After checking on her daughter, Emily saw red welts from a belt. Something inside her shattered. She gently moved the children aside and stood tall.
Emily was dragging her feet on the way home from work, dreading what awaited her. The autumn wind tugged at her coat, and the grey clouds hung low like a bad omen. But it wasnt the weather weighing her down. An uninvited guest had arrived earlier that day.
During an important client meeting, Daniel had called:
«Emily, dont be cross, but I picked Mum up from the train station. She missed the kids. Shes staying a few days.»
Those words sent a chill down Emilys spine. Her mother-in-law, Margaret, was a proper nightmare. In ten years of marriage, Emily had never managed to get along with her.
«Daniel, we agreed,» she said, keeping her voice steady. «You were supposed to give me a heads-up.»
«Sorry, love. She rang out of the bluesaid she needed tests at the hospital in Manchester. Thought shed pop by. Couldnt exactly say no.»
Emily exhaled sharply. Of course he couldnt. Daniel had always been wrapped around his mothers finger, no matter how unreasonable she was.
«Fine. Ill work late. This projects due tomorrow.»
«Dont fret, Mums got the kids. Brought them presents, and Ive got to dashclients systems gone kaput.»
So Emily delayed going home as long as possible. The thought of an evening with the woman whod once kicked her and little Oliver out in the rain, blaming her for everything under the sun, was unbearable.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. A text from Daniel:
«Still with the client. Running late. You alright?»
Emily sighed and typed:
«Nearly home. Ill manage.»
Memories of their early marriage flashed through her mind. Back then, theyd lived in Margarets housespacious but as warm as a freezer.
Six years earlier.
Young Emily stood at the stove, stirring spaghetti. Upstairs, little Oliverbarely five months oldwas wailing. She wiped her hands on her apron, about to go to him, when Margaret marched in.
«Cant you hear the baby crying?» her mother-in-law snapped.
«I was just going to him,» Emily replied evenly.
«Youre always *just* about to,» Margaret scoffed. «Yet nothing gets done. My Danny slept like an angel at that age. Must be your side of the family.»
Emily bit her tongue. She heard remarks like that daily.
Margaret peered into the pot.
«Whats this slop? Danny doesnt eat this.»
«Its his favourite,» Emily countered. «He asked for it.»
«Rubbish. Im his mother. I know what he likes!»
Margaret grabbed the pot and dumped its contents down the sink. Emilys eyes stung.
«Why did you do that? I spent ages cooking!»
«Stop being dramatic. Tend to the baby. Ill make my son a proper dinner.»
When Daniel came home that evening, his mother met him in the hall:
«Son, would you believe ityour wife did nothing all day! The baby cried, and she ignored him. Thank goodness I was here.»
Daniel 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 youre thrilled about it. Im nothing to you now!»
With a theatrical sob, she vanished upstairs. Daniel gave Emily an apologetic look.
«Sorry, shes just worried.»
«Daniel, she throws out my cooking,» Emily whispered. «She tells Oliver Im a rubbish mum. Its too much.»
«Just hang on a bit longer,» he pleaded. «Well move out soon, I promise.»
But weeks turned to months, and things only worsened.
A passing car jerked Emily back to the present. She quickened her pace, nearly home now.
The lift doors opened to the sound of desperate cryingSophies voice.
Emily fumbled with her keys, hands shaking. Finally, the door swung open.
The sight froze her.
In the living room stood Margaret, belt in hand, striking little Sophie, who cowered in a corner. Oliver tried shielding his sister, tears streaming down his face.
«Ill teach you to touch Grandmas things!» Margaret shouted, raising the belt again.
Emilys face burned.
«What on earth are you doing?!» she shrieked, rushing to the children.
Margaret turned, unbothered.
«Oh, youre finally here! Your daughter ruined my new handbagcost me a fortune!and then she cheeked me!»
Emily pulled her sobbing children close.
«Youre hitting my child?! Have you lost the plot?!»
«Dont tell me how to discipline kids!» Margaret snapped. «I raised my son alone! I could sort you out too if youd listen!»
Examining Sophie, Emily saw the red marks. Something in her snapped.
She set the children aside and stood tall.
«Get out of my house.»
Margaret gaped.
«Im not going anywhere! I came to see my son and raise my grandchildren!»
«Mum,» Oliver whispered, «Gran hit Sophie cause she spilled tea. Then Sophie said hittings wrong, and Gran got madder»
«Quiet!» Margaret barked, but Emily stepped between them.
«Dont you dare shout at my son! You hit my daughter. Youd have hit him too if he hadnt dodged!»
The front door opened. Daniel walked in.
«Whats all this? Why are the kids crying?»
Margarets face instantly softened, tears welling.
«Danny, Emily yelled at me! I merely scolded Sophie, and she flew off the handle!»
Daniels eyes landed on the belt.
«Mum, whats that?»
«I just found it in your old briefcase meant to polish the buckle»
«Dad!» Sophie sobbed. «Gran hit me with it cause I spilled tea by accident!»
Daniel knelt beside his daughter, stroking her back.
