Emily pulled her car up just a street away from her mother-in-laws house. The clock read 5:45shed arrived earlier than agreed. *Maybe this time shell actually appreciate me being punctual*, she thought, smoothing out the creases in her new dress. The giftan antique brooch shed spent months tracking down through collectorswas neatly wrapped on the back seat.
As she walked toward the house, she noticed the ground-floor window was slightly open. Her mother-in-laws voice drifted out clearly:
*No, Patricia, can you believe it? She didnt even bother to ask what kind of cake I like! Ordered some trendy dessert instead Our son always loved a classic Victoria sponge, and she* a pause, *doesnt even get it. Seven years of marriage!*
Emily froze. Her feet might as well have been glued to the pavement.
*Honestly, Ive told you beforeshes not right for James. Works all hours at that clinic of hers, barely home. What sort of homemaker is that? I popped round yesterdaydirty dishes, dust everywhere And her, of course, tied up with some complicated surgery!*
Everything inside her went still. Emily leaned against the fence, knees trembling. For seven years, shed tried to be the perfect daughter-in-law: cooking, cleaning, remembering every birthday, visiting when her mother-in-law was ill. And for what?
*I havent said a word, but reallyis that the sort of woman my son should be with? He needs a proper family, warmth, care And shes always at conferences or on night shifts. Doesnt even think about children! Can you imagine?*
Her head pounded. Mechanically, she pulled out her phone and dialled her husband.
*James? Ill be a bit late. Yes, everythings fine, just traffic.*
She turned and walked back to the car. Sliding into the seat, she stared blankly ahead. The words shed just heard echoed in her skull: *Could do with more salt, In my day, women stayed home, James works so hard, he needs looking after*
Her phone buzzeda text from James: *Mums asking where you are. Everyones here.*
Emily took a deep breath. A strange smile flickered across her face. *Alright then*, she thought. *If they want the perfect daughter-in-law, theyll get her.*
She started the engine and turned back toward the house. The plan formed in an instant.
No more trying to please them. Time to show them what a *proper* daughter-in-law could really be like.
Emily swept into the house with the brightest smile she could muster. *Mumsy darling!* she trilled, throwing her arms around her mother-in-law with exaggerated enthusiasm. *So sorry Im lateI popped into three different shops to find those exact scented candles you adore!*
Her mother-in-law stiffened, thrown by the sudden energy. *I thought* she began, but Emily barrelled on:
*Oh, and guess what? I ran into your friend Patricia on the way! Such a lovely woman, always so *honest*, isnt she?* Emily held her mother-in-laws gaze just a second too long, watching the colour drain from her face.
Dinner was a performance of a lifetime. Emily piled the best bits onto her mother-in-laws plate, gasped at every word she said, and endlessly asked for homemaking advice.
*Mumsy, how long *do* you roast a jointthree hours or four? And the carpetshoover in the morning or evening? Maybe I should quit my job? After all, James needs a *proper* family, doesnt he?*
James stared at her, bewildered. Relatives exchanged glances. But Emily didnt stop:
*I was thinkingmaybe I should take a *housekeeping* course? Give up this silly doctoring lark A woman *should* be the heart of the home, shouldnt she, Mumsy?*
Her mother-in-laws fork tapped nervously against her plate. Her confidence withered by the minute.
And what happened next? Well some stories are best read to the end.
