«You’re no family of ours,» said the mother-in-law, scooping the meat from her daughter-in-laws plate back into the pot.
Emily froze by the stove, clutching her plate. The gravy from the stew Margaret had just cooked still clung to it. Piece by piece, the meat disappeared into the pot, as though her mother-in-law was counting every morsel.
«Sorry?» Emily asked, not believing her ears.
«Whats unclear about it?» Margaret wiped her hands on her apron and turned to face her. «We never welcomed you into this family. You forced your way in.»
The kitchen fell so quiet the bubbling soup on the stove was the only sound. Emily set the plate down and pushed a strand of hair from her forehead. Her hands trembled.
«Margaret, I dont understand. Tom and I have been married five years! We have a daughter»
«And what of it?» her mother-in-law cut in. «Lilys our blood, thats true. But youll always be an outsider.»
The kitchen door opened, and Tom walked in, his hair rumpled, shirt unbuttonedclearly hed been napping after work.
«Whats going on?» he asked, glancing between his wife and mother. «Why are you shouting?»
«Were not shouting,» Margaret said calmly. «Just talking. Explaining to your wife how things work in this house.»
Tom frowned and looked at Emily. She stood pale-lipped, silent.
«Mum, what did you say?»
«The truth. That not everyone gets a share. The familys large, the portions small.»
Emily felt a lump rise in her throat. That was it. Five years shed thought she was part of this family. Five years trying to please her mother-in-law, enduring her jabs, hoping things would get better.
«Tom, Im going home,» she whispered. «To my mums.»
«What dyou mean, *home*?» Margaret snapped. «Your homes here now. You think you can come and go as you please?»
«Mum, stop,» Tom stepped toward Emily. «What happened?»
Emily stayed silent. How could she explain that his mother had just made it clear she was nothing here? That even a plate of stew was too much for her?
«Ill pack Lilys things,» she said instead. «Well stay with Mum for the weekend.»
«What for?» Margaret huffed. «Her grandmas right herewhy drag the child elsewhere?»
«Her grandma thinks her mother isnt family,» Emily said quietly. «Maybe Lily deserves better.»
She turned to leave the kitchen. Tom grabbed her arm.
«Em, wait! Just tell me what happened.»
Emily turned back. Her husband looked bewildered; her mother-in-law stood by the stove, pretending to stir the soup.
«Ask your mother,» Emily said. «Shell explain it better.»
In the nursery, three-year-old Lily was playing with her dolls. Seeing her mum, she ran over happily.
«Mummy! Look, Im feeding Katie!»
«Well done, sweetheart.» Emily crouched and hugged her. «Are you hungry?»
«Yes! Grandma said theres stew tonight.»
«There will be, love. But you and I are going to eat at Nanas.»
«Your mummys?» Lily beamed. «Yay! Is Daddy coming?»
«No, Daddys staying home.»
Emily began packing Lilys bagdresses, tights, toys, everything theyd need for a few days. As she folded clothes, Tom appeared in the doorway.
«Em, this is ridiculous. Youre leaving over nothing?»
«*Nothing?*» Emily straightened. «Your mother just told me Im not family! She took food from my plate! Is that nothing?»
«Come on, Mum says thingsyou know how she is. Shell forget by tomorrow.»
«But I wont, Tom! This isnt the first time.»
«Oh, give it a rest! Mums just tired. Works been hard, she took it out on you.»
Emily laughed, bitter.
«Tired, is she? Five years of being tired? And its always me she snaps at!»
«Just ignore her, then!»
«Ignore being called a stranger in my own home? Tom, listen to yourself!»
Tom paced, rubbing his necka habit whenever he was lost for words.
«Em, where will you go? Were family. We have a child.»
«Thats why Im leaving. I wont let Lily hear her mother belittled!»
«Whos belittling you? Mum just spoke her mind.»
«*Spoke her mind?*» Emily stopped packing. «Tom, she took food from me! Said I dont belong! Thats just her *opinion*?»
