«You won’t see your granddaughter again,» snapped my daughter-in-law before blocking my number.
«Margaret, would you mind if I did the washing up? I need something to keep my hands busy,» offered Emma, poking her head into the kitchen where her mother-in-law sat reading the paper.
Margaret set down the Telegraph and studied Emma carefully. She stood in the doorway in her usual housecoat, her hair hastily tied upbut her eyes were oddly bright, almost feverish.
«Oh, don’t trouble yourself, love. You were up late working on that presentation yesterday. Ive got this,» Margaret replied, folding the paper neatly.
«Honestly, let me. You do so much around the house, and I just feel like Im in the way,» Emma insisted, already moving toward the sink.
Margaret frowned. There was something off about Emma todayshe was usually so reserved, always slightly tense in her presence. Now she was fidgeting like a schoolgirl before exams.
«Wheres Sophie?» Margaret asked, referring to her four-year-old granddaughter.
«Still asleep. She stayed up late watching cartoons,» Emma answered, scrubbing a plate with too much force.
Margaret stepped closer, standing beside her at the sink. Emma smelled of the same perfume Daniel had bought her for her birthday, but there was something else underneathsomething sharp, like anxiety.
«Emma, love, whats the matter? You seem awfully wound up today,» Margaret said gently.
Emma froze, a wet plate clutched in her hands. Her shoulders stiffened, her fingers tightening painfully around the china.
«Nothing, really. Just didnt sleep well, I suppose.»
«And wheres Daniel? He promised to take Sophie to the park today,» Margaret pressed, sensing the tension thickening in the air.
«Daniel wont be coming,» Emma said sharply, slamming the plate onto the drying rack with a clatter that made Margaret jump.
«What do you mean? He told me just yesterday»
«Margaret,» Emma turned slowly, and Margaret saw her red-rimmed eyes, like shed been crying. «We need to talk.»
Margarets heart hammered. She sank into a chair, her legs suddenly weak.
«Sit down, love. Tell me whats happened.»
Emma stayed standing, drying her hands so hard she mightve rubbed the skin off.
«Daniel and I are getting divorced.»
The words fell into the quiet kitchen like stones into water. Margaret felt something inside her snap, as if all the strings holding her together had been cut at once.
«Divorced? Butbut everything was fine yesterday! You had dinner together, Sophie recited that nursery rhyme…»
«Margaret, weve been strangers for six months. Weve just been pretendingfor Sophies sake. But we cant anymore.»
Margaret tried to stand, but her legs wouldnt obey. She stayed seated, gripping the edge of the table.
«But why? What happened? Cant it be fixed? Should I speak to Daniel?»
Emma gave a bitter laugh.
«Theres nothing to fix. He packed his things last night and left. For *her*.»
«Who?» Margaret whispered, though deep down, she already knew.
«His new fling. Jessica, from his office. The one hes spent the last six months telling me is so *brilliant*, so *understanding*.»
Emma sat across from her, hands trembling on the table.
«Margaret, I know you love him. Hes your only son. But he betrayed our family.»
«Emma, darling,» Margaret reached for her hands, but Emma pulled away. «Menthey go through phases. Hell come to his senses. He loves Sophie»
«Does he?» Emma nodded stiffly. «Thats why he decided weekends would be enough. How convenientno responsibility, just the fun bits.»
«And you? You loved him too…»
Emma shut her eyes, dragging a hand down her face.
«I did. For five years. I had his child, left my job at a good firm because he wanted a housewife. Cooked, cleaned, waited. While he was flirting with secretaries.»
Margaret felt a lump rise in her throat. Shed always suspected something was offthe late nights, the sudden «business trips.»
«Emma, maybe theres been a misunderstanding? Every marriage has rough patches»
«He told me straight to my face, Margaret. He loves someone else. He only stayed this long for Sophie. Romantic, isnt it?»
Tears streaked Emmas cheeks, but her voice stayed steady.
«What happens now?» Margaret whispered.
«Im filing for divorce. Sophie stays with me. Were moving to my mums in Bristol.»
«Bristol?» Margaret gasped. «Thats so far!»
«Because everything here reminds me of him. And because Mums offered me a job at her company.»
Margaret stood, walking to the window. Outside, children playedone of them Sophies little friend from down the road. Her heart ached.
«And Sophie? Shes settled herenursery, her friends… *Me*.»
«Shell adjust. Kids do.»
«Emma, I understand youre angry with Daniel. You have every right. But why punish *me*? What have I done?»
Emma spun around.
«What have you done? Who spent his whole life telling him he was *special*, that rules didnt apply? Who excused every rotten thing he did, starting with school?»
«I loved him»
«Loved him? Or spoiled him?» Emmas voice turned hard. «Remember when he dumped his first girlfriend at uni after she got pregnant? You said, *Good lad, dodged a bullet there.*»
Margaret flushed.
«That was years ago»
«And when he skipped child support for his first kid? *Shouldve thought before she spread her legs,* you said. And now youre shocked hes done the same to us?»
