After glancing at her daughter, Emily saw the angry red welts from a belt. Something inside her shattered. She carefully moved the children aside and straightened her shoulders.
Emily dragged herself home from work, dreading what awaited her. The bitter autumn wind whipped at her coat, and the heavy grey clouds mirrored the weight pressing on her chest. But it wasnt the weather that gnawed at herit was the uninvited guest who had arrived that afternoon.
During a crucial meeting with a client, William had called:
Emily, dont be cross, but Ive picked Mum up from the station. She missed the grandchildren. Shell be staying a few days.
Those words sent a chill through her. Her mother-in-law, Margaret, had always been a thorn in her side. In ten years of marriage, Emily had never managed to bridge the gap between them.
William, we agreed, she said, fighting to keep her voice steady. You were supposed to give me warning.
Sorry, love. She rang out of the bluesaid she needed tests at the hospital. Wanted to visit us too. I couldnt say no.
Emily exhaled sharply. Of course he couldnt. William had always been too soft with his mother, no matter how unreasonable she was.
Fine. Ill stay late at work. The project deadlines tomorrow.
Dont fret, Mum will watch the children. Shes brought them gifts. Ive got to dashclients system crashed.
So Emily delayed going home as long as she could. Ahead loomed the unbearable prospect of an evening with the woman who had once thrown her and little Oliver out into a storm, blaming her for every misfortune under the sun.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. A text from William:
Still with the client. Running late. You alright?
She typed back:
Nearly home. Ill manage.
Memories of their early years together flashed through her mind. Back then, theyd lived in Margarets housegrand but as cold as the woman herself.
Six years earlier.
Young Emily stood at the stove, stirring soup. Upstairs, baby Oliverbarely five months oldwailed. She wiped her hands on her apron, turning to fetch him, when Margaret swept into the kitchen.
Cant you hear that child crying? her mother-in-law snapped.
I was just going to him, Emily replied calmly.
Always just about to do something, Margaret scoffed. And nothing ever gets done. My William slept through the night at his age. Must be your blood showing.
Emily clenched her jaw. She heard variations of this daily.
Margaret peered into the pot.
Whats this slop? William wouldnt touch it.
Its his favourite, Emily countered. He asked for it.
Rubbish. Im his mother. I know what he likes!
Margaret seized the pot and dumped its contents down the sink. Emilys eyes stung.
Why did you do that? I spent hours on it!
Stop being dramatic. Go to the baby. Ill make a proper meal for my son.
When William returned that evening, Margaret intercepted him in the hall:
Darling, can you believe it? Your wifes done nothing all day! The baby screamed, and she ignored him. Thank heavens I was here.
William sighed.
Mum, Im sure Emily looks after Oliver.
Of course you defend her! Margaret threw up her hands. Shes got you wrapped around her little finger. And Im nothing to you now!
With a theatrical sob, she stormed off. William gave Emily an apologetic look.
Sorry, shes just worried
William, she throws away my cooking, Emily whispered. She tells Oliver Im a bad mother. Its too much.
Just hang on a bit longer, he pleaded. Well move out soon, I promise.
But weeks became months, and things only worsened.
A passing car jolted her back to the present. Emily quickened her pace. She was nearly home.
Without realising how shed reached the building, she stepped into the lift and pressed her forehead to the cool metal.
Just a couple of days she murmured. Youll get through this.
When the doors opened, a heart-wrenching sob pierced the airSophies voice.
Emily fumbled with her keys, hands shaking. Finally, the door swung open.
The sight before her stole her breath.
Margaret stood in the living room, belt in hand, striking little Sophie. The girl cowered in a corner, weeping. Oliver, tears streaming, shielded his sister.
Ill teach you to keep your hands off my things! Margaret snarled, raising the belt again.
Emilys face burned.
What the hell are you doing?! she screamed, rushing forward.
Margaret turned, unrepentant.
Oh, youre finally here! Your daughter ruined my new handbaga designer one, no less!and then she had the cheek to answer back!
Emily pulled her children close.
Youre hitting my child?! Have you lost your mind?!
Dont tell me how to discipline children! Margaret shot back. I raised my son alone! I could whip some sense into you too!
Examining Sophie, Emily saw the livid welts. Something inside her snapped.
She gently moved the children aside and stood tall.
Get out of my house.
Margaret blinked, incredulous.
Im not going anywhere! I came to see my son and raise my grandchildren properly!
Mum, Oliver whispered, trembling. Gran hit Sophie because she spilled tea. Then Sophie said hittings wrong, and Gran got even angrier
Quiet! Margaret barked, but Emily stepped between them.
Dont you dare shout at my son! You struck my daughter. Youd have hit him too if he hadnt jumped away!
The front door opened. William walked in.
Whats going on? Why are the children crying?
Margarets demeanour shifted instantly. Tears welled in her eyes.
Sweetheart, Emily yelled at me! I only scolded Sophie, and she flew off the handle!
Williams gaze locked on the belt in her hand.
Mum, whats that for?
I found it in your old briefcase just polishing the buckle
Dad! Sophie sobbed. Gran hit me with it because I spilled tea by accident!
