Youre just jealous
Mum, are you serious? The Ivy? Thats at least two hundred quid a head for dinner. Each.
James flung his keys onto the shelf, sending them skittering against the wall with a loud clatter. Emily turned from the hob, where she was stirring a sauce, and immediately noticed her husbands white-knuckled grip on his phone.
He listened to his mother intently for a few more moments, then muttered under his breath and abruptly ended the call.
What happened?
Instead of answering, James slumped into a kitchen chair, staring morosely at a plate of potatoes. Emily turned off the burner, dried her hands on a tea towel and sat across from him.
James
Mums completely lost the plot. Totally gone around the bend in her old age. He lifted his gaze, the anger and helplessness in his eyes making Emilys chest tighten. Remember I told you about Norman, from the dance classes?
Emily nodded. Her mother-in-law had mentioned the new acquaintance a month ago, blushing and fiddling with the corner of the tablecloth. It had sounded rather sweeta fifty-eight-year-old widow, five years alone, joining a ballroom class at the local community centre, and finding herself a gallant chap who whirled her around the dancefloor.
So, heres the thing James pushed his plate aside. Shes taken him to The Ivy. Three times in two weeks. Bought him a suit for eight hundred quid. Last weekend they went to Bathguess who paid for the hotel and sightseeing?
Margaret did.
Bingo. He ran his hand down his face. Mum saved that money for years. For home improvements or a rainy day. Now shes splashing out on a bloke shes known six weeks. Its mad
Emily paused, thinking carefully before she spoke. She knew her mother-in-law wellromantic, open-hearted, hopelessly trusting. The sort who still believed in grand love stories long after the age most had stopped.
Listen, James She placed her hand over his. Margarets a grown woman. Its her money, her decisions. Best not interfere; she wont listen to anyone at the moment, not about this.
Shes making mistake after mistake!
Yes, but thats her right. Honestly, I think youre overreacting.
James gave his shoulder an agitated twitch, but didnt pull away.
I just cant stand to watch her
I know, love. But you cant live her life. Shes got to take responsibility for her own choiceseven if we think its all wrong. Shes perfectly capable.
James nodded grimly.
Two months whizzed by. Margarets romantic escapades barely came upshe rang less, kept her answers vague, as if she was hiding something. Emily assumed the affair had fizzled out and stopped worrying.
So, when the doorbell rang that Sunday evening, and Margaret appeared on the doorstep, Emily was momentarily baffled.
My darlings! Her mother-in-law swept into the flat, a waft of sweet perfume trailing after her. He asked me to marry him! Look, just look!
On her finger sparkled a ring with a tiny stone. Cheap, really, but Margaret stared at it as though it were the size of a marble.
Were getting married! Next month! Hes just just wonderful! She pressed her hands to her cheeks and let out a girlish laugh. I never thought, at my age that I could feel all this again
James hugged his mother, and Emily noticed his shoulders finally soften. Perhaps things werent as bad as they’d feared. Maybe Norman genuinely cared, and theyd been worrying for nothing.
Congratulations, Mum, James said, stepping back with a genuine smile. You deserve every bit of happiness.
And Ive already put the flat in his name! Now were a real family! Margaret cried, and the room seemed to freeze.
Emily stopped breathing. James stiffened, as if hed just smacked into a brick wall.
What did you say?
The flat. Margaret waved dismissively, not noticing their expressions. So he knows I trust him. Thats what love is, childrenreal love requires real trust.
A silence fell heavy; even the clocks in the lounge seemed to tick louder.
Margaret, Emily said finally, choosing her words with care. You signed the flat over to a man youve only known three months? Before youre even married?
So what? Margaret lifted her chin. I trust himhes good and honourable. Not like you lot think. And I know youre judging him.
Were not judging, Emily edged forward. But couldnt you have waited until after the wedding at least? Why rush?
You dont understand. Margaret folded her arms. What do you know about true love? About trust?
James gritted his teeth:
Mum
No! She stamped her foot, and suddenly Emily saw a stubborn girl instead of a grown woman. Im not listening to any of you! Youre just jealous of my happiness! You want to ruin everything!
