“If you don’t like my rules, you can leave!” snapped Margaret at the family dinner table.
“Margaret, perhaps we could try the potatoes differently? I know a lovely recipe with mushrooms,” suggested Emily softly, stirring the soup on the stove.
“I dont need your recipes!” Margaret cut in sharply, not looking up from peeling carrots. “Thirty years I’ve been cooking for this family, and now you come with your fancy ideas!”
Emily sighed and kept stirring. It had been six months since she and Daniel moved in with his mother after their flat burned down. Six months of petty arguments, disapproving glances, and sharp remarks disguised as concern for the family.
“Mum, theres no need for that,” Daniel said as he walked into the kitchen, kissing Emilys forehead. “Emily cooks wellmaybe we could try something new?”
“Oh, so now you’re against me too?” Margaret threw her hands up. “Thirty-two years I raised you, fed you, and now my cooking isnt good enough?”
“Mum, thats not what I said”
“Then what is this?” Margaret slammed the knife against the chopping board. “First they invade my home, now they tell me how to cook!”
Emily felt her chest tighten. “Invade”? As if they were intruders, not a family with nowhere else to go.
“Margaret, I wasnt telling you. I was just suggesting,” she said quietly, turning off the stove.
“Suggesting! As if anyone asked you! This is my house, my kitchen!” Margaret stood, hands on her hips. “And I do the cooking here!”
Daniel looked helplessly between his mother and wife. Emily could see his distress, torn between them, and it only made her ache more.
“Fine, Ill set the table,” she murmured, leaving the kitchen without slamming the door.
In the living room, fourteen-year-old Lucy sat on the sofa, doing homework. She looked up at the sound of footsteps.
“Arguing again?” she whispered.
“Just discussing,” Emily forced a smile, taking plates from the cupboard.
“Mum, when are we moving back to our own place?”
That was the painful question. The insurance had only covered part of the damage, and they barely had enough for a new home. Daniel worked as a driver, Emily as a teacherneither earned much. They were saving, but it was slow.
“Soon, love. Just a little longer.”
“I cant take it anymore!” Lucy blurted. “Shes unbearable! Yesterday I played music, and she stormed in, shouting it was just noise! Today she said I walk too loudly! Im already tiptoeing!”
Emily stroked her daughters hair. Lucy was well-behaved, but even her patience was wearing thin.
“Try to bear it. Grandmas just used to living alone. Its hard for her.”
“Grandma? Real grandmas love their grandkids, not yell at them!”
“Shh, shell hear.”
“I dont care!”
A crash came from the kitchen, followed by Daniels voice and Margarets shrill reply. Emily hurried back.
“What happened?”
“Your wife broke a plate!” Margaret fumed, pointing at the shards. “My mothers china! The last set I had!”
Daniel stood with a dustpan, staring at the mess.
“Mum, it was an accident! I was just helping move them”
“Help? Teach your wife how to handle other peoples things!”
“Whats this got to do with me?” Emily snapped. “Daniel broke it, not me!”
“Its all your fault!” Margaret rounded on her. “You moved in, turned my son into a mess! He never dropped anything before you came!”
“Mum, thats not fair”
“Fair? You were a proper, caring son before marriage. Now? All you think about is your wife!”
Emily felt tears rising. Six months of resentment and exhaustion choked her.
“Margaret, enough,” she said quietly. “Well leave.”
“What?”
“Tomorrow. Well find somewhere else.”
“Where?” Daniel frowned. “We dont have the money”
“Well manage. Rent a room, a flat. Anything.”
Margaret faltered. “Im not throwing you out.”
“Youre not. But were making you miserable.”
“Waitlets talk properly,” Daniel pleaded.
“Whats there to say?” Emily shrugged. “Your mums right. Her house, her rules. We dont belong here.”
“But Im not kicking you out!” Margaret sounded panicked.
“No. But you make sure we know were unwelcome. Every day, another complaint. Were exhausted.”
Margaret opened her mouth, then closed it. She hadnt expected this.
“Emily, dont rush this,” Daniel said. “Lets think”
“Ive thought. Six months of this. We cant live like this.”
Margaret suddenly burst into tears. “I didnt mean I never wanted to drive you out!”
Emily hugged her. “I know. Youre tired too. Better we leave before things get worse.”
“What about Lucy?” Margaret sniffed.
“Shell visit. And you can come see us when were settled.”
Daniel slumped into a chair. “Bloody hell.”
“Well manage,” Emily said, squeezing his shoulder. “At least were all safe.”
An hour later, Emily was calling friends. A colleague had a one-bed flat for rentsmall, not central, but their own.
“Well see it tomorrow,” she told Daniel.
“And if its no good?”
“Well find another. Something will turn up.”
Margaret hovered all evening, starting sentences she never finished. Only at bedtime did she approach Emily.
“Youre really leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe we could try again?” Margaret whispered. “Ill be better.”
Emily shook her head. “Dont force it. You deserve your home. And we deserve peace.”
“But Daniel”
“Hell understand. Hes a grown man.”
As they loaded the taxi next morning, Margaret stood silently, biting her lip.
“Come visit,” Emily said. “Ill cook for you.”
Margaret nodded. “Youre not angry?”
“No. This is for the best.”
Lucy waved from the taxi; Daniel spoke to the driver. Emily hugged Margaret goodbye.
“Take care.”
“You too. And look after Lucy.”
As the taxi pulled away, Emily leaned back, relieved. Ahead lay uncertaintyrenting, new strugglesbut no more daily tension, no more resentment.
“Regrets?” Daniel asked.
“No,” she said truthfully. “You?”
“None. Im tired of the fights. Mum will understand eventually.”
“She will,” Emily agreed. “And well visit. Thats different.”
Lucy squeezed her hand. “Mum, can I play music in the new flat?”
“Of course,” Emily smiled. “Just not too loud.”
“Deal,” Lucy grinned. “As long as I can.”
The taxi turned onto an unfamiliar street. A new life had begun.
