«A Kingdom for a Grandchild»
«So, still not pregnant?»
«No, Margaret, not yet,» Emily sighed, rolling her eyes to mask her irritation.
«Well, honestly!» her mother-in-law huffed. «You two really need to get on with it. This is important. Ill send you a videovery enlightening.»
«Right. Thanks,» Emily muttered, already dreading another lecture on the «best positions.»
The call ended. The knife thumped loudly against the chopping board as Emily sliced cucumbers with twice her usual vigour, channelling her frustration into the task.
Margaret hadnt even bothered with greetings latelyjust dove straight into *the* question, grating on Emilys nerves. It hadnt always been this way.
Once, theyd gotten on fine. Margaret kept her distance, calling once or twice a week, visiting even less. Shed ask for lifts to the shops or her mothers cottage, repaying them with homemade jam, grapes from her garden, or cherries.
But everything changed because of Margarets mother, Evelyn.
Even her own daughter jokingly called Evelyn «the General in a Skirt.» A former teacher, stern to the bone, she ruled the family with an iron fist. Emily had been sparedby the time she married James, Evelyn rarely left her flat. Age and poor health kept her home.
Then, one day, Evelyn visited. Once was enough.
«What on earth is this slop? Youd feed it to chickens, not people!» Evelyn peered into the simmering pot. «Move over, Ill show you how to make a proper base.»
Emilys family always made soup without frying the onionsfewer calories, healthier. Shed kept the tradition, partly because James was a bit overweight. She never nagged him, but she wasnt about to make it worse.
«Evelyn, its fine. It tastes good like this.»
«Oh, young people these days» Evelyn tutted. «Cant even cook properly with all these takeaways.» Still, she sat down.
It might have ended there, but Emilys phone rang. She stepped away to talk privately. When she returned, sizzling onions filled the kitchen. Emily clenched her jaw, shooting Evelyn a sharp look.
«Why did you do that? We like it without.»
«Youve never had it done right. Try ityoull change your mind,» Evelyn declared, smug as ever.
Emily bit back a retort. She couldve dumped the soup down the loo, but that felt too dramatic. Evelyn wasnt a frequent guestshe could endure it for James sake.
Yet Evelyn meddled from afar. At a family dinner, she announced:
«Ive decided. My inheritance goes to whoever gives me a great-grandchild first. I want to see the family line continue before I go.»
James laughed it off when he told Emily. She just smiled. As if theyd rearrange their lives for a whim!
Their plan was clear: careers first, then a home, then children. Margaret had once wholeheartedly agreedno need to rush.
Now, they were on step two, racing to pay off the mortgage. A year left, by Emilys calculations. Plenty of time for things to change. To Margaret, suddenly, it was «only a year.»
«Sweetheart,» Margaret cooed one day, «why wait? Youll get the inheritance *and* a baby!»
Emily stared. Since when did anyone dictate her timeline? Even her own mother wouldnt dare.
«Margaret, were still sorting the mortgage.»
«Its just a year! By the time youre due, itll be paid off.»
«People in 2019 thought that too. Then everything went sideways. No, well sort the house first.»
«Even if the mortgage falls through, theres Grans flat! And the cottage. And her jewelleryso much gold! A proper treasure.»
«Were not rushing. If it happens, great. If not well, it wasnt meant to be.»
«Suit yourself. James has two cousinstheyll beat you to it.»
The pestering became routine. Emilys patience frayed. She explained, pleaded, but nothing worked.
«Just humour her,» James said once. «Shell drop it.»
Easier said than done. Margaret took silence as agreement and doubled downforwarding «expert» videos, showing off friends grandkids, gifting «romantic» scented candles
For Emilys birthday, Margaret brought a pram. «Youll need it soon!» It was expensive, top-qualitybut Emily hated being strong-armed into a game where her body and future were the stakes.
Every visit included some variation of:
«Vickys marriage is on the rocks, and Cathys struggling. Youve still got a chance!»
Like a bloody horse race. Emily gritted her teeth. For family peace. She nearly snappedsuggesting Margaret have the baby herselfuntil salvation came.
«Cathys pregnant,» Margaret announced glumly.
Emily almost cheered.
«Well, its not guaranteed, so you should still try just in case.»
No «case» came. Cathy had the baby, and Emily relaxeduntil Evelyn called a family meeting.
«My familys grown,» she said, surveying the room. «Whoever cares for me in my old age gets the inheritance.»
Silence. Cathys husband choked on his pie. Margaret perked up instantly.
«But you said itd go to us,» Cathy whispered.
«Did I? Think popping out a baby means youre owed everything? What about *me*? I can barely walk to the shops these days!»
Emily smirked. So much for a kingdom for a grandchild.
The pilgrimage began. Aunts, uncles, Margareteven Cathy with the babyall suddenly flocked to Evelyns, vying to prove their devotion.
Emily and James stayed out of it. They lived their lives, in their home, on their terms. That felt like victory. You could spend your life chasing a carrotor just live it your way.
