After checking on her daughter, Emily noticed angry red welts from a belt. Something inside her shattered. She carefully moved the children aside and stood up straight.
Emily was dragging her feet on the walk home from work, dreading what awaited her. The autumn wind whipped at her coat, and the heavy grey clouds seemed to press down on her. But it wasnt the weather weighing on herit was the unexpected guest waiting at home.
That afternoon, during an important client meeting, James had called:
«Emily, dont be cross, but I picked Mum up from the station. She missed the kids. Shes 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 get along with her.
«James, we agreed,» she said, keeping her voice steady. «You were supposed to warn me first.»
«Sorry, love. She rang out of the bluesaid she needed tests at the hospital nearby. And she wanted to visit. I couldnt say no.»
Emily sighed deeply. Of course he couldnt. James was always too soft with his mum, no matter how difficult she was.
«Fine, Ill stay late at work. This projects due tomorrow.»
«Dont worry, Mum will look after the kids. She brought presents, and Ive got to dashclients having a software meltdown.»
So Emily put off going home as long as possible. The thought of an evening with the woman whod once thrown her and little Oliver out in the rainblaming her for everythingwas unbearable.
Her phone buzzed in her coat pocket. A text from James:
«Still with the client. Running late. Hows it going?»
Emily exhaled and typed back:
«Nearly at the house. Ill manage.»
Memories of their early marriage flashed through her mind. Back then, theyd lived in his mothers housespacious but as cold as the woman herself.
Six years earlier.
Young Emily stood at the stove, stirring soup. Upstairs, baby Oliverjust five months oldwas crying. She wiped her hands on her apron, about to go to him, when Margaret swept into the kitchen.
«Cant you hear that child wailing?» her mother-in-law snapped.
«I was just going to him,» Emily answered quietly.
«Youre always just going,» Margaret scoffed. «And nothing gets done. My James 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? James wouldnt eat this.»
«Its his favourite soup,» Emily said. «He asked for it.»
«Rubbish. Im his mother. I know what he likes!»
Margaret grabbed the pot and dumped its contents into the sink. Emilys eyes stung.
«Why did you do that? I spent ages cooking!»
«Stop being dramatic. Tend to the babyIll make my son a proper dinner.»
When James came home that evening, his mother met him in the hallway:
«Son, can you believe it? Your wife did nothing all day! The baby cried, and she ignored him. Thank goodness I was here.»
James 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 dramatic sob, she stormed off. James gave Emily an apologetic look.
«Sorry, shes just worried.»
«James, she throws out my cooking,» Emily murmured. «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 turned to months, and things only got worse.
A passing car jerked her back to the present. Emily hurried her steps. She was nearly home.
Before she knew it, she was in the lift, pressing her forehead to the cool wall.
«Its only a couple of days,» she whispered. «Itll be fine.»
When the doors opened, a sound froze herdesperate crying. It was Lilys voice.
She sprinted to the flat, hands shaking as she fumbled with the key. Finally, the door gave way.
What she saw made her blood run cold.
In the living room stood Margaret. A belt in her hand, raised over little Lily, who cowered in the corner. Oliver was shielding his sister, tears streaming down his face.
«Ill teach you to keep your hands off my things!» Margaret shouted, swinging again.
Emilys face burned.
«What are you doing?!» she shrieked, rushing forward.
Margaret turned, unrepentant.
«Oh, youre finally here! Your daughter spilled tea on my new handbagcost me a fortune!and then she cheeked me!»
Emily pulled her sobbing children close.
«Youre hitting my child?! Have you lost your mind?!»
«Dont tell me how to discipline children!» Margaret snapped. «I raised my son alone! I could sort you out too if youd listen!»
Emily checked Lily and saw the red welts. Something inside her snapped.
She gently moved 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 said shakily, «Gran hit Lily cause she spilled tea. Then Lily said hittings wrong, and Gran got even angrier»
«Quiet!» Margaret barked, but Emily stepped between them.
«Dont you shout at my son! You hit my daughter. Youd have hit him too if he hadnt dodged!»
Just then, the door opened. James walked in.
«Whats going on? Why are the kids crying?»
Margarets face instantly changed. Tears welled up.
«Darling, Emily shouted at me! I only scolded Lily, and she flew off the handle!»
Jamess eyes locked onto the belt in her hand.
«Mum whats that?»
«I just found it in your old briefcase wanted to clean the buckle»
«Dad!» Lily sobbed. «Gran hit me with that belt cause I spilled tea by accident!»
James knelt beside his daughter, rubbing her back.
«Show me where it hurts, sweetheart»
Seeing the marks, he stood slowly. His usually kind eyes turned hard.
«Mum. You hit my children?»
