do you fancy?”
“Chicken and rice,” Emily swallowed. “And coleslaw.”
“Right, lets find some chicken then,” Margaret said. “Make the coleslaw yourself.”
She didnt ask questions. James never appeared in their lives again.
