«We dont want you at the wedding,» my children said to me.
«Mum, why are you washing those plates again? Theyre already clean!» Emily sighed, watching her mother scrub the same dishes for the fourth time.
«What if the guests spot watermarks?» Margaret Wilson held a plate up to the light, squinting. «Its a weddingeverything has to be perfect.»
«Mum, honestly, no ones going to be looking at the plates! Theyll be too busy staring at the bride and groom. Youve been stuck in the kitchen for three hours,» Emily stepped closer to hug her, but Margaret moved away.
«Please dont distract me. The salads arent ready, and the cake still needs decorating. Theres no time.»
Emily shook her head and left the kitchen. In the living room, her fiancé, Oliver, was nervously adjusting his tie.
«Love, is your mum really going to manage? Maybe we shouldve booked a restaurant instead,» he whispered.
«Too late nowall the guests are coming here. She insisted on hosting at home. Says restaurants lack soul,» Emily sat beside him, taking his hand. «Bear with her, darling. Shes trying her best.»
Oliver nodded, but doubt flickered in his eyes. Margaret had spent three months preparingstudying recipes, shopping for ingredients, planning every detail. At first, Emily had been touched by her mothers enthusiasm, but lately, shed noticed how stressed and critical shed become.
«Em!» Margaret called from the kitchen. «Come taste the salad!»
Emily walked in to find her mother holding out a spoon.
«Does it need more salt? I cant tell.»
«Mum, its finelovely, actually! Youve asked me ten times already!»
«Well, pardon me for caring!» Margaret turned away, hurt. «I just want everything to be nice. Proper. So Olivers parents dont think we that we dont know how to»
Emily rested her hands on her mothers shoulders.
«Mum, whats wrong? You know his parents are down-to-earth people. They wont judge how much mayo youve used.»
«Wont they?» Margaret spun around. «Did you hear what his mother said on the phone yesterday? We always had smoked salmon on the table. Smoked salmon! And here I am serving prawn cocktail»
«Mum, she didnt mean anything by it. She was just reminiscing.»
«Really? Im not deafI hear the whispers. Margaret lives modestly, doesnt she? As if I should be ashamed of raising you alone after your father left when you were three!»
Emily fell silent. Her mothers old wounds had resurfaced just before the wedding.
«No ones judging you, Mum. Everyone knows youve done brilliantly on your own.»
«Oh, of course. And Olivers parents? Theyve got a four-bed house in Surrey, a new Mercedes. What do I have? A semi in Croydon and a homemade buffet.»
«I dont care about their house!» Emily raised her voice. «Im marrying Oliver, not his parents!»
Just then, Oliver walked in, hearing the commotion.
«Everything alright?»
«Fine, perfectly fine,» Margaret wiped her hands on her apron. «Just finalising the menu. Nearly done.»
Oliver glanced around the kitchen. Platters of finger food, salads, and hot dishes in progress filled the space. It smelled delicious.
«Margaret, this looks amazing. Honestly, my parents will be blown away.»
«Oh, stop it,» she flushed, pleased despite herself.
«No, truly! Ive always preferred home cooking. Restaurants feel so impersonal. This has heart.»
For the first time all day, Margaret smiled.
«Oliver, love, would you like tea? Or coffee? Ill make a fresh pot.»
«Mum, guests arrive in an hour,» Emily reminded her. «You still need to change.»
«Oh, blimey!» Margaret gasped. «I completely forgot! My dress isnt pressed, my hair»
«Mum, relax. Weve got time. Go showerIll finish up here,» Emily took the apron from her.
«Dont touch the cake!» Margaret called from the hallway. «Ill decorate it myself!»
Oliver wrapped an arm around Emilys waist.
«Your mums really stressing. Can we help somehow?»
«She wont let usshell double-check everything. Scared well mess it up,» Emily leaned into him. «I get it, though. She wants to impress your parents.»
«But why? Were not marrying them.»
«Try telling her that. Shes spent her whole life proving she can manage alone.»
Oliver thought for a moment.
«You know what? Ill tell my parents to praise her cooking. Say nothing beats a home-cooked meal.»