«Well maybe it was harsh. But you know how she isDad died young, she raised me and my brother alone. Shes used to controlling things.»
«So I just live under her control forever?»
Tom sat on the bed, taking her hands.
«Em, lets not fight. Ill talk to Mum, sort it out.»
«What will you sort? That Im a person? That I have feelings?»
«Yeah. Ill tell her to back off.»
Emily shook her head.
«Its not about her being rude, Tom. Its that she doesnt accept me. And youve let her.»
«Mum just needs time»
«Five years isnt enough? How much longer?»
From the kitchen, Margaret called:
«Tom! Dinners ready!»
He stood.
«Come on, lets eat. Well talk after.»
«No thanks. Ive lost my appetite.»
Tom hesitated, then left. Emily heard murmurs from the kitchenvoices rising, falling. She grabbed her phone and dialled her mum.
«Mum? Its me. Can we stay with you a few days?»
«Of course, love. Whats happened?»
«Ill explain later. Were coming now.»
«Alright. Ive made soupplenty for everyone.»
Emily smiled faintly. Her mum always said *plenty for everyone*. Never counted portions, never rationed love.
Lily chattered the whole bus ride about her dolls and plans.
«Mummy, why didnt Daddy come?» she asked as they reached the house.
«Daddys working, sweetheart. Hell visit soon.»
Her mum met them at the door, beaming. Susan was everything Margaret wasntsoft, kind, always ready to help.
«Ive missed you!» She scooped Lily up. «Look how big you are!»
«Nana, do you have new stories?»
«Of course! Well read after dinner.»
At the table, Susan ladled soup into big bowls.
«Eat up, love. Emily, youre too thinthey not feeding you?»
«They feed me, Mum. Just no appetite lately.»
«Youll find it here. Nothing like home.»
*Home.* Emily looked aroundthe cosy kitchen, floral curtains, photos on the walls. Here, no one called her an outsider.
After dinner, once Lily was asleep, they sat with tea.
«Tell me what happened,» Susan said.
Emily didthe stew, the words. Susan listened, shaking her head.
«How did Tom react?»
«Like always. Said she was tired, that I should ignore it.»
Susan stirred her tea.
«And how do *you* feel?»
«Tired, Mum. Five years trying, and she still hates me.»
«Give me examples.»
Emily sighed.
«The way I cook, clean, raise Lily. When Lily was ill last month, she said I was a bad mother.»
«And Tom?»
«Tom stays quiet. Or says shes just worried about Lily.»
Susan set her cup down.
«Love, are you happy in this marriage?»
The question caught Emily off guard. She stared out the window.
«I dont know. I was. Now I feel like a guest in my own life.»
«Why didnt you tell me sooner?»
«I thought itd pass. That shed accept me.»
«Seems she hasnt.»
Rain tapped the window as they sipped tea.
«Mum when you married Dad, how did Grandma treat you?»
Susan smiled.
«Your grandma? Called me *daughter* from day one. Said, Now Ive got two girls. Loved me more than her own daughter, truth be told.»
«Why?»
«Because she saw I loved her son. And he loved me. Where theres love, theres room for everyone.»
Emily swallowed. Did Tom love her? Truly?
Her phone rang. Toms name flashed.
«Emily, where are you?» He sounded tense.
«At Mums. Like I said.»
«When are you coming back?»
«Dont know. Maybe Sunday.»
«*Sunday?* You work Monday!»
«I called in sick.»
A pause.
«Em, stop this. Come home. Well talk.»
«Talk about what, Tom? Your mother treating me like dirt?»
«Oh, grow up! Mums just Mum. Shell come round.»
«Five years wasnt enough?»
«Em, dont make this harder. Were family.»
«*Your* family. Seems I dont have one.»
She hung up. Susan handed her a tissue.
«Cry, love. It helps.»
But Emily didnt cry. Just felt hollow, lighteras if a weight had lifted.
