Why on earth do we have such a grandmother? I muttered, half amused, half exasperated. You were inviting us to spend the whole summer with the grandchild, wed already sorted everything, and now you tell us dont bring him? What are we supposed to do?
The speakers phone crackled with Emilys angry tirade. Margaret held the handset just far enough from her ear to hear everything clearly, even without the speakerphone.
Emily, your plans are your own problem. You never consulted me, and now
You were the one who nagged us to bring little Tommy to your place! Emily snapped back. Honestly, I dont get you. What kind of grandmother are you? You cant even take the boy in, let alone drive him to the cottage. Youve never brought him a single berry; you only haul crates of your own stuff! Why should he stay with you when theres a perfectly good, normal grandma elsewhere?
Margaret winced, pressed a hand to her chest and let out a ragged breath. She understood the subtext: either take the boy or never see him again. Low, petty blackmail.
Emily had a point if you looked at the facts, but she twisted the whole situation upside down.
I should start with the cottage Margaret once hoped to use for the grandson. It was a modest place, no indoor toiletjust an outhouse out the back. The shower was a summertime bucket rig. The garden yielded berries she refused to eat. A basic BBQ where shed once grilled meat with her first husband. Plastic chairs and a tiny table. Simple, but to Margaret it felt cosy in its own unpretentious way.
When James, her son, announced he wanted to bring his girlfriend over for a weekend at the cottage, Margaret grew uneasy.
Shed only met Emily superficially: a pretty, wellgroomed woman with a hint of spoiled entitlement, always looking down on everyone as if she were judging them. At their first meeting, Emily, without invitation, started strolling through Margarets house like an inspector. Margaret didnt like it, but she played along, giving the young woman a tour of her figurines and family photo albums.
James, the idea sounds nice but are you sure Emily will like it? You grew up at that cottage; shes never been to a place like that, Margaret warned gently when James enthusiastically shared his weekend plans.
Ill explain everything to her. Shes always said she wants a countryside break, and the cottage is perfect for that, James replied.
Margaret sighed and kept quiet. She feared people would think she didnt want to host them.
She should have said no outright.
We spent two full days prepping: cleaning, baking pies, hauling out the special stores of preserves kept for rare occasions. Anxiety gnawed at her, but the anticipation of a happy reunion dulled the uneasy feeling.
From the moment Emily arrived, everything went awry. She stepped out of the car in a white dress and skyhigh heels, glanced around, squinted disdainfully, and her face fell.
This is a loo, or what? she asked, poking at the outhouse with a finger.
Its well, outside, but its clean, just like any proper loo, Margaret answered, forcing a smile.
Honestly, its nature in the most literal sense, Emily said sarcastically.
The next horror.
This is brutal it feels like Ive been dropped into the Stone Age, she complained to James. Did you really wash with a bucket as a kid? There are so many mosquitoes you shouldnt even leave the car! And the smellabsolutely horrendous.
Its just the neighbours chickens, James shrugged.
Emilys shrieks were so loud Margaret heard every word. She felt exposed. She hadnt even invited Emily; shed prepared everything, only to be met with a verbal slap.
Maybe shell get used to it, Margaret thought. The couple lived far away, a few hours drive, so theyd planned to stay the whole weekend.
But Emily didnt last a day. After another mosquito bite, she flailed her hands and stalked back to the car.
Thats it! Either you drive me home or Im calling a cab. You cant live like this!
James didnt argue. He gave a hurried goodbye to his mother and awkwardly climbed into the car with Emily.
I never thought itd be this hard for her, he muttered, embarrassed.
Margaret tried to chalk it up to Emilys habits and the cottages shortcomings. It wasnt easy for her either, adjusting to this new routine. Still, she didnt throw a tantrum or slam doors. It was Jamess choice; hed have to live with that woman.
Six years later, Emily and James were married, with a son named Tommy. Margarets relationship with her daughterinlaw never really warmed up, but she still hoped to see her grandson. They lived in different towns, but she believed an opportunity would arise.
