«I dont have a spare room,» my daughter said when I arrived with my bags.
«Mum, did you pack everything? Did you remember your documents?» Lily fidgeted with the strap of her handbag, standing by the kitchen window.
«Do you think Ive gone completely senile?» Margaret waved her off, checking the contents of her travel bag for the third time. «Passports here, moneys here, medicine Oh, I forgot my dressing gown! Lily, wheres my blue one?»
«In the wardrobe. Mum, do you really need it? Emmas bound to have something you can borrow.»
Margaret stopped and gave her daughter a long look.
«Lily, love, Im not just staying for a night. Emma invited me for a proper visitsome time away from the city. Fresh air, the river nearby. You said yourself itd do me good.»
«I did, I did» Lily turned back to the window. «I just didnt know then that David would be out of work again. Third time this year theyve let him go.»
Her mother moved closer, resting a hand on Lilys shoulder.
«You didnt tell me. What happened?»
«Whats there to say? New boss came in, wanted to shake things up. David was first on the chopping block. Years of experience, and it counted for nothing. Young ones coming in, willing to work for peanuts.»
Margaret shook her head and sat down on the stool.
«Im so sorry, love. Maybe I should stay? Help out somehow»
«No, Mum. Go. Emmas expecting youshes got everything ready.» Lily turned back, forcing a smile that didnt reach her eyes. «Youll have a lovely rest. Come back refreshed.»
Margaret opened her mouth to reply, but the phone rang.
«Hello? Mum? Its me, Emma! How are you, are you coming? Ive aired out the room, fresh sheets and everything!»
«Im on my way, darling. Lilys taking me to the station now.»
«Brilliant! I was starting to worry. Mum, Ive missed you so much! You wont believe how beautiful it is hereapple trees in bloom, the airs just wonderful. Youll feel the difference straight away after all that city smog.»
«Lovely, Emma. See you soon.»
Margaret hung up and glanced at Lily.
«See how excited she is? Hasnt seen me in six months.»
«Yeah. Excited.» Lily grabbed the car keys. «Come on, Mum, youll miss your train.»
The drive to the station was quiet. Margaret tried a few times to start a conversation, but Lily gave short answers, as if her mind were elsewhere.
«Lily, maybe I *should* stay. I can tell things are hard for you right now.»
«Mum, stop. Well manage. Davids been jobless beforehell find something.»
«But what about money? How will you get by?»
Lily braked sharply at the traffic lights.
«Well manage. Ive got my salary, hell get benefits. We wont starve.»
«But the mortgage»
«Mum, *please*. Stay out of it. Were adultswell figure it out.»
Margaret sighed and turned to the window. A knot of worry tightened in her chest. Lily had never been so sharp with her. Something was wrongsomething serious.
At the station, as she walked her mother to the platform, Lily suddenly pulled her into a tight hug.
«Sorry, Mum. Ive been awful today. Just stressed.»
«I understand, love. Call me if you need me. Ill come straight back.»
«Just enjoy your break. Say hi to Emma for me.»
The train pulled away, and Margaret waved from the window until Lily disappeared from view.
Emma met her at the station with a bouquet of lavender and a beaming smile.
«Mum! Finally!» She wrapped Margaret in a fierce hug. «How was the trip? Not too tired?»
«Fine, love. You look wonderful, Emma! So tanned and rosy-cheeked.»
«Country air. Better than choking on city fumes. Come on, lets get you homeyou havent even seen the new place yet!»
The house *was* lovelya cozy cottage with a sprawling garden and a view of the river. Emma gave a proud tour, pointing out the new furniture, the fresh paint.
«And this is your room,» she said, opening the door to a sunlit space with two windows. «See? Sun in the mornings, river views at dusk.»
«Its perfect, darling. Wheres James?»
«Still at work. Hell be thrilled to see youkeeps asking when youll visit so he can have your pies again.»
«Ill bake him some, dont worry.» Margaret sat on the bed, taking it all in. «Its so peaceful here.»
«We love it. James has a good job, I do a bit of freelance work. Were thinking of starting a family soon.»
«Oh, thats wonderful! Id love grandchildren.»
Emma sat beside her, clasping her hand.
«Mum, hows Lily doing? She sounded upset last time I called.»
«Things are rough. David lost his job againmoneys tight.»
«*Again*? But hes brilliant at what he does!»
«Just rotten luck. Lilys taking it hard.»
Emma frowned, then brightened.
«Maybe they should move here? Plenty of work, affordable housing. I could ask James to put out feelers.»
«I dont know, love. Theyre city people. And theyve got the flatmortgage still unpaid.»
«Right. Tricky» Emma stood. «Well, rest up. Ill start dinnerJamesll be home soon.»
That evening, James was just as delighted to see her. They lingered on the patio over tea, chatting easily. Margaret felt the weight of the past months lift. Here, surrounded by care and quiet, her soul could breathe.
