Emily stood hesitantly in the doorway, gripping my hand tightly. Fear flashed in her eyes, and I could see her knees trembling.
Mum, this is my girlfriend, Emily, I said, coming back from yet another business trip.
Id been away for a fortnight, and this time I wasnt coming home alone. My parents and I lived in a modest two-bedroom flat in London. At night, Emily would sleep in my room, and Id make do with the pull-out bed in the kitchen.
Where on earth did you meet her? Mum asked, eyeing Emily up and down. These days, young people are always dressed in outlandish colours or sporting eyebrow piercings.
Mum, I was lucky. I met her in my university halls. She grew up in a care home.
The next morning, my sister Anna popped round to see our mother.
Where are the lovebirds?
Theyve gone to the registry office to put in their application.
Mark, your boys still wet behind the ears. And why burden himself with a girl whos been in care? Youd best keep your valuables locked awayno telling what shes capable of.
What on earth are you getting at? my mother snapped.
Well, Im from a care home myself. Do you think I turned out any different from anyone else? My father immediately spoke up to defend Emily.
Just wait. Her background will show through soon enough, Anna muttered.
Dont you dare speak of Emily like that! Dad barked.
My parents always believed I had the right to make my own choices, so they kept out of it. Emily and I decided to stay with them at first before saving up for a place of our own. Truth be told, Emily wasnt much of a homemaker, though Dad always took her side whenever Mum was tempted to intervene.
Later on, I explained that Emily wanted to study English literature at university, which would mean Id be the sole breadwinner for a while. Of course, Mum wasnt too pleased, but she kept her opinions to herself. She also admitted there wasnt much future without a degree these days.
Emily and I eventually managed to move into a small flat in Croydon. She took a part-time job as a classroom assistant at a local school.
Mum seemed to pity me and offered for us to move back in. But Dad respected our independence and wouldnt hear of it.
One afternoon, Mums sister Judith came over with two frying pans.
Look at these! Ill sell you one if you like, and you can give it to your lot. Everyones struggling nowadays, and they probably are too.
You know, Mark and Emily are doing just fine. Shes studying, keeps the place tidy, and manages to put dinner on the table, Mum replied.
Mum decided to give one of the frying pans to Emily, carefully explaining to her that it must only ever be used with a wooden spoon.
A week went by. When Mum dropped round, Emily was sitting in the kitchen, sobbing.
The cutlets are burnt, she wept. And I scrubbed the frying pan with wire woolthat was your present!
Oh dont worry! It doesnt matter, Mum said, trying to console her.
I walked in to find them both sitting on the floor together. At first I thought about saying something, but then just let them be; I knew theyd sort it out on their own.
Eighteen years have passed since then. Emilys now deputy head at her school. And all this time, shes become more like a daughter to Mum than a daughter-in-law, though Anna has spent her life secretly jealous of us.
Does it really matter where someone grew up, as long as they have a genuine heart and good character? Thats what Ive learned above all else.
