Youre joking, Mum, arent you? The Savoy? Thats at least two hundred quid a head!
James threw his car keys at the hallway shelf with such force they ricocheted off the wall. Margaret turned from the hob, where she was stirring the gravy, instantly spotting the white-knuckled grip her husband had on his phone.
He listened to his mothers voice for another tense minute, then hissed a curse and stabbed at the screen to end the call.
Whats happened?
In response, James collapsed at the kitchen table, arms folded, eyeing his mashed potatoes as though they personally offended him. Margaret switched off the gas, wiped her hands on her apron, and sat opposite him.
James
Mums finally lost the plot. Gone completely doolally in her golden years. He looked up, and Margaret saw something between anger and helplessness in his green eyes. Her heart twinged. Remember I told you about whats his name Lionel? From the dancing?
Margaret nodded. Her mother-in-law had mentioned the new acquaintance a month agoblushing, fidgeting with the corner of the tablecloth. At the time it had sounded sweet: a 58-year-old widow, five years without companionship, joining a tea dance at the community centre and meeting a dashing gent keen on the waltz.
Well. James nudged the plate away. Shes taken him to The Savoy. Three times in two weeks. Bought him a suitfor eight hundred quid! Last weekend they visited Bathguess who picked up the hotel and sightseeing tab?
Diana Jones.
Bingo! He rubbed his face. Shes been saving for years, just in case the roof caves in. Now shes blowing it all on a bloke shes known six weeks. Its absolutely crackers…
Margaret paused, words failing her. She knew her mother-in-law wellromantic, endlessly open-hearted, and gullible to a fault, even now, after decades on the planet.
Listen, James. She placed her hand over his. Dianas a grown woman. Her money, her choices. Step back. She wont listen to anyone right now.
Shes making mistake after mistake!
Yes. And shes allowed to. Honestly, I think youre catastrophising.
James shrugged, but didnt pull away.
I just hate watching her
I know, love. But you cant live her life for her. Margaret stroked his wrist. Shes responsible for her own actions. Even if we dont like it. Shes still all there upstairs.
James nodded gloomily.
Two months flew by. The Lionel updates fizzled; Diana phoned less, and when she did, she spoke evasively, as if hiding something. Margaret decided their liaison had fizzled out and stopped worrying.
So when, on Sunday evening, the doorbell rang and Diana burst in, Margaret was caught entirely off-guard.
My dears! Guess what, guess what! Diana wafted into the hallway, leaving a cloud of sickly sweet perfume behind her. Hes proposed! Look!
A tiny stone gleamed on her ring finger. Cheap as chips, but Diana gazed at it like it was the Hope Diamond.
Were getting married! Next month! Hes just so so wonderful… She pressed her palms to her cheeks, giggling like a lovestruck teen. Didnt think Id find this at my age didnt think Id ever feel this again
James hugged his mum, and Margaret saw his shoulders finally relax. Maybe they had all overreacted. Maybe Lionel was the real thing, after all.
Congrats, Mum. James stepped back with a genuine smile. You deserve to be happy.
And Ive put the flat in his name too! Were a real family now! Diana burst out, and time seemed to freeze.
Margaret stopped breathing. James jerked back as if hed smacked into a glass wall.
Sorry you what?
The flat. Diana waved a hand breezily. To show him I trust him, you know? Thats what love is! Love is trust!
A hush fell, broken only by the clock ticking in the front room.
Diana Margaret started carefully, you put the deeds in his name? Someone you’ve known three months? Before the wedding?
So what? Diana drew herself up. I trust him. Hes not like that. Not the way you think. I know you think badly of him.
Weve never said a word. Margaret stepped forward. But really, wouldnt it have made sense to wait? Why rush?
You dont understand! This is proof of my feelings. Diana folded her arms. What do you know about real love? Or trust, for that matter?
At last, James unclenched his jaw.
Mum
No! Diana stamped her foot, and for a moment Margaret saw not a grown woman but a petulant teenager. I dont want to hear it! Youre just jealous of my happiness! You want to ruin everything!
