You arent a wife, youre a housemaid. And you havent any children!
Mum, Emilys going to stay here, said Thomas, Emilys husband. Were having the flat refitted and its impossible there just now. Theres a spare room, so theres no reason she should have to sit around in all that dust.
Thomas sounded perfectly at ease with the idea, a contrast to his wife and mother. His mother, Mrs. Holmes, could never abide Emily, her daughter-in-law.
I must go to work. I really cant stay here, Emily whispered.
Emily worked from home, needing peace and orderwhich was unattainable with Mrs. Holmes in the house. Thomas was at work from dawn until dusk, so sharing a roof with her mother-in-law was a particular trial. Emily longed for the quiet of her own flat, where nobody disturbed her.
Emily watched Mrs. Holmes, unable to summon words. The older woman did not want her in the house, but apparently, there was no getting out of it. They each sat at the table, drifting into the evening meal as if it were a theatre piece.
Emily, would you bring out your famous salad, please? asked Thomas.
Thomas, dont touch that concoction. I’ve made you something far healthier, Mrs. Holmes fussed, her voice fluttering like a curtain in a cold draught.
The tone of the room shuddered. Thomas had an allergy to cucumbershow could his mother possibly forget again? Years ago, Mrs. Holmes had done the same, shrugging off the diagnosis: No need to fuss about with doctors, just take a pill and get on with it.
Hes got an allergy. Why did you add cucumber to the salad? Emily pressed.
Oh, dont be silly. Theres barely a slicehell be perfectly all right, Mrs. Holmes replied, arranging the cutlery as though that settled everything.
Hell be ill, Emily retorted.
Emily, calm down. Hes not allergic; his own mother knows him better than you do.
Im his wife. Its down to me to look after him.
Youre not a wife. Youre the help. And you dont have children! When you do, perhaps then well talk.
Emily shot up from the table and escaped to the bedroom, her heart beating as though it might jump straight out of her chest. Mrs. Holmes always jabbed at the most tender spots. Thomas slipped away to comfort her.
Im sorry, Thomas. I should just go to my parents. Or maybe to my office. I cant live here with your mother.
Let me talk to her. Shell stop, I promise.
No, weve been over this a thousand times. We cant manage under the same roof.
In the end, they agreed to rent a little place for a time, just to keep the next family scandal at bay. Naturally, Mrs. Holmes complained, but she had no recourse. And Emily, at last, found contentment in a husband so kind and gentlealmost as if the world really did spin, in the end, towards a gentler dawn.