The next morning, Susan went to the market. Emily played with Lilydolls, stories, playdough.
«Mummy, why arent we home?» Lily asked at lunch.
«Were visiting Nana.»
«How long?»
«Not sure, sweetie.»
«Will Daddy come?»
Emily hesitated.
«Daddys working. But he loves us.»
«Does Grandma love us?»
Emily exhaled.
«You, yes. Youre her granddaughter.»
«And you?»
Emily faltered. How explain cruelty to a three-year-old?
«Lets play hide-and-seek.»
That evening, Tom called again.
«Em, Mum wants to apologise.»
«Really?»
«Yeah. She knows she was wrong.»
«What does she know?»
«That it wasnt right. That youre family.»
Emily shook her head.
«Tom, shes saying it because *you* made her. Not because she means it.»
«Does it matter? Shes apologising!»
«It matters. Itll happen again.»
«It wont. I talked to her.»
«What did you say?»
A pause.
«That youre my wife. She has to respect you.»
«Has to? By order?»
«Em, whose side dyou think Im on?»
«Then why wait five years? Why let her bully me?»
«I didnt»
«You *did*, Tom! By staying silent!»
Margarets voice crackled in the background:
«Tell her I made soup! Her favourite, with dumplings!»
Emily closed her eyes. Even now, her mother-in-law couldnt just apologise. Had to make it about her *kindness*.
«Tom, I need time.»
«Time for what? Come home tomorrow.»
«Its not that simple,» Emily whispered. «I cant live like this.»
«Like *what*?»
«Where Im not respected. Where Lily grows up watching this.»
«Em, what are you saying?»
«That I need to think. About us. Our future.»
Silence. Then:
«You want a divorce?»
«I dont know. Maybe.»
«Because of *Mum*?»
«Not because of her, Tom. Because of *you*. Because you never stood up for me. Not once in five years.»
She hung up, turned off her phone. Her hands shook, but her mind was clear.
Susan returned, arms full of groceries.
«Help me unpack,» she said. «Got extra mincewell make Lilys favourite meatballs.»
Emily helped silently. There *was* plentyenough for everyone, with leftovers.
«Mum what makes a family?»
Susan paused.
«Love, I suppose. And respect. Without that, its just misery.»
Emily nodded. Her mum always knew the right words.
That night, they watched cartoons with Lily tucked between themwarm, safe.
«Mummy, are we going home tomorrow?» Lily whispered at bedtime.
«Maybe,» Emily said. «Do you want to?»
«Not really. Its nicer here. Nanas kind.»
Children felt more than adults realised.
The next morning, the doorbell rang. Tom stood there, holding flowers.
«Hi,» he said awkwardly. «Can I come in?»
Susan let him in and put the kettle on. Lily ran to him.
«Daddy! You came!»
«Course I did, princess. Missed you.»
Tom sat beside Emily.
«Em, Ive been thinking. Youre right. I shouldve defended you.»
«And now?»
«Now things change. I promise.»
«How?»
Tom pulled keys from his pocket.
«Found us a flat. For now, just renting. Well live on our own.»
Emily stared.
«Youre serious?»
«Dead serious. Mum fought it, but I stood firm. Told her *my* family comes first.»
«What did she say?»
«Plenty. Doesnt matter now.»
Emily took the keys. Small, ordinarybut they meant freedom. A life without Margarets shadow.
«Tom what if it doesnt work? Moneys tight»
«Itll work. Ill take extra shifts.»
Susan brought tea.
«Tom, will you eat?»
«Thanks, Susan. Id love to.»
She set the tableplates equal, no one left out.
«Well,» she said, sitting, «shall we celebrate your new start?»
Emily looked at Tom, her mum, Lily buttering bread carefully.
«Yes,» she said. «We will.»
Tomorrow, theyd see the flat. *Their* place, where no one counted portions or called anyone *outsider*.
Where thered always be room at the table.
