“You’re not family,” said her mother-in-law, sliding the meat back into the pot.
Lena froze by the stove, the plate still in her hands. A thin smear of gravy was all that remained of the stew Rachel had just made. Piece by piece, the meat vanished back into the pot, as though her mother-in-law were counting each chunk.
“Excuse me?” Lena whispered, certain she’d misheard.
“Whats not clear?” Rachel wiped her hands on her apron and turned to face her daughter-in-law. “We never welcomed you into this family. You forced your way in.”
The kitchen fell so silent that the bubbling soup on the hob was the only sound. Lena set the plate down and pushed a loose strand of hair from her forehead. Her hands trembled.
“Rachel, I dont understand. Victor and I have been married five years. We have a daughter”
“And what of it?” Rachel cut her off. “Little Lilys our blood, yes. But you? Youll always be an outsider.”
The kitchen door swung open, and Victor stumbled in, hair tousled, shirt half-buttonedfresh from a nap on the sofa after work.
“Whats going on?” He looked between his wife and mother. “Why are you shouting?”
“Were not shouting,” Rachel said smoothly. “Just talking. Explaining to your wife how things work in this house.”
Victor frowned at Lena. She stood rigid, lips pressed tight.
“Mum, what did you say?”
“The truth. That the meat isnt for everyone. Big family, small portions.”
Lena felt the lump rise in her throat. That was it. Five years shed believed she was part of this family. Five years of bending over backward to please Rachel, enduring the snide remarks, the nitpicking, hoping time would soften things.
“Vic, Im going home,” she said quietly. “To Mums.”
“What do you mean, home?” Rachel snapped. “Your home is here now. Or do you think you can come and go as you please?”
“Mum, enough,” Victor stepped toward Lena. “What happened?”
Lena stayed silent. How could she explain that his mother had just made it clear she was nothing here? That even a plate of stew was too much to ask?
“Ill feed Lily and put her to bed,” she said instead. “Then Im taking her to Mums for the weekend.”
“Why on earth?” Rachel bristled. “Her grandmothers right here. Why drag the child elsewhere?”
“Her grandmother thinks her mother isnt family,” Lena murmured. “Maybe Lily belongs somewhere better.”
She turned to leave. Victor caught her wrist.
“Lena, wait. Talk to me properly.”
She faced him. His confusion, his mothers feigned indifference as she stirred the soupit was all too familiar.
“Ask your mum,” Lena said. “Shell tell you.”
In the nursery, three-year-old Lily played with her dolls. She beamed when Lena entered.
“Mummy! Look, Im feeding Katie!”
“Good job, sweetheart,” Lena crouched to hug her. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes! Grandma said were having stew tonight!”
“We are, love. But were going to eat at Nana Sarahs instead.”
“Nanas house?” Lily clapped. “Yay! Is Daddy coming?”
“No, Daddys staying here.”
Lena packed a bagdresses, tights, toys, enough for a few days. Victor appeared in the doorway as she folded a jumper.
“Lena, this is ridiculous. Running off over nothing.”
“Ridiculous?” She straightened. “Your mother just told me Im not family. Took food from me. Thats nothing?”
“Mum says things! You know how she isshort-tempered. Shell forget by tomorrow.”
“I wont, Vic. This isnt the first time.”
“Dont be dramatic! Shes tired. Works been rough.”
Lena laughed, bitter and hollow.
“Tired. Five years of tired. And Im always the one she takes it out on.”
“Then ignore her!”
“Ignore being called a stranger in my own home? Vic, listen to yourself!”
Victor paced, rubbing his neckhis tell when he was stuck.
“Lena, where will you go? Were family. Weve got Lily.”
“Thats why Im leaving. I wont have her hearing her mother belittled.”
“Whos belittling you? Mum just spoke her mind.”
“Spoke her mind?” Lena stared. “She took food from me, Vic. Said I dont belong!”
“Maybe it came out wrong. But you know how she israised us alone after Dad died. Controls all shes got.”
“So I suffer for it forever?”
Victor sat on the bed, taking her hands.
“Lets not fight. Ill talk to her.”
“Talk? Tell her Im human? That I have feelings?”
“Yeah. Ill tell her to back off.”
Lena shook her head.
“This isnt about rudeness, Vic. Its about her never accepting me. And you letting it happen.”
“She just needs time”
“Five years wasnt enough?”
From the kitchen, Rachels voice cut in:
“Victor! Dinners getting cold!”
He stood.
“Come eat. Well talk after.”
“No, thanks. Ive lost my appetite.”
He hesitated, then left. Muffled voices rose and fell from the kitchen.
Lena dialed her mother.
“Mum? Can we come stay a few days?”
“Of course, love. Whats wrong?”
“Ill explain later. Were leaving now.”
“Good. Ive made roastplenty to go round.”
Lena smiled faintly. Mum always said thatnever counted portions.
Lily chattered the whole bus ride.
“Mum, why isnt Daddy coming?” she asked as they reached the house.
“Daddys busy, love. Hell visit.”
Sarah met them at the door, warm and smilingeverything Rachel wasnt.
“My girls! Look how big youve gotten!” She scooped Lily up.
“Nana, do you have new stories?”
“Loads! After dinner.”
Sarah heaped their plates with roast.
“Eat up. Lena, youre skin and bones.”
“Not hungry lately.”
“You will be. Home comforts, love.”
Home. The checkered curtains, the old china cabinet, photos on the wallsno one called her an outsider here.
Later, with Lily asleep, they sipped tea.
“Tell me,” Sarah said.
Lena didthe stew, the words. Sarah listened, nodding.
“How did Victor take it?”
“Same as always. Mums stressed, ignore her.”
Sarah stirred her tea.
“And how do you feel?”
“Tired. Five years of trying, and she still hates me.”
“Examples?”
Lena sighed.
“The way I cook, clean, parent. When Lily was ill last month, she said I was a failure.”
“And Victor?”
“He says nothing. Or defends her.”
Sarah set her cup down.
“Are you happy in this marriage?”
The question stunned her.
“I dont know. I was. Now Im a guest in my own life.”
“Why didnt you tell me?”
“I thought itd get better.”
“Has it?”
They sat quietly as rain tapped the window.
“Mum, how did Gran treat you when you married Dad?”
Sarah smiled.
“Your Gran Mary? Called me daughter from day one. Loved me better than her own Alice.”
“Why?”
“Because she saw I loved her son. And he loved me. Where theres love, theres room.”
Did Victor love her? Truly?
His call came then.
“Lena, where are you?”
“Mums. Like I said.”
“When are you coming home?”
“Dont know. Maybe Sunday.”
“Sunday? Youve got work!”
“I called in sick.”
A pause.
“Stop this. Come home. Well talk.”
“About what? Your mother treating me like dirt?”
“Dont exaggerate! Shes justherself. Needs time.”
“Five years wasnt enough?”
“Lena, dont do this. Familys family.”
“Your family. Not mine.”
She hung up. Sarah handed her a tissue.
“Cry if you need to.”
But the tears wouldnt come. Just hollow relief.
The next morning, Sarah went shopping. Lena and Lily played, read, laughedno rules, no criticism.
“Mum, why arent we home?” Lily asked at lunch.
“Visiting Nana.”
“Is Daddy coming?”
Lena hesitated.
“He loves us.”
“Does Grandma Rachel love us?”
A heavy breath.
“She loves you. Youre her blood