William knelt beside his daughter, stroking her hair.
Show me where it hurts, poppet
Seeing the marks, his expression hardened.
Mum, you hit my children?
He strode to the cabinet, revealing a security camera.
We installed this to check on the kids when were out. Ive just watched the footage.
Margaret paled.
William, please! You know how much I adore them! It was just a little discipline Back in my day, we were raised like thatand we turned out fine!
In your day, he said icily, children shouldnt fear their grandmothers. In your day, adults spoke to themnot beat them.
This modern parenting is why kids dont respect anyone! And you, Williamyoure under your wifes thumb! I came to help! Ive surgery next week thought you might stay with me
What surgery? he frowned.
A serious one, she said gravely. Doctors say something must be removed
What exactly, Mum?
Thats not the point! I need support! I thought perhaps you could stay with me awhile? The house is big Emily can remain here if she likes.
William shook his head.
Mum, is that why you came? To tear my family apart again?
The doorbell rang. In stepped a silver-haired man with kind eyesEdward, Emilys father.
Hello, he said, glancing around. Came to see the grandchildren Whats happened?
The children rushed to him.
Grandad! Gran Margaret hit me with a belt! Sophie cried.
Stay out of this! Margaret snapped. This is family business!
When someone harms my grandchildren, Edward said firmly, its my business too.
He gestured to the sofa.
Lets talk like adults. Margaret, sit down.
Something in his tone made her comply.
You know, he began, when Emily married William, I wasnt thrilled. Thought him too posh for my girl But I gave them a chancesaw how much they love each other.
He turned to Margaret.
Youre trying to control your sons life, keep him tethered to youand all youre doing is pushing him away. Now youre turning the grandchildren against you.
What would you know?! she flared. I raised my son alone! My husband died youngeverything fell to me!
And youre terrified of being alone, he said gently. Thats why you invented this surgery.
Margarets shoulders slumped.
Just a minor procedure But I am frightened
Mum, William said softly. If you needed help, you couldve just asked. Why lie? Why try to wreck what I hold dear?
I didnt mean to she faltered. Its just seeing you happy without me it feels like you dont need me anymore
Youre my mother, he said firmly. Of course I need you. But not like thisbitter, controlling. I need you as my mum, who respects my choices and loves my children.
I dont know how else to be she whispered.
Try, Edward suggested. Start by apologising to the children. They forgive when they see sincerity.
With effort, Margaret met Sophies eyes.
Forgive your gran I I was wrong.
To everyones surprise, Sophie nodded.
Okay but dont do it again. It hurts.
I wont, Margaret vowed.
Edward pulled a bottle of homemade elderflower cordial from his bag.
Now, lets all have supper. Ive a Victoria sponge in the carbaked it special for the little ones.
Later, as they sat around the table, the air remained tense but no longer hostile. Margaret watched silently as Emily sliced the cake, and William made the children laugh.
After supper, Edward spoke up.
Margaret, I think its best you come with me tonight. Plenty of room at mine. No need to rush things.
She agreed, to everyones surprise.
As they left, Sophie tugged her grandmothers sleeve.
Will you really stop fighting?
Yes.
Then will you come to my school play? Im playing a snowflake
Something flickered in Margarets eyes.
Thank you If your parents allow it, Id love to.
A month passed. The first frosts glazed the ground.
Today marked their first meeting since the incident. At Edwards suggestion, they gathered at his home. Margaret had agreed to the terms: no unsolicited advice, no meddling, no criticism of Emily.
Ready? William squeezed Emilys shoulder.
Ill try, she whispered.
Margaret arrived in a simple navy dressno more flashy outfits meant to outshine her daughter-in-law.
Over lunch, they stuck to safe topics. Afterwards, Edward took the children to show them his stamp collection, leaving the adults alone.
Ive been seeing a therapist, Margaret admitted suddenly. Edwards suggestion Its helped me understand a great deal.
She looked at Emily.
Ive behaved horribly all these years What I did to Sophie theres no excuse. I just thought I was losing everything that mattered. Instead of understanding why, I made it worse.
For the first time, Emily saw not a domineering woman, but a lonely one, terrified of abandonment.
Margaret, she said slowly, I cant say its forgotten but Im willing to try again. For William. For the children.
Thank you Margarets eyes shone. Thats more than I deserve.
Sophie burst in, clutching a small box.
Grandad gave me a lucky stamp! Want to see?
Margaret took it gingerly, as if afraid Sophie might snatch it back.
Its lovely Thank you for showing me.
As they prepared to leave, Margaret approached Emily.
You know I always thought William chose wrong. But now I seeI was mistaken. He chose a strong woman. The sort I wished Id been.
Youre strong too, Emily replied. Just differently.
That night, after tucking the children in, Emily stood by the window, watching snowflakes drift past. She didnt know what lay ahead with her mother-in-law. But for the first time in years, she felt hope.
And Margaret, back at home, opened an old photo album. In a faded snapshot, little William grinned on her lap.
Ill do better she vowed. For my son. For my grandchildren. And perhaps for myself.
The road to reconciliation had only just begun. But the hardest step had been taken.
