Susan Archer had long transferred the title of her house and everything she owned into her daughters name. So little Emily wont have to fight over the inheritance, she had boasted once, smiling proudly at her new daughterinlaw. Now, however, something seemed to gnaw at Susans composure.
Nina, her sons wife, quickly realised that any affection from her motherinlaw was a pipe dream. It was no surprise; Susan only ever loved herself and Emily, her younger sisterinlaw, the younger sister of Ninas husband, Edward.
Edwards own father, who had died a few years before Nina met him, never earned Susans love. Edward confessed that his mother saw him merely as a provider. He idolised her, and every asseta threebedroom flat in Manchester, a modest but livable country cottage, a car and a garagebelonged outright to Susan.
She even seemed relieved when her twentysixyearold son announced his engagement, assuming he would finally leave the family home and stop crowding his mother and sister. Susan never once considered helping the young couple.
Youre a man, youll earn your own keep. My property is for Emily, she declared loudly. Shell look after me in old ageshe wont abandon me, shes my daughter.
Nina didnt take offense, but she felt sorry for Edward, who was reminded yet again that his mothers favourite was her daughter. The pain was clear on his face.
Dont worry, Ninas own mother, Mary Johnson, soothed the newlyweds. Well sort something out. Stay with me for a while, then well see what we can do. Mary was warm and generous. Remembering how bitter it had been to stay with her husbands parents, she sold her own twobedroom flat and her cottage, giving the young couple a deposit for a mortgage.
She moved into a tiny studio, joking, Why would I need a palace? Id just be cleaning it. Edward always called his motherinlaw Mum and helped her whenever she fell ill, taking her to doctors and fetching medication after she broke her leg. He found her a cosy job at a local health centre, refused to let her sit idle, and paid for her yearly spa retreat.
All this happened after Edward rose from a modest engineer to the production manager of a large firm. From the day they wed, Mary had given everything she could without a word of complaint. Nina hoped Susan would at least praise her sons career, but that never happened.
Whatever, Susan waved dismissively. At least shes not hanging on Mums heels. She bragged about Emilys boyfrienda businessman who lived in silk, as smooth as butter. In truth, he was rich but only for himself; Emily had been left to drift for three years, never marrying him.
Instead she fell deep into a romance with a smoothtalking rogue who vanished the instant he learned she was pregnant. Emily sobbed, gave birth to little Christina, and then set off again searching for love.
Susan repeatedly sang Emilys praises: What a brilliant daughter, what a golden grandchild! Yet in the five years shed only seen Christina a couple of times and sometimes even forgot her birthday.
Surprisingly, Susan never asked the couple for money, despite never having worked herself. Emily pretended to earn a meagre wage from a municipal archive. Edward once muttered that the family lived off remnants of his fathers savings, cleverly invested by Susan, though Nina never pressed for figures.
Later it emerged that Susan had left her citycentre flat to Edwards sister, who rented it out for a tidy sum. For fifteen years the two families ran parallel lives. Edward would ring his mother on her birthday and on New Years, always staying less than half an hour.
Darling, you cant ignore the motherinlaw, Mary warned Nina gently. Were family; show some respect. Nina retorted, Mum doesnt even look at us. She gushes over Emily and Christina. I doubt shed recognise us on the street. It was trueSusans attention never turned to her sons family.
Nina and Edward barely followed their relatives affairs, but in a small town news traveled fast. Emily married, receiving her grandmothers inherited twobedroom flat as a wedding gift.
Oops, there was never a wedding! Susan protested when Edward tried to congratulate his sister. No point spending moneyEmily and Victor are off on an expensive holiday, they need cash to refurbish a flat. Soon it emerged the young couple had split, and that same flat was oddly divided between them. Emily spent her share on a retreat to recover from the stress.
Throughout, Christina lived on Susans full support, a fact Susan wore like a badge of honour. One winter Ninas mother fell ill; Nina and Edward scrambled to get her treatment abroad, but nothing helped. Edward seemed more haunted by his mothers suffering than Nina; Susan never even called to offer condolences.
Desperate, Nina tried to discover whether her brother could help sell an old car, as Emily urgently needed cash. It was then Nina heard Edward curse for the first time. For months he cut off all contact with his mother, only returning when neighbours reported a flood at the family home.
The house was emptySusan, Edwards sister, and his niece had fled to the coast and ignored the neighbours calls. That seaside escape changed Emilys life forever; there she met Victor, a charismatic investor with no assets and a wild lifestyle. He made it clear he had no use for Emily or her mother, but the flat would be perfect for his schemes.
Because of that, Susan finally called Edward. Talk to your sister, she said, her voice shaking. Victor is a lovely man who loves Emily, but I fear shes too easily swayed by him. Edward replied cautiously, We havent spoken to Emily in years. What am I supposed to say? Susan snapped, I knew I could count on you for nothing! and slammed the phone.
The call rattled Nina. Should we find out whats happening there? she asked. Edward answered curtly, I have no desire. As long as theyre alive and well, thats enough.
Six months later Susan appeared at their doorstep, gaunt and trembling. Emily sold our flat, she gasped, tears streaming. I dont know where she is now. Please, find my daughter. She didnt even glance at Nina.
Edward asked, Where are you living now? Susan hiccupped, Not me, but usEmily and Christinaat the cottage. I have no idea what Victor has done, but hes bewitched her. According to Susan, the rogue who never married Emily vanished with her money and the promise of a business venture.
Im afraid the police wont take a report, Edward sighed. Susan left emptyhanded, now trying to guilttrip the couple into taking Christina in, as her age and ailments made her unable to care for the girl on a meagre pension.
While the couple hesitates, Edward still brings Susan groceries and a few pounds now and then. Emily never calls anyone. The tangled web of debts, broken promises, and vanished lovers lingers over the modest Manchester suburb, each breath heavy with unresolved grief.
