Youve lost your mother forever! blurted Margaret, his motherinlaw, with a venomous laugh.
Forget that you ever had a mother. Once youre married, you wont bother me, youll act as if I never existed. And I wont hand over any money for your wedding. If I didnt pick your bride, I wont fund this charade.
James Hargreaves felt a surge of joy whenever his little son, also called James, clutched his neck and said,
Mum, youre the best in the world. Ill do everything to keep you smiling.
The boys innocent words turned his mothers heart inside out. She swelled with pride at the thought of having raised such a perfect little angelgolden curls, blue eyes, aristocratic features. As he grew, his mother set ever higher standards for any future daughterinlaw. She wanted a lady with a respectable pedigree, immaculate looks, a slender figure, a university degree, flawless manners, a prestigious jobpreferably a senior positionand a wellconnected social circle.
My son already has a flat. He now needs a suitable lady to keep it immaculate, someone ready to welcome guests at any hour, because thats her duty as wife and housekeeper.
Time passed and Margarets demands grew harsher.
No women over thirtyfive. Shed only produce a frail child. And the child must be Jamess, no doubt about it.
Margaret, have some sense, relatives warned her. There are no women today who fit your checklist. If you want James to marry and have children, stop meddling, or hell stay single forever.
James excelled at school and university, landed a wellpaid job, yet his personal life stalled. Every time he introduced a potential girlfriend to his mother, she found a thousand excuses to drive her away. During each meeting she would say,
James, could you slice some fruit for us while we chat?
The first woman Margaret met was Mabel Turner, a girl from a modest backgroundher mother a clerk, her father a boilerroom attendant, with two younger brothers. Mabel worked as a pharmacists assistant, which made Margaret uneasy.
So shes constantly around medicines. What if she poisons my son? Or me? No, shes not suitable. Her family are manual workers; we need none of that.
Sweetheart, you cant marry James, Margaret snapped when she and Mabel were alone. Youre too different. He was raised in a world you could never imagine. Find someone more ordinary.
Mabel left without a word, never saying goodbye to James. When he asked why, she replied coldly,
Ask your mothershe raised you in those special conditions. She thinks youre too good for me, so Ill look for someone simpler.
Mum, why did you hurt Mabel? I like her, really like her. What did you say?
Son, youve forgotten something, Margaret said slowly. Im your mother; I know best who can make you happy. Not Mabel, thats for sure. Where did you even find such a mismatch? No respectable family could be found.
James realised arguing with his mother was useless and walked away. He occasionally mentioned a new girlfriend but never brought her home. Margaret would offer to help with his marriage, which James politely declined.
Ill choose my own wife, not you.
I know exactly who youll pick, Margaret muttered. Some cleaning lady with nothing on her mind but mops and buckets.
At least the floors will shine, James joked ominously.
Dont talk to me that way! Margaret snapped.
James retreated to his room. Eventually he moved out of his mothers flat, taking the property she had been renting out.
His relationship with his father, Robert, had been strained since the divorce when James was six. After years of silence, Robert finally agreed to meet.
You know why I left Margaret? She never let me live my own life. She controlled everythingwhere I went, what I did, who I spoke to. When I tried to spend time with you, shed accuse me of being uneducated and unfit. I was just a cog for her, and I quit. I thought Id saved myself by walking away.
And youre happy about that? James frowned.
Why ask? Robert retorted. I bought you a flat, gave you the keys.
What? James stared, bewildered.
Robert repeated,
I saved for ten years to give you a place of your own. Dont ever go back to her, or youll lose everything. She doesnt consider anyone a person.
Why didnt you stay in touch? James asked quietly.
I didnt want you to suffer. Margaret threatened to send you far away, so I kept my distance.
Roberts words shifted Jamess view of his mother. He began to think the ideal partner should at least remind him of her. Margaret smirked, Youll never find anyone like meone in a million, perhaps one in a billion.
After Mabel, James met several other women, none of whom pleased Margaret. Finally he gave his mother an ultimatum:
Either stop interfering in my life, or Ill stop speaking to you.
Ungrateful wretch, Margaret snarled. Who do you think youre talking to? I bought you a house, paid for your education. How dare you?
Mum, enough, James pleaded. I know who really bought that flat. I spoke with father; he told me everything.
And you believe him? she exploded. Not my mother, but some loser?
That loser is my father. Or not?
Margarets face flushed. She stared at him coldly and shut herself in her bedroom. The next morning she didnt come down for breakfast. James knocked, hearing a harsh shout:
Leave me alone and go back to that worthless father!
Mum, why? James opened the door and found her on the bed, hair disheveled, dress rumpled, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was a stark contrast to her usual immaculate appearance and expensive perfume.
You know what, son? she said slowly. Marry whoever you like, whether a Papuanpenguin hybrid or an Indian rhinoceros mix. Just forget I exist. After the wedding, dont bother me, and I wont give you any wedding money. If I didnt choose your bride, I wont pay for the whole farce.
Got it, Mum, James replied with a cheeky bow, closing the door behind him. That day he moved into his own flat.
Six months later he invited his mother to a restaurant to announce his impending marriage.
And who is she? Margaret asked indifferently.
Whatever she is, you wont like her, James said coolly. I just wanted you to know my fiancée is called Lizzie. Shes twentysix, from a long line of doctors, a very respectable woman.
Good heavens, and youre so sure of her worth? Margaret rolled her eyes. Show me a photo.
James pulled out his phone and displayed Lizzies picture. Margaret pursed her lips and shook her head disapprovingly.
Thats the future mother of my grandchildren? What a nightmare!
The woman in the photo had an unmistakably Eastern look.
Shes not Lizzie, shes a Gulchatai. Why call her that?
Lizzie is halfKorean, James explained patiently.
Even better, Margaret sneered. She looks like a bulldogrhino cross.
Youll grow to like her once you get to know her after the wedding, James smiled.
Margarets breath caught at his words.
After the wedding?! Youre marrying anyway? Just to spite me?
Why would I? For my own happiness, James grinned, flagging a waitress.
Margaret sat in stunned silence, trying to picture grandchildren with such a motherinlaw. It seemed impossible.
At the wedding, James approached his mother and warned,
No scenes, please. If Lizzie leaves because of you, Ill never forgive you.
Margaret had to swallow her pride and watch as his beautiful, radiant bride received congratulations, danced, and laughed with the guests. The next day the newlyweds arrived with a gift for Margaret, but she barred them at the door.
Listen, son. Ive done everything you asked. Now hear me: dont bring that mixedblood woman into my house again. Do you understand? You may have a thousand wives, but Im only one mother.
The couple left, and Margaret, in a fit of spite, tossed the gift into the bin.
Ill take nothing from this halfbreed, she snarled.
Soon after, Margaret fell ill repeatedly, and Lizzie took charge of her care, hiring night and day carers so the old lady wouldnt be left alone. Margaret could not accept the daughterinlaw she despised, especially since it was Lizzie who now kept her alive.
You promised to find someone like me, didnt you? Wheres the resemblance? Margaret complained, forced to silence by Lizzies constant assistance.
When the phone rang, Margaret answered in a lilting tone,
Hello, love. How are you? My blood pressure is spiking. Could you come over? Great, see you soon
In the end, Margaret realised that the love she demanded for her son came at the cost of her own happiness. She learned that trying to control others only built walls around herself, and the only freedom she gained was the peace of letting go. The lesson was clear: love cannot thrive under tyranny; it flourishes when we release our grip and trust those we cherish.