«Emma, please»
«How *should* I say it?» Emma stepped closer. «You raised a selfish man, Margaret. And now Im supposed to just take it?»
Sophie shuffled in, still in her princess pyjamas, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
«Mummy, why are you shouting?»
Emmas face softened instantly as she knelt.
«We werent shouting, sweetheart. Just talking. Go wash up, Ill make breakfast.»
«Wheres Daddy? He promised the park.»
Margaret and Emma exchanged glances. Sophies trusting eyes made Margarets chest tighten.
«Daddy… cant today,» Emma said quietly. «Hes busy.»
«Tomorrow?»
«I dont know, Soph. I dont know.»
Frowning, Sophie trotted off to the bathroom. Once the door shut, Emma straightened, facing Margaret.
«And now I have to explain why her father left.»
«Emma, love,» Margaret took her hands. «I know youre angry. At Daniel, at me. But think of Sophie. She loves me. Why take that from her?»
«Because youll teach her that men can do as they please. That women should just put up with it. I wont let my daughter repeat my mistakes.»
«Im not like that»
«You *are*, Margaret. Remember when Daniel hit me after Sophie was born? I came to you in tears, and you said, *Men get stressed with babies. Be patient.*»
Margaret went pale. She rememberedshed thought she was giving wise advice.
«But he never did it again»
«Because I told him Id leave if he did. Not because he changed.»
From the bathroom, Sophies off-key singing drifted outa normal sound that now felt like goodbye.
«When do you leave?» Margaret asked, voice shaking.
«Tomorrow. Tickets are booked.»
«*Tomorrow?* Butcant you wait till the weekend?»
«The longer we stay, the harder itll be for Sophie.»
«And what about *me*?» Margaret whispered. «Dont I deserve a chance?»
Emma turned to the window.
«You shouldve thought of that when you were raising your son.»
Sophie burst in, cheeks pink from scrubbing.
«Mummy, can we go to the park with Nana today? Theyve got new swings!»
Margaret looked at Emma pleadingly.
«Of course, darling,» Emma said after a pause. «Go with Nana.»
Sophie cheered, scampering off to get dressed. Margaret watched her go, then turned back to Emma.
«Is this the last time?»
«Yes.»
«Emma, Im begging youdont cut me out completely. We could call, I could visit»
«No,» Emma said firmly. «You wont see Sophie again. Ill block your number, and well start fresh. Without any of you.»
Margarets world crumbled. She dropped into a chair, covering her face.
«Youll kill me, taking her away.»
«And I nearly died living with your son. Now its my turn to live.»
Sophie bounded back in, dressed and beaming.
«Nana, lets go! I want the big slide!»
Margaret wiped her eyes, took Sophies hand.
«Lets go, poppet.»
At the park, Sophie swung high, laughing, babbling about a new cartoon. Margaret watched, memorising every giggle, every word. Because tomorrow, it would all be in the past.
«Nana, why are you crying?» Sophie asked, hopping off the swing.
«Just the wind, darling. Just the wind.»
Back home, Emma was packing suitcases. Sophie frowned.
«Mummy, where are we going?»
«To Nana Elaines, sweetheart. Itll be fun.»
«Is Daddy coming?»
«No. Daddys staying here.»
«Is Nana Margaret?»
Emma glanced at Margaretjust for a second, there was something like regret.
«Nana Margarets staying too.»
«But I *want* Nana Margaret!» Sophie wailed. «She does the voices in stories!»
«Ill do the voices in Bristol,» Emma said softly.
«Yours arent as good!»
Margaret knelt, hugging Sophie tight.
«My sweet girl. Youll go with Mummy, and Ill love you every day from here.»
«Will we come back?»
«I dont know, poppet. I dont know.»
Sophie cried harder, clinging to Margaret, who stroked her hair, feeling her heart tear in two.
«Emma, *please*,» Margaret whispered. «Look at her.»
«Shell adjust faster this way,» Emma saidbut her voice wavered.
That night, with Sophie asleep, Margaret tried one last time.
«Emma, I know Ive failed. But let me make it right.»
«Its too late, Margaret. Years too late.»
«What if I talk to Daniel? Make him see sense?»
Emma gave a bitter laugh.
«You couldnt change him if he *wanted* to. And I dont want a man who needs forcing to love his family.»
The next morning, Margaret waved them off into the taxi. Sophie sobbed, clinging to her.
«Nana, come *with* us!»
«I cant, sweetheart. I cant.»
Emma bundled Sophie into the car. Before shutting the door, she met Margarets eyes.
«Goodbye, Margaret.»
«Goodbye, love.»
The taxi pulled away. Margaret stood frozen on the doorstep until Mrs. Thompson from next door called out.
«Margaret, whats happened? Wheres Emma off to with Sophie?»
«Gone,» Margaret said numbly. «Gone for good.»
Inside, the house felt hollow. She sank into her armchair, weeping. On the table sat Sophies forgotten toya tiny stuffed rabbit.
Margaret clutched it to her chest and knewher life was over.