He went to the cabinet and opened itinside was a security camera.
«Weve got a system to check on the kids when were out. I just watched the footage.»
Margaret paled.
«James, really! You know how much 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, «children shouldnt fear their grandmothers. In your day, adults spoke to kidsnot beat them.»
«This modern parenting is rubbish! Kids run wild! And you, Jamesyoure under your wifes thumb! I came to help! Ive got surgery next week thought 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 stay with me a while? House is big Emily can stay here if she likes.»
James shook his head.
«Mum, is that why you came? To split up my family?»
The doorbell rang. In stepped a silver-haired man with kind eyesRobert, Emilys dad.
«Hello,» he said, glancing around. «Just popped by to see the grandkids Whats all this?»
The children ran to him.
«Grandad! Gran hit me with a belt!» Lily cried.
«Stay out of this!» Margaret snapped. «This is family business!»
«When someone hurts my grandchildren,» Robert said firmly, «its my business too.»
He gestured to the sofa.
«Lets talk properly. Margaret, sit down.»
Something in his tone made her obey.
«Yknow,» he began, «when my Emily married, I wasnt thrilled. Thought James was too posh for our girl But I gave them a chancesaw how much they love each other.»
He turned to Margaret.
«Youre trying to control your sons lifekeep him tied to you. And youre pushing him away. Now youre turning the grandkids against you.»
«What do you know?!» she flared. «I raised my son alone! My husband died youngit was all on me!»
«And youre scared of being alone,» he said gently. «Thats why you made up the surgery.»
Margarets shoulders slumped.
«Just a minor check-up But I am scared»
«Mum,» James said softly. «If you needed help, you couldve just asked. Why lie? Why try to wreck what matters to me?»
«I didnt mean to» she faltered. «Its just seeing you happy without me it feels like you dont need me anymore»
«Youre my mum,» he said firmly. «Of course I need you. But not like thisangry, controlling. I need you as my mum, who respects my choices and loves my kids.»
«I dont know how else to be» she whispered.
«Try,» Robert suggested. «Start by apologising to the grandkids. Theyll forgive if they see you mean it.»
With effort, Margaret met Lilys eyes.
«Forgive your gran I I was wrong.»
To everyones surprise, Lily nodded.
«Okay but dont do it again. It hurts.»
«I wont,» Margaret promised.
Robert pulled a bottle of homemade lemonade from his bag.
«Now lets all have dinner. Ive got a Victoria sponge in the carbaked it special for the kids.»
Later, as they sat around the table, the air was still tensebut not hostile. Margaret watched silently as Emily sliced the cake and James joked with the children.
After dinner, Robert suggested,
«Margaret, why not come with me tonight? Plenty of room at mine. No need to rush things.»
She agreed, surprisingly.
As they left, Lily tugged her sleeve.
«Will you really stop fighting?»
«Really.»
«Then will you come to my school play? Im a snowflake!»
Something softened in Margarets eyes.
«Thank you If your parents say yes, Id love to.»
A month later, the first frost coated the ground.
Today was their first proper meeting since that night. At Roberts suggestion, they gathered at his place. Margaret had agreed to the rules: no unsolicited advice, no meddling, no criticising Emily.
«Ready?» James squeezed his wifes shoulder.
«I dont know but Ill try.»
When they arrived, Margaret was already therewearing a simple blue dress, not the flashy outfits she used to wear to upstage Emily.
Over lunch, they stuck to safe topics. Afterward, Robert took the kids to show them his coin collection, leaving the adults alone.
«Ive been seeing a therapist,» Margaret admitted suddenly. «Roberts idea Its helped me understand a lot.»
She looked at Emily.
«Ive been awful all these years What I did to Lily theres no excuse. I just thought I was losing everything that mattered. 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 forget it all but Ill try to start fresh. For James. For the kids.»
«Thank you» Margarets eyes glistened. «Thats more than I deserve.»
Lily burst in, clutching a small box.
«Grandad gave me a lucky coin! Wanna see?»
Margaret took it carefully, as if afraid Lily might snatch it back.
«Its lovely Thank you for showing me.»
As they prepared to leave, Margaret approached Emily.
«You know I always thought James married the wrong woman. But now I seeI was wrong. He chose a strong one. The sort I wanted to be.»
«You are strong,» Emily replied. «Just in a different way.»
That night, after tucking the children in, Emily stood by the window, watching snowflakes fall. She didnt know how things would unfold with her mother-in-law. But for the first time in years, she felt hope.
And Margaret, back at home, pulled out an old photo album. In a faded picture, little James grinned from her lap.
«Ill try to be better» she whispered. «For my son. For my grandkids. And maybe even for myself.»
The road ahead wouldnt be easy. But the hardest step had been taken.