«Really? Youd do that?»
«Absolutely. Look how much effort shes put inshe deserves it.»
Emily kissed his cheek.
«Thank you, love. Shell be over the moon.»
Half an hour later, Margaret emerged in a smart navy dress, hair styled, lipstick on.
«How do I look?» she asked uncertainly.
«Stunning!» Oliver grinned. «Right, Em?»
«Gorgeous, Mum,» Emily hugged her. «The perfect mother-in-law!»
Margaret blushed, smoothing her dress.
«Oh, the cake! I forgot the icing roses»
«Mum, guests are already at the door,» Emily peeked out the window. «Leave itits beautiful as is.»
«Margaret, trust me, the cakes fantastic,» Oliver chimed in. «Go greet everyonewell set up.»
Olivers parents arrived first. His mother, Eleanor, elegant in a tailored suit, scanned the flat. Margaret tensed, bracing for judgment.
«How cosy!» Eleanor smiled. «You can tell a family lives herefull of love.»
«Please, make yourselves at home,» Margaret brightened.
Soon, the flat buzzed with chatter and laughter as friends and family arrived. Margaret flitted between kitchen and living room, refilling drinks, topping up plates.
«Margaret, join us!» Olivers father, Richard, beckoned. «Youre the hostesswe barely see you!»
«Oh, I cant sittoo much to do»
«Nonsense!» Richard insisted. «Sit herelets get acquainted.»
Margaret perched nervously on a chair.
«Did you make this potato salad yourself?» Eleanor asked, taking a bite.
«Er, yes» Margaret braced for criticism.
«Its divine! You must share the recipe.»
Margaret flushed with pleasure. «Oh, its nothing specialjust good potatoes and proper mayo»
«And the prawn cocktail!» one of Emilys friends exclaimed. «Margaret, this is art!»
«Absolutely,» Richard agreed. «My wife mostly heats ready mealsthis is proper cooking. You can taste the care.»
Margaret blossomed, sharing tips and recipes as guests listened eagerly.
«Look at Mum,» Emily whispered to Oliver. «Shes a different person.»
«She just needed to feel valued,» he replied.
After toasts and well-wishes, the party relaxed. Margaret finally sat, even sipped some wine.
«Margaret,» Eleanor approached her. «I wanted to say Youve raised a wonderful daughter. Oliver adores herits clear she grew up loved.»
«Thank you,» Margarets eyes welled up. «It wasnt easy alone, but I wanted her to have everything.»
«And you succeeded. Shes kind, capablethe sort of daughter-in-law every mother dreams of.»
«Oh, stop» Margaret glowed.
«And your cooking! Ive eaten so much, my dress might split!» Eleanor laughed.
«Have more! I made plentytry the roast beef»
Later, as the last guests left, the three of them collapsed in the living room. Margaret kicked off her heels, exhausted but happy.
«Well, Mum? Enjoy yourself?» Emily asked.
«You know, love,» Margaret mused, «I worried for nothing. Olivers parents are lovelyno airs at all.»
«Told you!»
«I was so sure theyd look down on us. But they value warmth over show.»
Oliver kissed Margarets hand.
«Thank you for tonight. Mums already stolen three recipes.»
Margaret laughed. «Just simple things!»
«But made with love,» he said sincerely.
Margaret hugged them both.
«Be happy, my dears. And if you ever need meIm here.»
«We know, Mum,» Emily squeezed her. «Thank you. For everything.»
As they headed to bed, Margaret stayed behind, washing up.
«Mum, leave it till morning!»
«I cantitll bother me. You two rest.»
Emily and Oliver exchanged amused glances. Some things would never changeand that was just fine.
Alone in the kitchen, Margaret smiled, reflecting on the day. All her fears about not measuring up had been pointless. Happiness wasnt about wealth or grandeurit was openness, warmth, effort. And judging by the compliments, shed nailed it.
Tomorrow, Emily would start a new chapter. But their bond wouldnt weakenif anything, itd grow stronger. Margaret wasnt just a mother now, but a mother-in-law. And she intended to be a damn good one.