«Show me where it hurts, love»
Seeing the welts, he stood slowly, his usual kindness replaced by steel.
«Mum, youre hitting my kids?»
He opened the cabinetinside, a security camera blinked.
«Weve got a nanny cam. I just watched the footage.»
Margaret paled.
«Danny, come now! You know I adore them! It was just a bit of discipline Back in my day, this was normaland we turned out fine!»
«In your day,» he said coldly, «kids shouldnt fear their grandmother. In your day, adults *talk* to children, not beat them.»
«This modern parentings the problem! Kids run riot! And you, Danny, let your wife rule the roost! I came to help! Ive got surgery next weekthought you might stay with me»
«Surgery?» He frowned.
«Serious,» she said gravely. «Doctors say something needs removing»
«What exactly, Mum?»
«Doesnt matter! I need support! Thought maybe you could move in awhile? House is big Emily can stay here if she likes.»
Daniel shook his head.
«Mum, is that why you came? To try splitting us up again?»
The doorbell rang. In stepped a silver-haired man with kind eyesArthur, Emilys dad.
«Hello,» he said, scanning the room. «Just popped by to see the grandkids Whats happened here?»
The children ran to him.
«Grandad! Gran hit me with a belt!» Sophie cried.
«Stay out of this!» Margaret snapped. «Family matter!»
«When someone hurts my grandkids,» Arthur said firmly, «its my matter too.»
He gestured to the sofa.
«Lets talk like adults. Margaret, sit down.»
Something in his tone made her comply.
«Yknow,» he began, «when my Emily married, I wasnt chuffed either. Thought Danny was too posh for our lass But I gave em a chance, saw how happy they were.»
He turned to Margaret.
«Youre clinging to your son, controlling his lifeand pushing him away. Now youre turning the kids against you.»
«What do you know?!» she flared. «I raised Danny alone! My husband died youngit was all on me!»
«Youre scared of being alone,» he said gently. «Thats why you invented the surgery.»
Margarets shoulders slumped.
«Just a check-up But I *am* scared»
«Mum,» Daniel said softly. «If you need help, just ask. Why lie? Why try wrecking my family?»
«I didnt mean to» she faltered. «When I see you happy without me it feels like you dont need me.»
«Youre my mum,» he said firmly. «Of course I need you. But not like thisangry, controlling. I need you as Mum, who respects my choices and loves my kids.»
«I dont know how else to be» she whispered.
«Try,» Arthur suggested. «Start by apologising. Kids forgive when they see sincerity.»
With effort, Margaret met Sophies eyes.
«Forgive Grandma I was wrong.»
To everyones surprise, Sophie nodded.
«Okay but dont do it again. It hurts.»
«I wont,» Margaret promised.
Arthur pulled a bottle of homemade lemonade from his bag.
«Now, lets have dinner. Ive got a Victoria sponge in the carbaked it special for the kids.»
Later, around the table, the air was tense but softer. Margaret watched silently as Emily cut the cake, Daniel joking with the children.
After dinner, Arthur suggested,
«Margaret, why dont you stay with me tonight? Plenty of room. No need to rush things.»
To everyones shock, she agreed.
As they left, Sophie tugged Margarets sleeve.
«Will you really stop fighting?»
«Really.»
«Then will you come to my school play? Im a snowflake.»
Something flickered in Margarets eyes.
«Thank you If your parents say yes, Id love to.»
A month later, frost coated the ground.
At Arthurs suggestion, they gathered at his houseMargarets first visit since the incident. The rules: no unsolicited advice, no meddling, no criticising Emily.
«Ready?» Daniel squeezed Emilys shoulder.
«No but Ill try.»
Margaret arrived in a simple blue dressno flashy outfits to upstage her daughter-in-law.
Over roast dinner, they stuck to safe topics. Afterward, Arthur took the kids to show them his stamp collection, leaving the adults alone.
«Ive been seeing a therapist,» Margaret admitted suddenly. «Arthurs idea Its helped.»
She looked at Emily.
«Ive been awful What I did to Sophie no excuse. I just thought I was losing everything. Instead of fixing it, I made it worse.»
For the first time, Emily saw not a tyrant, but a lonely woman terrified of being left behind.
«Margaret,» she said slowly, «I cant say its forgotten but Ill try to start fresh. For Daniel. For the kids.»
«Thank you» Margarets eyes glistened. «More than I deserve.»
Sophie burst in, clutching a stamp.
«Grandad gave me a rare one! Want to see?»
Margaret took it carefully, as if afraid Sophie might change her mind.
«Lovely Thank you for showing me.»
As they left, Margaret approached Emily.
«I always thought Danny married the wrong girl. But now I seehe chose a strong one. The sort I wanted to be.»
«You *are* strong,» Emily replied. «Just differently.»
That night, after tucking the children in, Emily gazed at the falling snow. She didnt know how things would unfold with Margaret. But for the first time in years, she felt hope.
And Margaret, at home, pulled out an old photo album. In a faded picture, little Daniel beamed on her lap.
«Ill try to be better» she vowed. «For my son. For my grandkids. And maybe myself.»
The road to reconciliation had only begun. But the hardest step was taken.
