«A Kingdom for a Grandchild»
«So, any news on the baby front yet?»
«No, Lydia, not yet,» Lisa sighed, rolling her eyes as she bit back her irritation.
«For goodness sake!» her mother-in-law huffed. «You two are dragging your feet. This is important. Ill send you a videovery informative.»
«Right. Thanks,» Lisa muttered, already dreading yet another lecture about conception.
The call ended. The knife clattered loudly against the chopping board as Lisa sliced cucumbers with twice her usual force, venting her frustration.
Lydia had stopped bothering with pleasantries lately, diving straight into the same old question about grandchildren, which grated on Lisas nerves. But it hadnt always been like this.
Once, Lisa and Lydia had gotten along just fine. Lydia rarely interfered, calling once or twice a week and visiting even less. Shed ask for the occasional lift with shopping or a ride to her mothers cottage, and in return, shed spoil them with homemade jam, grapes, or cherries.
Then everything changedbecause of Margaret, Lydias mother.
Even her own daughter jokingly called Margaret «the general in a skirt.» A retired schoolteacher, unbearably strict, she ruled the family with an iron fist. Lisa had been luckyby the time she married Simon, Margaret rarely left her flat these days. Age and poor health kept her home.
But once, just once, Margaret paid them a visit. And that was enough for Lisa.
«What on earth is this slop? You might as well feed it to the chickens!» Margaret scoffed, peering into the pot of simmering soup. «Move over, Ill show you how to make a proper base.»
Lisas family had always made soup without frying the onionsfewer calories, healthier. Shed kept the tradition, partly for Simon, who carried a few extra pounds. She didnt push diets, but she wasnt about to make it worse.
«Margaret, its fine as it is,» Lisa said. «It tastes good like this.»
«Oh, young people these days,» Margaret grumbled. «Too busy with takeaways to cook properly.» She sat down, but the reprieve didnt last.
Lisas phone rangher mum. She stepped into the next room for privacy, only to return to the sizzle of onions frying. She clenched her jaw and shot Margaret a glare.
«Why did you do that? We like it plain.»
«Youve never had it done right. Try it my wayyoull never go back,» Margaret declared, utterly convinced.
Lisa exhaled but held her tongue. She couldve dramatically poured the soup down the loo, but that felt too extreme. Margaret wasnt a frequent guestfor Simons sake, shed bear it.
Yet Margaret found a way to meddle from afar.
At a family gathering, 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.»
Simon laughed as he relayed Grannys words to Lisa, who just smiled. As if theyd rearrange their lives for someone elses whims.
Their plans were set: career first, then a home, then children. Lydia had once fully supported this, insisting there was no rush.
Now they were on step two, racing to pay off the mortgage. Lisas calculations said one more year. Plenty of time for things to changebut to Lydia, it was suddenly «only a year.»
«Sweetheart,» Lydia cooed one day, «why not hurry things along? Youll get the inheritance too!»
Lisa was stunned. Since when did anyone dictate her timeline? Even her own mother wouldnt dare.
«Lydia, weve still got the mortgage.»
«Its just a year! By the time youre due, itll be sorted.»
«People thought the same in 2019, and look how that turned out. No, we want security first.»
«Even if the mortgage falls through, theres Grannys flat! And the cottage. And her jewelleryso much gold! A proper treasure.»
«We wont rush. If it lines up, great. If not… well, it wasnt meant to be.»
«Suit yourselves. But Simons cousins wont wait around…»
And so it became routine. Lisas patience wore thin. She explained, she pleaded, but nothing stopped the nagging.
«Just humour her,» Simon said once. «Shell back off.»
Easier said than done. Lydia took silence as agreement and doubled downflooding Lisa with «expert» videos, showing off friends grandkids, even gifting «romantic» scented candles.
For Lisas birthday, Lydia brought a pram. «Youll need it soon anyway.» It was expensive, top-qualitybut Lisa hated being roped into a game where her body and future were the stakes.
Every visit included some variation of:
«Vickys marriage is on the rocks, and Katies still trying. Youve got the lead!»
It felt like commentary on a bizarre race, with Lisa as the unwilling horse. She gritted her teethfor family peace. She nearly snapped, almost told Lydia to have the baby herself, but then came the reprieve.
«Katies pregnant,» Lydia announced glumly.
Lisa barely bit back a «thank God.»
«Well, its not guaranteed, so you should still try…» Lydia added. «Just in case.»
The «just in case» never came. Katie had the baby, and Lisa breathed easyuntil Margaret called another family meeting.
«Ive got plenty of family now,» she said smugly. «Plenty to look after me. Whoever does gets the inheritance.»
Everyone froze. Katies husband choked on his cake. Lydia, however, perked up.
«But you promised it to us,» Katie whispered.
«Did I?» Margaret arched a brow. «Think popping out a baby means youre owed the world? What about me? I can barely walk to the shops these days!»
Lisa almost laughed. So much for a kingdom for a grandchild.
After that, the pilgrimage began. Aunts, uncles, Lydiaeven Katie with the babyall suddenly visiting, helping, proving their devotion.
Lisa and Simon stayed out of it. They lived their lives, in their home, with work and quiet evenings. To them, that was the win. You could spend your life chasing carrotsor just live on your own terms.
