“You knew he was weak,” murmured her mother-in-law as he left. “I don’t see why we need so much meat,” grumbled Valerie, inspecting the fridge. “Half this amount would do for three adults.”
Lena continued chopping onions for the salad without a word. Tears welled in her eyes, but not from the onions. They came from the daily criticism about how she ran the household.
“The potatoes are all soft,” the older woman carried on. “Where do you even buy them? Some dodgy corner shop?”
“At the market, Valerie,” Lena replied softly. “Same as always.”
“Oh, of course. And what goods that? Money down the drain.”
Lena set the knife down and took a deep breath. Five years of marriage, and every day the samecriticism, complaints, disapproval. And her husband, Edward, stayed silent, pretending not to hear.
“Edward, lunch is ready,” she called toward the living room, where he lay on the sofa scrolling through his phone.
“One minute,” he answered without looking up.
“What do you mean, one minute?” Valerie snapped. “Foods going cold while he plays with his gadgets. Edward, come to the table now!”
Obediently, he set his phone aside and shuffled to the kitchen, taking his usual seat beside his mother, opposite Lena.
“Whats on the menu today?” he asked, unfolding his napkin.
“Beef stew and mash,” Lena said, ladling soup into bowls.
“Beef stew again?” Valerie wrinkled her nose. “Gives me heartburn. You know I cant have anything acidic.”
“You could skip the Worcestershire sauce,” Lena suggested. “I didnt add much.”
“Doesnt matter. Still too sharp. And why so many carrots? You know Edward gets bloated from them.”
Lena glanced at her husband, willing him to say something. But Edward silently spooned his soup as if the conversation had nothing to do with him.
“Next time, Ill just make plain broth,” Lena conceded.
“About time. Always overcomplicating things. Back in my day, people made do with simple meals and were healthier for it.”
The meal passed in the usual silenceValerie nitpicking, Edward nodding along, Lena counting the minutes until the ordeal ended.
Afterward, Valerie retreated to her room for her afternoon telly, and Lena cleared the table. Edward tried slipping back to the sofa, but she stopped him.
“Edward, we need to talk.”
“About what?” He lingered in the doorway, annoyed.
“Your mother. I cant live like this anymore.”
“Whats the problem? Shes not doing anything wrong.”
Lena nearly dropped a plate at his naivety.
“Nothing wrong? She criticises everything I docooking, cleaning, shopping. I feel like a servant in my own home.”
“Shes just set in her ways. Been running things her whole life.”
“Running things? So what am I? A lodger?”
Edward rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Dont be dramatic, love. Shes oldchange is hard for her. Just bear with it a little longer.”
“Five years, Edward. Five years Ive waited for her to adjust. She only gets worse.”
“What do you want me to do? Kick my own mother out?”
“I want you to set boundaries. Tell her Im the one running this houseyour wife.”
Edward shook his head.
“I cant talk to her like that. She raised me.”
“And what am I? A stranger? Were family!”
“Of course we are. But shes my mother.”
Lena felt something tighten inside her. Always the same. His mother would always come first.
“Fine,” she said, fighting back tears. “Got it.”
“Dont be like that. Youve got to be patient with older people.”
He reached to pat her shoulder, but she pulled away.
“Go to your mother. Shes probably missed you.”
Edward hovered, then sighed and left. Lena stayed alone in the kitchen, surrounded by dirty dishes and bitter thoughts.
Shed met Edward at university. Hed seemed steady, dependablenothing like her past boyfriends, loud and quick-tempered. Edward never raised his voice, always polite, considerate. A bit soft, maybe, but shed thought that refreshing after the shouting matches of her childhood.
Shed only met Valerie at the wedding. A stern but pleasant woman, whod gushed about finally having a daughter-in-law, promising to love Lena as her own.
The trouble started when they rented a flat near Valeries. She began dropping by dailyfor salt, for sugar, for any excusewhile eyeing the place with disapproval.
“Lena, whys the floor so dull?” shed ask. “Youre using the wrong cleaner.”
Or:
“Your bedroom smells musty. Open a window more often.”
Lena ignored it at first, thinking Valerie was just protective. But the remarks grew sharper.
Then Edward lost his job. Rent became a struggle, and Valerie generously offered them her spare room. Temporarily, of course, until he found work.
That “temporary” stretched to three years. Edward took a low-paying job at a small firm, but moving out never happened. And Valerie stopped pretending Lena was good enough for her son.
“My friend Margarets daughter-in-law is different,” shed say. “Thrifty, practical. Home like a magazine spread, and knows how to manage money. Respects her husband, too.”
The message was clear: Lena didnt respect Edward if she dared disagree.