A week passed. Margaret helped in the garden, explored the village, read by the river. She called Lily daily, but the conversations were clipped and tense.
«How are you, love?»
«Fine, Mum. Davids got a few interviews lined up.»
«And you? Not too worn out?»
«Exhausted. But Ill manage.»
«Lily, maybe I should come back?»
«Dont. Emmas gone to so much trouble. Just enjoy it.»
«But if you need help»
«Mum, *please*. Were fine.»
Yet Margaret couldnt shake her unease. Lilys voice grew thinner each dayonce, shed even cried before quickly brushing it off as work stress.
«Emma, I think Ill head home,» Margaret said over breakfast. «Somethings not right with Lily.»
«Mum, you just got here! Ive planned day trips, picnicswe havent even been down to the river properly!»
«I know, darling. But my guts telling me shes in trouble.»
Emma sighed, setting down her cup.
«Alright. If youre sure, Jamesll drive you to the station.»
The journey back was agony. Margarets dread grew with each unanswered call to Lily.
She arrived at dusk. The lift creaked louder than usual; the hallway felt grim. Her key turned, but the door was chained from inside.
«Lily? Love, its me!»
Silence. Then footsteps.
«Mum? Youre supposed to be at Emmas»
«Open the door, sweetheart.»
When it swung open, Margaret barely recognised herhollow-eyed, gaunt, cheeks streaked with tears.
«Lily! Whats happened?»
«Nothing. Just tired.»
Inside, the flat felt wrong. Suitcases in the hall, papers strewn on the table.
«Lily, whats going on? Wheres David?»
Lily sank onto the sofa, face in her hands.
«Mum, I didnt know how to tell you. Didnt want to ruin your holiday.»
«Tell me *now*.»
«Hes gone. For good. Said we were dragging each other down. Moved in with a mate.»
Margaret wrapped an arm around her.
«Oh, my sweet girl I thought it was just the job.»
«That too. But it doesnt matter now.» Lily looked up. «Mum, Im selling the flat. Cant cover the mortgage alone. Buyers are lined upwe sign next week.»
«Where will you live?»
«Renting a room somewhere.»
Margaret digested this. Then
«Come to me. Theres space.»
«Mum, your flats tiny. Where would I sleep?»
«The sofa for now. Well figure it out.»
Lily shook her head.
«I wont intrude. And my jobs miles from yours.»
«What about Emmas? She said theres work»
«No. I wont be a burden.»
They sat in silence, sometimes talking, sometimes just holding on. Margaret knew words werent what Lily neededjust presence.
The next day, they met the buyersa pleasant couple, eager but fair. Lily signed with visible relief.
«Feels like a weights lifted,» she admitted afterward. «Mortgage cleared, a bit left over. Enough to start fresh.»
«And then?»
«Ill land on my feet. Maybe maybe Emmas right. She called again last nightmore job leads.»
«Go, love. Country air, good people. Youll find work.»
Lily stopped mid-step.
«Come with me?»
«Me? Why? My lifes heremy flat, my friends, my doctor»
«But youll be lonely.»
Margaret smiled.
«Ill manage. Library shifts, my pensioner group And Ill visit often.»
On moving day, Margaret helped packjust clothes, documents, a few precious trinkets.
«The rest can go,» Lily said, surveying the emptied flat. «Fresh start, fresh things.»
«Thats the spirit.»
At the station, Lily broke down.
«Mum, Im sorry. For snapping, for hiding things. I was ashamed.»
«Dont be silly. Lifes just beginning.» Margaret hugged her tight. «Youll be happy there. Emma adores you, Jamesll help. Ill visit soon.»
«Promise?»
«Promise.»
As the train vanished, Margaret walked home slowly. The empty flat was quiet, bittersweet but not bleak. Shed done the right thingnot smothering, not clinging.
A week later, Lily called, bright-voiced.
«Mum, guess what? Ive got a job! Local school needed a history teacher. The deputy took one look at my CV and hired me on the spot.»
«Wonderful! And the room?»
«Staying with Emma for now. She says theres no rushtheir place is huge.»
«Emmas always had a big heart.»
«Yeah. And Mum? Ive slept better here than in years. Maybe maybe this is where Im meant to be.»
Margaret hung up, smiling. Lily would be alright. And shed stay in her own world, content knowing both daughters had found their way.
That evening, she wrote to Emmathanking her for welcoming Lily, for kindness without questions. Sometimes the greatest help is simply being there.
The next day, Margaret phoned a travel agent, browsing seaside getaways. At her age, new beginnings were still possiblefreer, brighter ones. The girls were settled. Now it was her turn to live for herself.
*I dont have a spare room*, her daughter had said. And she was right. There are no spare rooms in lifejust the right ones, at the right time. A parents wisdom lies in knowing when to step back, and when to hold the door open.
