**A Kingdom for a Grandchild**
*Diary Entry*
So, any news on the baby front yet?
No, Margaret, not yet, Emily sighed, rolling her eyes as she fought to keep the irritation from her voice.
Oh, for goodness sake! her mother-in-law huffed. You two need to get a move on. This is important! Ill send you a videovery informative.
Uh-huh. Thanks, Emily muttered, bracing herself for yet another lecture on conception tips.
Margaret hung up. The sharp clatter of a knife echoed through the kitchenEmily was chopping cucumbers with twice the usual vigour, channelling her frustration into the task.
Lately, Margaret didnt even bother with pleasantries. Every call began with *that* question, and it grated on Emilys nerves. It hadnt always been this way.
Once, theyd had a decent relationshipMargaret kept her distance, calling only once or twice a week, visiting even less. Shed occasionally ask for a lift to the shops or a ride to her mothers cottage, and in return, shed bring homemade jam, grapes, or cherries. But everything changed because of Edith, Margarets mother.
Even her own daughter jokingly called Edith the General in a skirt. A retired schoolteacher, impossibly strict, she ruled the family with an iron fist. Emily had been luckyby the time she married James, Edith rarely left her flat. Age and poor health kept her home.
But Edith did visit once. And once was enough.
What on earth is this slop? I wouldnt feed it to chickens! Edith peered into the pot of simmering soup. Move over, Ill show you how to make a proper base.
In Emilys family, they made soup without frying the onionsfewer calories, healthier. James had a bit of extra weight, nothing serious, but she didnt want to make it worse.
Edith, its fine as it is, Emily protested.
Honestly, young people these dayscant cook properly with all those takeaways, Edith grumbled but sat down.
It might have ended there, but Emilys phone rangher own mother. Stepping into the next room, she returned to find onions sizzling in the pan. She bit her lip, shooting Edith a sharp look.
Why did you do that? We like it plain.
Youve just never had it done right. Try ityoull change your mind, Edith declared, unshakable.
Emily sighed and let it go. She couldve dramatically tipped the soup down the sink, but that felt too extreme. Edith wasnt a frequent visitorfor James sake, shed endure it.
Yet Edith managed to meddle from afar.
At a family dinner, she suddenly announced:
Ive decided. My entire estate goes to whoever gives me my first great-grandchild. I want to see the family line continue before I go.
James repeated it to Emily with a laugh. She just smiled. As if theyd rearrange their lives for someones whim.
They had plans: work first, then a home, *then* children. Margaret had once agreed, insisting there was no rush. Now, they were on step twopaying off the mortgage. A year left, by Emilys calculations. A year where much could change. But to Margaret, it was suddenly only a year.
Sweetheart, she cooed one day, you should hurry up. You *were* planning children anywaynow youll get the inheritance too!
Emily was stunned. Since when did anyone dictate her timeline? Even her own mother wouldnt dare.
Margaret, we still have the mortgage.
Its just a year! By the time you conceive and carry to term, youll have closed it.
People thought the same in 2019, and look how *that* turned out. No, we want stability first.
Even if the mortgage falls through, youll have Ediths flat! And the cottage. And her jewelleryall that gold! A fortune.
We wont rush. If it aligns, fine. If not well, it wasnt meant to be.
Suit yourself. James has two cousinstheyll beat you to it.
From then on, these talks became routine. Emilys patience frayed. She tried explaining, even outright asking Margaret to drop itnothing worked.
Just ignore her, James said once. Shell ease off if you humour her.
But Margaret took silence as agreement. She bombarded Emily with expert videos, photos of friends grandchildren, even scented candles for romance.
For Emilys birthday, Margaret brought a pram. Youll need it soon! It was a nice prambut Emily hated being roped into a game where her body and future were the stakes.
Every visit included something like:
Vickys marriage is on the rocks, and Katies still trying. Youve still got a chance!
It sounded like a sports commentaryone player slipping, another gaining ground. Emily felt less like a person and more like a racehorse.
She gritted her teeth. For family peace. But she was close to snappinguntil salvation came.
Katies pregnant, Margaret announced, deflated.
Emily nearly blurted, *Thank God.*
Its not a guarantee, thoughyou should still try, Margaret pressed. Just in case.
The just in case never came. Katie had the baby, and Emily thought it was overuntil Edith called a family meeting.
Now that my familys grown, she said smugly, Ive decided whoever cares for me in my old age gets my estate.
Silence. Katies husband choked on his cake. Margaret perked up instantly.
But you promised it to *us*, Katie whispered.
Did I? Edith arched a brow. You think popping out a baby means I owe you? What about *me*? I can barely walk to the shops these days!
Emily couldnt help but smile. *So much for a kingdom for a grandchild.*
After that, the pilgrimage beganaunts, uncles, Margaret, even Katie with her newbornall suddenly desperate to prove their devotion.
Emily and James stayed out of it. They lived their lives, in their flat, with work and quiet evenings. And that, to them, was the real victory. You could spend your life chasing a dangling carrotor you could build your own path, without looking back.
*Lesson learned: No inheritance is worth sacrificing your peaceor your plans. One evening, as Emily and James sat on their balcony watching the sunset, a text arrived from Margaret: *»Ediths moving into sheltered housing. Turns out shes impossible to care for full-time. Who knew?»* Emily smiled, closed her phone, and leaned into James. Below them, the city hummed quietly, indifferent to legacies and promises. Inside their flat, dinner was warming on the stovesimple, onion-free, just the way they liked it.
