George, are you kidding me? Youre heading back to your mum again? Emily asks, arms crossed.
What do you suggest, dump her out in the cold, without electricity or water? George snaps, digging through his rucksack. Would you treat your own parents like that?
Know what, my parents never do that to me. They understand I have a family and they dont drag me into these familygames. And your mother Emily begins.
Dont be a bore. You know Ive got to help, George cuts her off, waving a hand.
I get it, but I still feel sorry. Not because the kids will soon forget their fathers name, but because you never even try to make her independent.
She made the porridge herself let her eat it herself. You decide where your family belongs: out in the village or here.
Emily turns and heads to the bedroom. A halfsecond later the hallway door clicks shut. George walks out, leaving Emily alone with the children she promised a park walk to that afternoon.
Meanwhile, their father has once more slipped out of the family picture, leaving the whole mess on Emilys shoulders.
Two years earlier things look completely different. Emily remembers that day vividly. She and George drive to her parents cottage in Kent, taking Margaret, Georges motherinlaw, along so she wont be alone. Margaret gets along fine with the inlaws, so no one objects.
While they sip tea and nibble biscuits under a grapevine arbor, Margarets brain lights up with a brilliant idea that turns Emilys life upside down.
Oh, this is lovely! I must move to a private house exactly my age, peace, quiet, fresh air, she exclaims, taking a deep breath.
Emilys mother smiles. At first she thinks Margaret is just daydreaming out loud.
Its nice when youre a guest, the matchmaker chimes in. But a house without a husband is a lot of work. This isnt a holiday. Theres always something to fix or patch up. And Margaret, no offense, but youre not built for a house.
Margaret pouts, though theres nothing to be offended about. She isnt lazy, just perpetually exhausted, even when shes doing nothing.
Im not planning to run the farm or tinker in greenhouses. You have chickens and pigs here, and Ill be happy with a few flowers and trees, she says.
Just to sit in the shade and watch the beauty. The grandkids will love it. Ill buy them an inflatable pool; theyll splash on the grass, not on fumes, she adds.
Emilys mother, indulgent, replies, Flowers and trees need care too. Youll be collapsing in the flat, but here theres nothing to do. Dust once a week, mop the floor every two days, vacuum, then rest.
Georges brotherinlaw snorts, Do you think we keep the estate out of love for work? It sounds pretty on paper, but in reality a house is a bottomless barrel.
The boiler broke today, the roof tomorrow, the fence the day after. Everything costs money. Thats why were always scraping by, he adds.
Fine, well sort it out. Im not alone, Margaret insists, glancing at George.
Emily raises an eyebrow but stays silent. Influencing her motherinlaw proves tougher than persuading a starving goose not to eat cabbage.
That day Margaret stops arguing with the inlaws, only smiling enigmatically like the Mona Lisa. Six months later she proudly shows off her new home, reveling in the exotic scent of roses drifting from the neighbours garden. The house is indeed comfortable.
See? You didnt believe me. Im now in your town not a foot out of place! she declares triumphantly.
But happiness is shortlived. First Margaret asks her son to help with cosmetic repairs. He drags it out for six months because George only helps on weekends.
Emily grumbles but endures. She trusts the renovation will finish and life will return to its previous flow.
When the paint on the fence finally dries and fresh wallpaper covers the walls, the todo list only expands.
First the power is cut for almost two days. The house loses both electricity and water. George rushes to his mother, whos in a panic, with bottled water and a roll of Valcocord to calm her down.
All the chores pile up! And its blistering hot No aircon, no shower Its survival, not living, Margaret laments.
Then Margaret takes in a stray dog, a mutt named Rex, for a while. It turns out Rex has kidney issues. Theres no vet in the village, so they have to drive him to the city of course with George behind the wheel.
Well, the boys ill At least we have a guard in the house, Margaret mutters, soothing the dog.
Later Emily has to clean the car boot because the guard shakes the car like a leaf. And thats not all. Rex needs therapeutic food, but the village has neither a pet shop nor delivery service. George ends up acting as courier.
I wont abandon my mum with a sick animal! You know how softhearted she is. Then shell blame herself later, George tells his wife when she starts lecturing him.
Right, softhearted. She feels sorry for the dog, but not so much for people
George devotes most weekends to his mother and occasionally drags himself over on weekdays after work. Sometimes he even spends the night at his motherinlaws place.
Ill be there soon; youll be asleep anyway, he excuses himself. That way I can get up early and drive straight to work.
Emily keeps waiting for the pressure to ease, but it never does. The roof leaks, the septic tanks clog, snow falls, grass grows She refuses to tend the house herself and cant even call a specialist.
What if its fraudsters? Thieves? Theyll strip another three skins George, youre a man, and men are feared. Just help me find a decent person and be present, Margaret pleads.
Emilys patience snaps when the power goes out again, this time late autumn. Its brief, but enough to send Margaret into a panic.
Emily, Ill go tomorrow to buy a generator for mum, George says in a matteroffact tone.
Emily tenses. From our pocket?
Yes You know mums nerves are shot. Shes spent almost everything left after selling the flat, and now she lives on one pension, George shrugs.
Great. So now were funding not only ourselves but also her dream house. George, doesnt your mum have too many wishes? Emily asks.
George rolls his eyes, waving his hand. Emily, stop. Their lights are already dim. Do you want her to freeze?
Emily rolls her eyes again, swallowing the bitter pill.
Now she sits alone in their bedroom, pondering divorce. We do live decently, I guess No, divorce is too extreme. I need another plan, something sane, she thinks.
She comes up with a scheme.
A week later Emily rises early, dresses quietly, and is about to slip out when George stirs, rubbing his eyes.
Youre up this early? he yawns.
To my parents, she replies, looking at herself in the mirror.
What do you mean? Today? I promised my mum Id prune the hedges, George complains.
You never consulted me. And I have my own parents who need help too, Emily says.
But you have two of them!
Age doesnt cancel responsibility. From now on well alternate weekends: one for your mum, one for mine, Emily declares, stepping into the hallway and pausing.
Oh right, I almost forgot. The chore list is on the fridge. Dont forget the kids homework and make them pizza for lunchthey asked, George reminds her.
She leaves, feeling Georges heavy stare on her back, but she doesnt look back. On the way to her parents house she notices she never truly rushes to urgent matters or hurries anywhere.
The visit is mostly symbolic. Emily returns to the second floor, then relaxes. She reads a novel on the garden swing, reminisces about funny childhood lunches, and lazily sprawls on the bed. Shes forgotten what it feels like to eat properly instead of gulping food in a endless Mummy! rush.
There may never be a perfect solution. Margaret might never sell the house or solve its problems without her sons help. But now Emily has carved out a small slice of personal space she wont surrendera tiny victory in the battle for her sanity and fairness.
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