Now, Lena finished the dishes and caught her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Thirty, but she looked forty. Stress and sleepless nights had taken their toll.
From the living room, the telly droned, mingling with Valerie and Edwards murmurs. She was telling him about a neighbour whod parked poorly again.
“Someone ought to speak to her,” Valerie said. “But you know how rude she is.”
“Best leave it, Mum. Not worth the hassle.”
“Quite right, son. No point dealing with difficult women.”
Lena knew the neighbour wasnt the only topic. Valerie often hinted Lena fell into the same categorythough Edward, unfortunately, had already tied himself to her.
That evening, Lena tried again. Once Valerie went to bed, she sat beside Edward on the sofa.
“Edward, I mean it. Im miserable here.”
“Not this again.”
“What choice do I have? Stay silent forever?”
“Its not forever. Mum wont live forever.”
Lena went cold.
“So Im supposed to wait for your mother to die?”
“No! I just mean shes getting on. Maybe well move soon.”
“Move where? We cant afford a shoebox on your wages.”
“Ill find something better.”
“Youve been looking three years.”
Edward exhaled irritably.
“Why dyou always nag me? Ive got enough on my plate.”
“And I dont?”
“Just drop it. Lets watch something.”
He grabbed the remote. Conversation over. Lena sat a moment longer, then left.
In their room, she pulled an old notebook from the wardrobepages filled with newlywed dreams. Flipping through, she found an entry:
“I want our own place. Children laughing in the halls. Freedom to cook and clean my way.”
Children. Shed wanted them, but Edward always said it wasnt the right time. First they needed stability, their own home. Now there was neither space nor money.
“Edwards so kind and patient. Never shouts, always listens. Hell be a wonderful father.”
A father to children theyd never havenot while Valerie ruled the house.
She closed the book and lay down. Edward slipped in an hour later, careful not to wake her. She pretended to sleep.
At breakfast, Valerie announced, “Margarets visiting today. Lena, tidy up properlyI wont be embarrassed in front of guests.”
“I clean every day, Valerie.”
“Not well enough. Dust on every shelf.”
“Where?”
“Everywhere! TV stand, bookshelves. And the hallway mirrors smudged.”
Lena checked. No dust, no smudges. But she didnt argue. She wiped everything again.
Margaret arrived at luncha loud, confident woman in a floral dress.
“Valerie, darling!” she bellowed from the door. “And this must be Lena! Valeries told me all about you.”
Lena made tea while the women chatted.
“My Susans divorced again,” Margaret declared. “Third husband. Says the last one was spineless, no backbone.”
“Men these days,” Valerie agreed. “No grit left in them.”
Lena listened as she scrubbed pans.
“And your Edward? Still at that little firm?”
“Oh yes. Good boy, but too soft. Lets his wife walk all over him.”
Lena nearly dropped a cup.
“Really?” Margaret feigned shock. “He seems so steady.”
“Steady, yes. But no spine. She contradicts him, and he just takes it. Ive told him: Edward, be a man! But he says, Mum, stay out of it.”
“Ah. And the wifestrict, is she?”
Valerie lowered her voice, but Lena caught every word.
“Strict? Hardly. Just ordinary. Doesnt respect him, nags constantly. And no childrentoo busy with her career. Though Edward wont push her, of course. Too soft.”
Lenas face burned. Her mother-in-law was airing their private life to strangerspainting her as the villain.
Margaret left by evening. Edward returned tired and hungry.
“Dinner ready?” he asked, hanging his coat.
“Ill heat it.”
Over the meal, Valerie prattled about Margarets visitconveniently omitting the gossip.
“She asked after you,” she told Edward. “Lovely woman. Shame we dont meet more often.”
Edward nodded, chewing his pie. Lena wondered how many ears Margarets version of “spineless Edward” would reach by tomorrow.
Later, with Valerie watching telly, Lena confronted Edward in the kitchen.
“Your mother discussed our marriage with Margaret today.”
“Discussed what?”
“That weve no children. That I dont respect you. That youre spineless.”
Edward frowned.
“Shed never say that.”
“She did. I heard her.”
“Probably misunderstood. Mums not cruel.”
“She called you spineless! To a stranger!”
“Does it matter what people say?”
“It matters to me! This is my family, my husband. I wont have us gossiped about.”
“Nobodys gossiping. Women chat, thats all.”
Lena realised hed never grasp the gravity. Or chose not to.
“Fine,” she said. “Tomorrow, Ill speak to your mother myself.”
“Dont. Why stir trouble?”
“Whats left? You wont defend us.”
“Defend us from what? Mums harmless.”
