«Youll remember me when youre left alone!»
«Honestly, Mum, is it really so hard to spare an extra bowl of soup for me and your grandson? I dont get it!»
«Yes, Chloe. It is. A lot has changed since you left,» replied Margaret, not even letting her daughter step inside. «Remind mewasnt it you who threw me out of your life? So why are you making demands now?»
Chloe rolled her eyes like a petulant child being scolded for bad behaviourwhich, in a way, she was. *Everyone owes me*hardly the mindset of a grown woman.
«Mum, seriously? I was pregnant back then! Hormones, stress I dont even remember half of what I said!»
«Oh, I remember. Every word. How you hated me, how I had no heart, how I wanted your child dead and thats the polite version. If Im so awful, why come crawling back now?»
«For heavens sake, Mum! Youre supposed to be the adult here. Youve been through pregnancyyou know how emotions swing. You shouldve been more understanding!»
Even now, Chloe twisted it all to make Margaret the villainas if she shouldve just smiled, nodded, and danced to her daughters tune. But Margaret had had enough.
«Oh, I understood you perfectly,» she said slowly, crossing her arms. «But understanding doesnt mean forgiving. Chloe, I can give you moneya littlebut I wont let you back in.»
It wasnt just the flat. Margaret couldnt let her back into her *life*. Because she knew: Chloe would push, demand, and eventually destroy everything Margaret had rebuilt.
«A *little*? How much?»
«Three thousand pounds. Enough to get back on your feet.»
«That wont even cover a months rent! Fine for meIll managebut what about your grandson? How can you be so heartless?»
Margaret refused to argue further.
«People in need take what theyre given. If its not enough for you, figure it out yourself.»
With that, she shut the door.
«Fine! I will! But remember thismen come and go, but its your children wholl hand you a glass of water in your old age. And youll get *nothing*. Youll remember me when youre left alone!» Chloe spat through the door before stomping off.
Margaret leaned against the hallway wall, biting her lip to keep from crying. It hurtbadlybut the rift between them had been there for years.
…Chloe had always been spoiled. Grandparents rushed to buy toys at her first tantrum, and her father, Daniel, indulged her worst habits. Didnt like a dress? Off to the shops for a new one. Smashed her phone in a fit? No problemhed buy a better one. Wanted a dog? *Of course, darling, pick any breed.*
No wonder Chloe was Daddys girl. If Mum said no, she ran to Danielwho always said yes.
Margaret and Daniel fought about it constantly. He was a loving husband and father but had no sense of boundaries when it came to their daughter.
«Dan, why did you give her money for cinema tickets? You *knew* Id grounded her!» Margaret fumed. «Its not about the money. I asked her to help your mum with the garden, and you know what she said? *If you two care so much, you do it.*»
Daniel would wincehe knew Chloe pushed too farbut hed just wave it off.
«Come on, love. Remember what we were like at her age. Let me spoil her while I can. Shell fly the nest soon enough.»
Those words turned out to be prophetic.
Daniel died when Chloe was fourteen, and everything fell apart after that. Chloe had always been difficult, but without her father, she blamed Margaret for *everything*. Caught a cold? *»You brought it home from work.»* Broke up with a boyfriend? *»Because you wouldnt let me go out at night.»* Flunked her A-levels? *»Everyone else got tutorsyou left me to struggle.»*
Still, Margaret had saved part of their joint savings for Chloes university fees.
«I dont get why youre doing this,» sighed Margarets friend. «No offence, but Chloes not exactly academic. What if she flunks out in third year? All that money wasted!»
«She wants to try, so let her. Its not just for herits for Dan. Hed never forgive me if I sent her into the world with nothing.»
Margaret worked two jobs to support herself and her student daughter. Colleagues called her a saint, but the truth was simpler: she was terrified of being alone. Chloe was all she had.
In her second year, Chloe announced she wanted to move in with a *»friend»*turned out to be a bloke named Ryan. A year later, she was pregnant.
«Mum, guess what? Were having a baby!» Chloe gushed.
Margarets knees nearly buckled.
«Chloe neither of you has jobs. Where will you live? How will you afford it?»
«The government will help, Ryans parents will chip in, and so will you Ryan can pick up odd jobs!»
Margaret didnt like her role in that plan. Shed hoped supporting Chloe through uni would be the end of it. Now she saw: this would *never* end.
«Oh, and Mum tuitions due soon. Can you cover it?»
«Tuition? Youll be pushing a pram, not attending lectures! Take a gap year or sort out the baby. This isnt the time.»
What followed was ugly. Chloe claimed half of Daniels savings were rightfully hers, accused Margaret of wanting to *»kill her grandchild»*, and finally called her a monster before slamming the door in her face.
Margaret waited for Chloe to cool offbut the next day, she found herself blocked everywhere. She knew Chloes address, couldve gone over but enough was enough.
At the time, it felt like losing her purpose in life. But nature abhors a vacuum.
After Chloe left, Margaret learned to live for herself. She joined a gymwhere she met Alan. He helped her with the weights, then offered her a lift home. One thing led to another, and they married.
Alan was ten years older, a widower with a grown son, James, a daughter-in-law, Emily, and a grandson, Oliver. Margaret didnt just gain a husbandshe gained a family. Emily treated her not as a mother-in-law but as a friend.
Oliver was special. Margaret spoiled him with toys, baked him treats, took him to the park and the zoo. At first, Emily only dropped him off in emergenciessoon, it was because *he* asked to see «Grandma.»
«Grandma, can we feed the pigeons today?» Oliver asked once.
Margarets heart swelled. Shed forgotten what pure, unconditional love felt like.
Life had colour again. Then, two years later, Chloe reappeared.
Ryan had quit playing housegot his degree, flitted between jobs, then moved back with his parents. But the baby remained. Chloe needed somewhere to go
Only now, Margaret decided: *not my problem.* Especially when Chloe returned not to apologise, but to demand.
*»Youll remember me when youre left alone.»* The words echoed, sharp as a knife. It hurtlike tearing out a piece of her heart. But Margaret had survived it once. Shed survive again.
Her phone buzzed. A text from Alan: *»Fancy a romantic night in? Ill grab wine.»* Another from Emilya photo of three lopsided gingerbread men.
*»Oliver made these at nursery. One for me, one for Dad, and one for you. Can we pop over?»*
Margaret smiled. Warmth seeped into her bones. Soquiet evening with Alan, or a house full of laughter?
Either way, she was happy. Because shed learned something: being *needed* isnt the same as being *loved.*
No, she wasnt alone. And she never would be again.
