The neighbor means more to me than you do, Mum said before hanging up.
Emily stood frozen in her London flat, clutching the phone as if it had turned to ice in her hands. Shed only rung her mother in Manchester to share the news of her promotion, hoping for a moment of joy. Instead, she got this.
Whats wrong? asked her husband, James, stepping into the kitchen. Youve gone pale.
Mum just told me the neighbor means more to her than I do, Emily set the phone down slowly. Just like that. No warning.
Did you two have a row?
No! I was telling her about the promotion, and she cut me offEmily, youre always wrapped up in your own life, but Margaret next door checks on me every day, picks up my prescriptions, helps with the shopping. Shes more family to me than you are.
James frowned, pulling out a chair across from her.
Maybe shes not well. Could it be her head?
Her heads fine, Emily snapped. She meant every word. And you know what started it? I invited her to stay with us this summerrented a cottage in the Cotswoldsand she said, Why would I need your cottage when Ive got Margaret here? We tend the garden together.
Emily laughed then, but it was hollow.
And Ive been sending her fifty quid every week. Just in case, I said. Thought it might make things easier.
Dont send another penny, James said firmly. If the neighbors so important, let the neighbor help.
James, dont say that! Shes my mother.
A mother who just cut you to the bone? Wake up, Em. A real mother doesnt speak to her daughter like that.
Emily moved to the window. Below, children laughed in the courtyard, the sound drifting up like something from another world.
Margaret was a good neighborwidowed, her own children up in Scotland, visiting once a year if that. Emily remembered her from childhoodstrict, always scolding kids for being too loud in the hall. Now, suddenly, she was more family than her own daughter.
The phone rang again. Mums name flashed on the screen.
Dont answer, James warned.
What if somethings wrong?
If somethings wrong, let dear Margaret handle it.
Emily picked up anyway.
Hello?
Emily, whyd you hang up? We were talking.
You hung up, Mum. Right after the bit about Margaret.
Oh, that Her mothers voice sharpened. Well, its true. Margarets here every day. Where are you? Up in London. When my blood pressure spiked last month, who called the ambulance? Margaret. Where were you?
Mum, I was at work! You never told me!
Why bother? You wouldnt have come anyway. Too busy with your precious job.
Emilys throat tightened. Old wounds, long buried, bled fresh in her mothers tone.
Mum, do you want me to come tomorrow? Ill take the day off.
Dont bother. Margarets taking me to the doctor. Youd just sit there on your phone or invent some excuse.
Emily flinched.
Fine. Whatever you say.
And another thing Her mothers voice turned brisk. Stop sending money. Margaret says its wronglike youre buying my affection. Ill manage.
Silence. Then rustling, and her mothers voice, muffled
Margaret, love, these tabletsfor the stomach? Youre an angel
Im hanging up now, Emily whispered and ended the call.
James pulled her close.
She doesnt know what shes saying. Maybe it is her mind.
She knows, Emily pushed away. Im just not hers anymore. At uni, she said, Why bother with degrees? Marry well. When I got the job, it was, Career woman, no time for family.
But you rang her every week!
And every week, I heard how I failed. Didnt visit enough, didnt give the right gifts, didnt spend enough time with the kids. Now theres Margaret.
She sank into a chair, pressing her palms to her eyes.
The worst part? I was going to ask her to move in. Not just for summerpermanently. Clear out the spare room, make it hers. I thought itd be good. And she
The twins burst in, schoolbags thumping, voices bright with chatter.
Mum, when are we seeing Gran? Lily asked. You promised half-term.
Emily hesitated.
I dont know, sweetheart. Maybe not this time.
Why? Max frowned. What about the presents?
Theyd made a scrapbookphotos, drawings, a handkerchief Lily had stitched in home economicsall waiting in a ribbon-tied box for the trip to Manchester.
Well send them, Emily said softly.
Mum, are you ill? Lily touched her cheek. Your eyes are red.
Just tired.
James herded the kids out, murmuring about Gran not feeling herself.
That night, Emily sat flipping through old albumsher as a child, Mum laughing on a seaside holiday; both of them baking, flour dusting their hands; graduation day, Mum beaming beside her in cap and gown.
When had it changed? After Dad died? Or sooner?
Five years since the funeral, and Mum had never been the same. Withdrawn, bitter. Emily had told herself it was grief, that time would heal. But time only sharpened the edge in her voice.
Whatre you thinking? James asked.
That maybe I am a bad daughter.
Rubbish. You call, you visit, you send money. What more could you do?
Live next door. Be there always. Like Margaret.
And your job? The kids? Our life?
Emily shrugged.
None of it matters to her. Only that Im not there.
The phone rang again. Unknown number.
Hello?
Emily? Its Margaret, your mums neighbor. You need to come. Shes not rightafter your call, she started crying and wont stop. Keeps saying, Ive hurt my girl, Ive hurt my girl.
Emilys pulse thudded.
Is sheis she ill?
No, no. Just heartbroken. She loves you, dear. Doesnt know how to say it.
The bitterness in Emilys chest softened.
Tell her Ill be there tomorrow.
After hanging up, James studied her.
Going?
Yes. Taking the kids. Let Gran have her presents. She exhaled. Maybe she just misses me.
And if she brings up Margaret again?
She wont. Margarets kind, but shes not family. I am.
Next morning, they took the train north. The twins chattered about Grans reaction to their gifts; Emily watched fields blur past the window, thinking how often words betrayed the heart.
Mum met them at the door, eyes swollen. She clung to Emily, shaking.
Forgive me, love. Stupid old woman. I never meant
Its alright, Mum. Emily stroked her silver hair. Were here.
In the hallway, Margaret smiled softly and slipped back inside. She understoodneighbors mattered, but family was forever.