With a dramatic whirl, Diana stormed out, bumping her shoulder on the doorframe. A second later, the front door slammed, rattling the best china in the display cabinet.
The wedding itself was modesta registry office in Croydon, a dress from Oxfam, a posy of three M&S roses. Diana beamed as if she were floating down the aisle at Westminster Abbey. Lionela thick-set man with thinning hair and an oily grinwas on impeccable form. He kissed her hand, moved her chair, poured the prosecco. An absolute dreamboat.
Margaret sipped her wine and watched him with a nagging unease. It was the eyes. When Lionel looked at Diana, his pupils stayed icy, calculating. Practised affection. Scripted caring.
But what could you say when it was already too late?
For the first few months, Diana rang every week, bubbling with tales of posh dinners and West End shows courtesy of her new husband.
He brought me lilies yesterday. Just because!
James listened, nodded, then sat in silence, staring through the wall after the phone call ended.
Margaret kept out of it. She just waited.
The year tumbled by.
Thenone nighta knock.
Margaret opened the door to a woman she barely recognised. Diana looked ten years older: lines carving her cheeks, eyes sunken, shoulders stooped. A battered suitcaseher Bath weekend bagdangled from one hand.
Hes thrown me out. Diana choked out, voice breaking. Filed for divorce and told me to leave. The flatits his now. Legally, anyway.
Margaret silently stood aside, letting her in.
The kettle boiled quickly. Diana sat in the old armchair, hugging her mug, weepinghopelessly, quietly.
I loved him. Did everything for him. But he he just…
Margaret held her tongue, gently rubbing her mother-in-laws back, waiting for the tears to dry out.
James got home an hour later. He stopped at the door when he saw his mum; his face hardened.
James… Diana stood and held her arms out. Darling, Ive nowhere to go Youll help me, wont you? A little room, I wont be a bother. Children ought to look after their parents, I mean
Wait. James held up a hand. Justwait.
I dont have any money left. Not a penny. Spent it all on him. My pensions peanuts, you know
I warned you.
What?
I warned you! James slumped on the sofa, heavy as if hed been handed a sack of bricks. Told you not to rush. Told you to get to know him. Told youdont put the flat in his name. Remember what you said to me?
Diana dropped her gaze to the floor.
That we didnt know what real love was. That we were jealous of your happiness. Oh, I remember, perfectly!
James… Margaret tried to intervene, but he shook his head.
No, let it stand. He turned to his mother. Youre an adult. You made your choices. You ignored everyone who tried to help. Now you want us to sort out the mess?
But Im your mother!
Exactly, thats why Im so angry! James shot to his feet, voice cracking. Im exhausted, Mum. Exhausted from watching you throw your life down the drain, then come running to me with your hand out!
Diana shrank into herself, small and strangely fragile.
He tricked me, son. I really did love him, I trusted
Trusted. James ran a hand through his hair. So much that you gave away the flat Dad saved for. Brilliant, Mum. Absolutely brilliant.
Im sorry. Dianas tears started again, old and raw. I was blind, I know. But please one more chance. Ill never
Grown-ups live with their choices. You wanted independence? There it is. Find somewhere to live. Find a job. Do what you have to.
Diana left in a storm of sobs, her cries echoing down the stairwell.
Margaret sat by her husband all night, holding his hand in quiet solidarity. James didnt weephe just lay there, eyes on the ceiling, breathing heavily from time to time.
Did I do the right thing? he asked at dawn, when the London sunlight revealed itself over rooftops.
Yes. Margaret stroked his cheek. It hurt. But yes.
The next morning, James called his mum and arranged for a room in a shared flat in Zone 4. He paid six months rent upfront. That was all he could muster.
From here, its up to you, Mum. Well help if you take him to court; well pay the fees. But living hereno.
Margaret listened and mulled over fairness. Sometimes the most brutal lesson is the only one that really lands. Diana had earned exactly what her blindness warranted.
And as bitter as it was, there was a quiet sense of rightness too. Somehow she knew it wasnt the end. Things would settle. They had to. Even if no one yet knew how.