She spun round, knocking her shoulder on the doorframe as she stormed out. The front door slammed, glasses in the cabinet rattling in sympathy.
The wedding was modesta registry office in Croydon, high street charity shop dress, a bouquet of three white roses. But Margaret shone as if she were marrying in Westminster Abbey. Normana portly, balding man with an oily smileacted the doting groom, kissing her hand, pulling out her chair, pouring the champagne. Picture-perfect.
From behind her glass, Emily watched him. There was something wrong about the way his eyes stayed cold, calculating, even when he looked at Margaret. His affection seemed rehearsed, professional.
Emily kept quiet. What was the point? Margaret would hear nothing.
The first few months, Margaret phoned every weekbreathless with joy, listing all the restaurants and plays her wonderful husband was treating her to.
He even brought me red roses last nightjust because!
James would listen, nod, hang up, and sit silently, staring into space.
Emily said nothing. She just waited.
The year slipped past unnoticed.
And thenthat late-evening knock at the door.
Emily opened it and hardly recognised the woman before her. Margaret looked a decade older; deep new wrinkles, hollow eyes, stooped shoulders. In her hand she clutched a battered old suitcasethe same one shed taken on that trip to Bath.
Hes thrown me out. Margarets voice broke. Filed for divorceevicted me. The flats his now. The paperworks all in his name.
Emily silently stepped aside, letting her in.
She made tea, quickly. Margaret sat huddled in the armchair, clutching her mug, crying quietly, hopelessly.
I loved him so much. Did everything for him. And he justhe just
Emily didnt interrupt. She smoothed Margarets back, waited for the tears to run dry.
James arrived home an hour later. He stopped in the doorway, saw his motherhis face turned to stone.
James. Margaret rose, reaching out. Darling, Ive nowhere to go. You wont abandon me, will you? Just let me have a roomI wont take up much space. Children should care for their parents
Stop, James raised his hand. Just stop, Mum.
Ive no money. Genuinely, not a penny. I wasted it all on him. My pensions tiny, you know
I warned you.
What?
I warned you. James dropped heavily onto the sofa, as if the world had landed on his shoulders. I told youdont rush. I told youget to know him. I told youdont sign over the flat. Remember what you told me?
Margaret looked down.
That we didnt understand real love. That we were just jealous of your happiness. I remember perfectly, Mum!
James Emily tried to intervene, but he shook his head.
No. She needs to hear it. He turned to his mother. Youre an adult. You made your choice. You ignored everyone who tried to help you. And now you expect us to sort out the pieces?
But Im your mother!
Thats why Im angry! James shot to his feet, shouting. Im tired, Mum! Tired of watching you throw your life away and running to me for rescue afterwards!
Margaret shrank, suddenly small and pitiful.
He tricked me, he really did. I loved and trusted him
You trusted him enough to hand over the flat, James ran his hands through his hair. Brilliant, Mum. Just brilliant. Never mind that the flat was Dads legacy!
Im sorry. The tears streaked down Margarets cheeks. I was blind. Pleaseplease just give me another chance. I promise, I wont ever
Adults take responsibility for their actions. His voice was quiet, exhausted. You wanted independence. Here it is. Find your own place, your own income. Youll have to manage as best you can.
Margaret fled out, sobbing down the stairs.
Emily spent the night next to James, holding his hand in silence. He didnt cry. He just stared at the ceiling, sighing heavily now and again.
Did I do the right thing? he asked at dawn, as the room grew pale.
Yes. Emily stroked his cheek. It was harsh. Painful. But right.
In the morning James rang his mother and found her a room in a shared house on the outskirts. Six months rent, paid up front. The last bit of help he was willing to give.
After this, youre on your own, Mum. If you need help with the solicitors, well pay where necessary. But living with usno.
Emily listened to the conversation and thought about justice. Sometimes, the hardest lesson is the only one that sticks. Margaret received exactly what her blindness had earned.
The thought tasted both bitter and curiously peaceful. And yet she couldnt shake the feeling that things werent over, that somehowsomehowit would all work out in the end.
