Youre not a wife, youre just a maid. You dont even have children!
Mum, Emilys going to stay with us for a while. Were renovating our flat and its impossible to live there. Theres plenty of space, so why let her sit in all that dust? said Emilys husband, Thomas.
He didnt seem troubled by the idea one bit, unlike his wife and his mother. His mother simply couldnt stand her daughter-in-law.
I really must work, I cant just be here all the time, Emily whispered.
Emilys job was remote, so she desperately needed quiet and solitude. Thomas was out at work all day, so it was no small feat spending every moment under the same roof as her mother-in-law. Besides, Emily had grown accustomed to having her own space, where everything was pleasantly undisturbed.
Emily gazed at her mother-in-law, words failing her. The older woman made it abundantly clear she didnt want Emily there, but the situation left no room for choice. They sat at the table and cobbled together a surreal, heavy dinner.
Emily, would you hand me that delicious salad you always make? Thomas asked.
Thomas, dont eat that concoction. Ive made you a different one much more wholesome, his mother tutted.
Emilys expression changed. Thomas was dreadfully allergic to tomatoes. How could his mother forget? But she never cared when he was a boy. Her answer back then: No need to go pestering doctors, Ill just give him a pill and hell be right as rain.
Hes allergic, why on earth did you put tomatoes in the salad? Emily asked quietly.
Oh, dont make a fuss! Its only one tomato. Nothing dreadful will happen, his mother retorted.
Hell be ill
Emily, do settle down. Hes not allergic, honestly. His own mother knows him better than you do.
I am his wife, I look after my husband!
Youre not a proper wife, just the maid. No children, nothing. Well talk when there are little ones about.
Emily pushed back from the table and hurried off to the bedroom. Her mother-in-law always struck the sorest nerve. Thomas soon rushed after her, eager to comfort his wife.
Thomas, Im sorry. I think Ill go stay at my parents or maybe even crash at the office for a while. I just cant live with your mother.
Let me talk to her. Shell stop, I promise.
No, weve been through all this before, countless times. We just arent meant to live under the same roof.
It became necessary for them to rent a flat elsewhere, just to sidestep another family quarrel. Naturally, his mother wasnt happy, but she was given no other option. Meanwhile, Emily found herself quietly delighted that her husband was so warm-hearted and understanding, even as the furniture seemed at times to slide away of its own accord and the clocks ticked backwards in the dreamlike hush of their new home.