Emily, could you bring Tommy over? Margaret asked one afternoon. Ive got a garden, a river nearby, fresh airenough vitamins for a year.
Where would I bring him? To this squalor? Better let him stay at home, Emily sneered. You could send the vitamins anywayyou bragged about having more cherries than you knew what to do with. One summers worth would be fine.
It cut Margaret to the bone, but she didnt argue. She knew convincing a citybred, pampered girl that hauling cherries in summer heat was a nightmare was futile. She just wanted a chance with her grandson. That had been last year, and now everything had changed.
Margarets life had become half hospital visits, drip bags, and endless clinic queues. A quarter was spent dealing with strict medical restrictions. Shed just undergone heart surgery, and the doctor warned her against heat and heavy lifting.
Take this seriously, the doctor said. Your heart needs protection. No strenuous activity, just gentle walks.
The worst part was that James never visited Margaret during all that time, even when she was in the hospital. They talked on the phone, but that was it. Margaret saw her friend Valerie more often than her own son. Valerie, a longtime confidante, had helped her financially a few times. When Valerie learned that the cottage was now offlimits for Margaret, she offered a lifeline.
Listen, why dont I talk to them? They want a summer break, but their leave is scarce, and a seaside holiday is pricey. Im not doing it for a favour, I get it. It could be good for you and themsome countryside rest.
Margaret accepted gratefully. Every penny mattered in her condition.
Soon, Emily finally softened. As the young couple made new plans, the cottages lack of hygiene seemed less important.
Emily, I suggested this a year ago, Margaret began. A year! I had plans for the summer too, but life had other ideas. The cottage now belongs to other people; I cant go back, especially after my recent operation.
Two months ago you said recently, Emily replied. People are training for marathons now! You can just sit at home on your pension. I cant even take Tommy to the cottage, so why not bring him to you?
Into my flat? From one city flat to another? Whats the point?
The point is we could both relax. Weve never had a day alone with Tommy since he was born, and youve been shouting about wanting to see him. Here you gosee him!
Emily, do you even hear me? A child needs constant attention, and I can barely get around the house.
Honestly, youre just lazy, Emily snapped.
Margaret hung up. The argument felt pointless, draining her. She was alone; if she fell ill, would Emily really step in? No.
That evening James called, apologising for Emilys behaviour and gently asking if there was any chance they could still take Tommy to Margarets place. The request made Margarets eyes well up like a childs, hurt and frustration mixing.
James tell me straight, did you tell Emily about my surgery? she demanded. How could you know and still leave the grandsons care to me without asking?
James fell silent, the quiet pressing on Margaret like a weight.
Mom I said you were unwell. I didnt realize it was that serious.
Unwell. He didnt know. Those words hit Margaret hard. He seemed indifferent to her condition, never really trying to understand that even climbing a second floor was now a struggle.
Right, she managed, the only word she could muster.
Three days of oppressive silence followed. It seemed that once she refused to help the young couple, shed faded from everyones memory. Even James stopped texting in the evenings, stopped asking how her day went.
On the fourth day, Valerie calledjust in time.
Maybe we could break into your cottage? My relatives wont be back until the weekend. Itll be cool, we can sit, have a chat, she suggested.
Lets do it, Margaret agreed, feeling a sting of loneliness and a yearning for any company.
They brewed tea, opened the box of pastries Valerie had brought, and talked. Margaret poured out everything.
You know how it is they have their own lives now. Just dont tear yourself apart. Live as you can. Im here for you, at least. Maybe youll find an old chap to share evenings with, or finally focus on yourself. Health is precious; dont waste it on their drama, Valerie advised, smiling.
Margaret sighed, pulling the pastry box closer. The ache in her heart lingered, but she finally felt shed done the right thingshe wasnt sacrificing herself to meet others expectations, she was looking after her own wellbeing. Life, with all its ups and downs, would go on, even without their approval.
