It was a day long remembered when the words first struck her.
«Darling, Ive been thinking,» her mother began. «Why on earth do you need three rooms? One should be enough, shouldnt it? Little Sophie sleeps with you anyway.»
At first, Emily didnt grasp the meaning behind the words. She thought her mother was angling to dump some old, worthless relic in their homea scuffed armchair or a dusty sideboard that had been cluttering up her own house for years.
«Well… yes, we dont use the other rooms much,» Emily admitted cautiously.
«Exactly! So Ive decided to rent them out. Ill find you quiet, respectable tenantsno point letting good space go to waste. You understand, dont you? I let you stay there, and now Im left scraping by on pennies.»
Emily froze. For a moment, she couldnt believe what she was hearing. Then, a cold crack of realization split through her. Visions flashed in her mindstrangers in their kitchen, noise, chaos, crowds of guests. All of it, in the same house as her three-month-old daughter. Maybe it wouldnt be so bad, but it was a gamble. And she wasnt willing to risk her childs safety.
«Mum… what do you mean, tenants? I have a baby! I dont want strangers in our home!»
«Oh, dont be dramatic. You grew up in a shared house, and you turned out fine,» her mother scoffed. «Ive already been generous, not charging you a penny while you save. What else am I supposed to do? Live on the streets?»
Emily clenched her teeth. She hadnt expected such betrayal from her own mother. Her mother would never dream of renting out rooms in her own flat, but hereoh, here it was perfectly acceptable.
But Emily pushed her hurt aside. What mattered now was her daughter.
«Fine, if its so important to you… Well pay you for this month,» she said at last. «And then well figure something out.»
She half-expected her mother to refuseto say she couldnt take money from her own daughter, especially not now. But
«Good. Ill charge you the family ratethree hundred pounds,» her mother said airily. «Just give me two weeks’ notice if you plan to leave. And youll need to show the flat to the new tenants. No sense leaving it empty.»
«Fine,» Emily hissed, slamming the phone down.
She opened her banking app and transferred the money at once. The moment she pressed «send,» something inside her shifted. Their relationship had turned from family to business.
…Margaret had always been like this. Emilys mother had a knack for twisting situations to her advantage, though it had never cut so deep before.
When Emily was ten, she learned that her godmother had given her lavish gifts every Christmas and birthdaya plush pony, a robotic dog, the latest dolls. Margaret had taken credit for them, adding nothing of her own.
Back then, Emily had been hurt, but only a little. She knew it was wrong, but she hadnt felt the full weight of it. Her godmother, however, had been furious and started sending gifts through Emilys grandmother instead.
Another time, Aunt Catherine and her daughter Lucy had planned to stay in town for a week to sort out paperwork. Theyd already booked a hotel, but Margaret intervened.
«Why waste money on some dodgy place? Stay with ustheres plenty of room. I cant promise restaurant meals, but youll be looked after.»
Aunt Catherine had hesitated but finally agreed. She was conscientious and didnt want to be a burden, so on the first day, she stocked the fridge to bursting.
«You bring the food, Ill handle the cooking,» shed said cheerfully. «Well be out most of the day anywayqueues at the offices, sightseeing for Lucy.»
True to her word, they left early and returned late. But on the third day, Margaret announced:
«Catherine, Ive overestimated myself. Maybe ring that hotel again?»
Aunt Catherine had been deeply hurt. The hotel wouldnt take them back, so they scrambled to find somewhere else. Emily never saw them again.
At the time, she believed her mother was simply tired of guests. Now she understoodMargaret had wanted free meals. Once she got them, she tossed her relatives out.
Before, Emily had only suffered indirectly. Teachers side-eyed her because Margaret refused to contribute to school funds and made scenes. She wasnt invited to classmates’ birthdaysofficially because of «strange parents,» really because gifts cost money. But all of it paled next to the flat.
Emily and James had known each other since school. First friends, then something more. James had even given up his dream for herhed wanted to study medicine in another city but stayed because she wouldnt follow.
They married, saved for a mortgage, planned for childrenlater, when they had their own place. But life, as it does, had other plans.
When Emily saw the two lines, she didnt know whether to laugh or cry. A baby, with Jamesbut now, when they were so close to their deposit?
«Its your choice,» James had said. He wanted the child too but understood the struggle.
Then Margaret stepped in.
«Whats there to think about?» shed declared. «God sends the babe, Hell send the crib! Stay in my second flatGrandmas old place. Keep saving. And dont you dare get rid of that child!»
Her offer tipped the scales. Despite her sharp edges, Emily had believed they had a good relationship. A mother helping her daughternoble, kind. If only it had stayed that way.
Now, Emily didnt know where to turn. Tomorrow, Margaret might decide three hundred wasnt enough. Or move in some dodgy acquaintance. Nothing would surprise her.
That evening, she told James everything. He held her as she cried, then promised, «Ill fix this. Faster than a month.»
And he did.
Days later, they visited his mother, Rosemary. Nothing unusualthey dropped by often. Rosemary had known Emily since she and James were children.
At one point, Rosemary took Emilys hand.
«Love, James told me. Dont worryIll help with the deposit. Youre good kids, standing on your own feet. Some your age still lean on their parents.»
Her voice was soft, no grand speeches like Margarets. But the warmth in her eyesEmily broke down sobbing. The contrast was too much. Her own mother, squeezing them dry, while her mother-in-law reached out.
They moved in with Rosemary while sorting the mortgage. That same day, James packed their things. Emily returned the keys to Margaret but couldnt face her. She dropped them in the letterbox and texted.
«Why didnt you come up?» Margaret asked later.
«Isnt it obvious?»
«Well… you chose to leave. Nobody forced you. Youre the one who took offence.»
From that day, Emily cut ties almost completely. She had no time for itpaperwork, repairs, freelance work to ease the mortgage. Hard, yes, but she felt part of something greater.
Now, she focused entirely on her familyJames, Sophie, even Rosemary, whod given them more than money. Faith, support, a future. As for her mother… well, you dont choose family. Sometimes, the ones who matter most arent those bound by blood, but those who stand by youor at least dont betray you.