“Harmless? She tells neighbours our business, criticises my every move, meddles in our marriage. Thats normal to you?”
Edward stood.
“Im knackered. Well talk tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow youll be too tired again.”
But he was already gone.
The next morning, Edward left early, muttering about work. Once alone, Lena faced Valerie over breakfast.
“We need to talk. About what you said to Margaret.”
Valerie set her paper down.
“About?”
“You discussed my marriage. My husband.”
“What of it? Friends share things.”
“Share what? That your sons spineless?”
“Isnt he?” Valerie said calmly. “Look at him. Thirty-three, acts like a boy. Lets you have your way, scared to disagree.”
Lenas hands trembled.
“He trusts me. Thats not weakness.”
“Trusts one thing. A man should lead. Not hide behind his wife when theres trouble.”
“What trouble? What are you on about?”
Valerie studied her.
“About how he wont stand up to you. Even when youre wrong. Thats not how a man behaves.”
“I dont command him!”
“You do. And he lets you. He shouldve put you in your place by now.”
Lena stood. “Put me in my place? For what?”
“Impertinence. Disrespect. Forgetting who runs this house.”
“Runs it? I work, clean, cookwhat more do I need to do?”
Valerie rose slowly.
“This is my house. Edwards my son. Youre temporary. Remember that.”
The words stung. Lenas legs wavered.
“Temporary? Weve been married five years!”
“So? A piece of paper doesnt guarantee anything. Unsuitable wives get replaced.”
“You want to replace me?”
“I want my son happy. With you, he isnt. Even if he wont admit it.”
Lena sank into a chair. Her pulse pounded.
“Has Edward complained?”
“Not outright. But Im his motherI see it. Hes tired of your nagging. Used to be cheerful. Now hes closed off.”
“Because of your interference!”
“Mine?” Valerie scoffed. “Im nothing but kind. Youre the one wearing him down.”
Lena saw no point arguing. Valerie would never admit fault.
“Fine,” she said, standing. “Edward and I will discuss this.”
“Discuss it,” Valerie said. “Though I doubt hell tell you the full truth. Probably pities you.”
Lena locked herself in the bedroom and weptproperly, for the first time in years.
Edward returned late, grim-faced.
“Whats wrong?” she asked.
“Work disaster. Promised bonus got scrapped.”
“Sorry. But we need to talk.”
“Not now. Im shattered.”
He showered and slept. Lena lay awake, replaying Valeries words. Was Edward truly unhappy? Had he been hiding it?
At breakfast, she asked outright.
“Edward, truthfullyare you happy with us?”
He blinked.
“What kind of question? Course I am.”
“Your mother disagrees.”
“Whatd she say?”
“That youre tired of my nagging. That I make you miserable.”
He hesitated.
“Mum worries. Thinks we argue too much.”
“We argue because of her!”
“Mums not the problem. We cant agree on anythingkids, work, the future.”
Lena saw him deflecting.
“Edward, be honest. Do you want me to leave?”
A long pause. Then a headshake.
“I dont. But I cant keep living like this.”
“Like what?”
“Caught in the middle. Between you two.”
“Then pick a side,” Lena said. “Your wife or your mother.”
Edward stood.
“Im late for work. Well talk tonight.”
But that evening, he hid in the bathroom, then let Valerie monopolise him with talk of redecorating her room.
Lena understood. His silence was answer enough.
That night, she made her decision.
In the morning, after Edward left, she packed a suitcase. Just essentials.
Valerie spotted it in the hall.
“Going somewhere?”
“A friends. For a while.”
“How long?”
“Dont know yet.”
Valerie nodded.
“Perhaps for the best. Edward needs a break from domestic tensions.”
Lena grabbed her keys and turned.
“Tell your son if he wants me back, he comes alone. Without you.”
“Well see if he does,” Valerie said.
Lena shut the door behind her. On the landing, she paused, listening. Silence.
Downstairs, sunlight warmed the pavement. She inhaled deeplyand felt something like relief.
That evening, Edward called.
“Mum said youve left. When are you coming back?”
“Dont know. Maybe never.”
“Dont say that. Were married.”
“On paper. In reality?”
Silence.
“Edward, heres my ultimatum,” Lena said. “We live apart from your mother, or we divorce.”
“Dont make me choose.”
“Choose? Im asking you to pick your wife over your mum. Any real man would.”
“And if I cant?”
The question hung between them. Lena knew his answer. He just lacked the courage to say it.
“Then Ill choose for us,” she whispered, and ended the call.
She slipped the phone into her bag and walked on. Where to, she wasnt certain yet. But with each step, the weight lessened. Not because it was easybut because now, she was choosing herself.
And no one would take that choice from her again.
