Why have you come to me, Mum? Youve spent your whole life helping Emily, so now go to her if you need anything! my son declared. James didnt even invite me inside; he stood in the doorway, his words cold and his eyes distant.
James, are you really not going to let your own mother inside? Tears welled up and I couldnt hold back my emotions.
Mum, I dont understand all this sentimentality. Im busy and havent got time for pointless chatter. He was about to shut the door in my face when I heard my daughter-in-laws voice.
James, who are you talking to? asked Alice as she came into the hallway.
Mum? Is that you? she said in surprise. Why are you standing out in the cold? Come on inside.
James waved his hand, turned and walked off, and I went into the hall to take off my shoes. I was so relieved Alice had welcomed me in, since I had a serious matter to discuss.
I really had treated my son badly, but only lately did I understand just how much. I have two children: my son James and my daughter Emily. Somehow, over the years, I always helped my daughter and forgot about my son.
Id always assumed he didnt need my help; he seemed to manage just fine. But it turned out James became so successful in large part because he wanted to prove to me that he could manage on his ownwithout my support or my money.
I had money, as Id worked in London for over twenty years, but I always sent it to Emily. I regret it now, as Emily never appreciated it; and in my hardest times, she simply turned her back on me.
I went to London to work when James was eighteen and Emily was sixteen. The children stayed with my mothermy husband had left us long ago. We were so poor, I saw working abroad as our only chance.
With the first pound I earned, I started renovating our house; my mother was thrilled that I finally put in running water and indoor plumbing.
Then, Emily announced she was getting married. I thought nineteen was a bit young, but didnt try to talk her out of it. Her fiancé was a local lad, and after the wedding, they moved in with us.
James and his new brother-in-law could never get along, so James soon courted a girl himself and moved out. His wife, Alice, had grown up in a care homeshe was skint, her room in a council hostel. Thats where they started their life together.
Emily was quick to settle the matter of money:
Mum, Im the one who stayed home, so everything should come to me, she told me.
James never asked for money and was happy to let Emily receive all I could send. He got by, earning what he could to look after his family.
Then things got more complicated. My mother passed away, and straight afterwards, Emily said she wanted a divorce. Shes always had a stubborn streak; once she makes up her mind, theres no changing it.
So what will you do now? I asked.
Ill come to London with you, Emily announced.
So we both went to London, but Emily wasnt keen on hard work. She did a bit of cleaning, but all her money went on rent and food.
I worked as a live-in carer, so I didnt have to pay for food or accommodation. The thousand pounds I earned each monthEmily insisted I give it to her. She had the idea to buy a flat in London.
She didnt want to go back home, so she convinced me we should sell our house so we could afford a place in London. Naturally, it wasnt enough. I sold the house, we scraped together what we could, and Emily was about to take out a loan for the rest. In the end, she remarried and her new husband paid the difference. They moved into a small flat together.
Since I was still working, I didnt really think about what came next, though I should have. But recently, I fell ill and cant work anymore. I tried to move in with Emily as wed planned, but she told me their place was too small and I should just recover and then return to work.
I didnt argue, but went home, only there wasnt really a home because wed sold it. Theres a big plot of land in our villagenearly an acrebut it either needs to be sold or built upon, and Ive no money for that.
So, I swallowed my pride and went to see my son, hoping he could help me sell the plot. I had no idea what else to do.
James was still so hurt he barely wanted to talk to me. But Alice not only let me inshe came up with a solution.
Mum, James and I are looking for a plot to build our house. If you agree, we could start building on that land, and once were done, you can live with us, Alice proposed.
James grumbled at first, but he liked the idea, and by the evening hed forgotten he was angry with me.
Alice wouldnt let me leave; she fed me, made up a bed, and said wed see the GP together in the morning.
Why are you doing all this for me? I asked her.
Because I never had a mum. Now I do, she smiled.
Thats how it turned outmy own daughter rejected me, but my daughter-in-law accepted me as her own.
