Youre a real find!
Again? Listen, Emily, who did she even have that baby for? For herself or for us? I come home from work, want to have dinner, relax, spend time with you, and instead Im forced to sit with someone elses child!
He isnt exactly a stranger, Grace shivered and sighed. Honestly, Im not thrilled either. But I need to get my nails trimmed, and you cant take a toddler into the salon.
Mark fidgets with his jacket, unbuttons it and tosses it on the chair. He needs to feed his nephew, and its far easier in his tracksuit. The chance of splashing baby puree is a certainty.
I get it, but you cant skip the manicure, can you? Are you the only one for her? Why is our family turning into a daycare?
Theres still Mum, but she cant be on call every day, Emily says, pulling a packet of spaghetti from the cupboard.
You could, actually, Mark interjects. You could do it for everyone except yourself and me.
Mark first frowns, then exhales and relaxes a little. The tension eases from his face: his wife isnt an enemy, just indefatigable.
Emily, if you dont pull her off your arm, shell keep hanging there. And youll be the one to blame, because the driver decides the route.
Emily pretends to be fully absorbed in cooking, but inside she knows Mark is right. She doesnt know how to live with it: she doesnt want to be a second mother to her nephew, yet she doesnt want a family fight.
It all starts innocently.
Emily, Im coming down with a cold and Charlies in my arms. I need to hit the chemist, but I cant leave the child alone. I cant manage on my own. Help, please.
Without a second thought, Emily jumps in, not caring about the delivery. Her sister is ill, possibly badly, and needs rescuing.
Saving becomes a habit.
Need to pick up the phone from the repair shop? Grace calls. Out of groceries? Emilys on it again. Parcel arrived at the collection point? Emily darts off like a personal courier.
Emily can afford such feats because she works remotely with a flexible schedule, so she can break away. That doesnt mean its convenient. Its a fifteenminute walk to Graces flat, but the roundtrip, queues, waiting and the little annoyances of daily life chew up at least an hour.
Now Emily mostly works evenings and sometimes nights, when the flat is quiet. Her husband isnt thrilled, and she isnt either. She tries to talk to her sister.
Grace, how are things with James? He doesnt help at all? Emily asks cautiously while handing over another parcel from Amazon Fresh.
He does help, Grace replies. He just works late, comes home exhausted. God willing hell sit with the toddler while I take a quick shower, the rest falls on me.
Grace looks after her own husband, but she never thinks about yours, Emily. Emily grimaces and falls silent.
What about his mum? She lives nearby.
Dont mention her! Grace rolls her eyes. I want nothing to do with that toad. When she shows up, its a headache all day long. Shes not a partner, just a wellof unwanted advice. Id rather starve than ask her for anything.
Is there no one else? Olivia also has a baby about the same age as yours. You could team up: one watches, the other runs errands. Or Laura, she doesnt work at all.
It feels awkward to lean on strangers, Grace admits. They dont owe us anything.
Leaning on your own is easier, Emily sighs.
After that Emily decides to turn down her sisters request. Even before her husband hints, she knows it shouldnt be that way.
The chance appears instantly: the next day Grace calls, saying shes booked a slot at the nail salon.
Emily, come over and watch the baby for an hour.
Graces tone turns commanding. Shes no longer asking, shes demanding. Emily bristles: why should she scrap her plans so Grace can get her nails done?
No, Grace, I cant today. Sorry.
What do you mean you cant?
I cant solve all your problems. I have a life too.
I get it, but what am I to do? I have no one without you. Ive already booked, I cant let the person down. Shes stubborn, she wont forgive me.
Grace, you didnt even run it by me before booking. Im not a babysitter or a motherhen. Sort it out yourself.
Fine, Grace snaps back, hurt. Its easy for you to say that; you dont have kids. You dont know how hard it is.
Grace knows the nephew is slowly becoming Emilys son, but Emily stays silent. She avoids conflict, and even this refusal feels like a triumph.
Grace doesnt give up; she calls their mother.
Emily, how can you? Our sister has a child and you refuse! Shes alone! Who will help her if not us?
Mum, when she asked me to fetch medicine I went because it was important. Now she calls every day about trivial things. Today she even booked a salon! Does it really have to be that urgent?
She wants to look nice, like any woman. Understand that.
Emily raises an eyebrow. No one has ever been in her shoes.
Mum, since youre so clever, help her.
I? I can barely get around on my feet! Youre young, its easier for you.
Emily has heard the same young, childfree, still at home barbs over and over and is fed up. That day she stands her ground and doesnt help her sister.
In retaliation they give her the silent treatment: for a week mother and Grace act as if she doesnt exist. Others might stay calm, but Emily cant find a place for herself and wonders how to mend things with the family.
A week later Grace calls again, asking Emily to watch the baby while she does a manicure. Emily agrees, even though she despises herself for it. She chooses between exile from the family and patience.
Youre sometimes soft, sometimes sharp, Mark says after listening. Be careful, or shell never back off.
Emily sighs and nods. Late at night she ponders how to refuse without making a scene.
During the day the phone rings, predictably.
Emily, I cant any more. The babys feverish, screaming since morning, and Im running around like a hamster! I cant even sit or use the loo. Come, well manage four of us together.
I cant, Ive got work. Right now we have strict monitoring: programmes track activity, even lunch cant be skipped. Its like an office.
Silence on the line. Grace seems to be looking for a weak spot.
Please! Just once, the last time! Ask someone to cover you or take a day off.
Emily has no choice. She pretends to give in.
Fine, Ill think of something.
Emily hangs up and texts James, asking for his mothers number. James doesnt refuse, and his mother agrees to pop over to Graces flat.
Emily knows exactly when the mother arrives because the messages keep pinging.
Are you completely off your rocker?! Grace types back. Why did you drag her onto me?
You needed help. I called her, Emily replies, as if nothing happened. I cant come myself, you know that.
Grace reads the message but doesnt answer. Emily feels a small victory, hers alone. Grace will keep whining, Mum will probably be displeased again, but now Grace will have to fend for herself or learn to seek help from those who truly want to help.
