**Diary Entry**
Ill never forget that awful conversation with Emilythe girl my son James insisted on marrying. Id tried my best to talk him out of it, but of course, he wouldnt listen. At least, not at first. That provincial nobody had the audacity to speak to me like she had any right.
*”Listen, Margaret, you dont fool me with this wise mother act. I know you cant stand me, and why? Because I see right through you. I wont bend to your whims. What gives you the right to barge into our flat unannounced every evening? Were not living off your money.”* Emily had the nerve to say that to my face.
*”Excuse me? You dare lecture me? Wait till youve lived as long as I have”* My polite façade cracked, revealing the truth: a petty, selfish woman whod only ever cared for comfort, no matter who she had to trample to get it.
*”Margaret, James and I love each other. And Ive noticed how your chats affect him. Wasnt it enough that you drove his father away, then convinced him to sign his share of the flat over to you? Must you ruin his happiness too? If you wont love him yourself, at least let someone else try.”* The sheer gall of her!
*”Oh, now were singing that tune, are we?”* I snapped. *”Who do you think you are? Some nobody from godforsaken Leeds? Youre nothing. One missed paycheck, and youll be on the streets. And you dare tell me what to do?”*
*”So thats how you measure worth? If you swindle a flat and toss people out, youre a saint? But if I earn my keep honestly, Im beneath you? Not all of us married for property. And newsflashyou werent born in London either.”* A low blow. True, but low.
*”Youll never have my son! A mothers love is sacred! Get out!”* I had nothing left but empty proclamations.
Emily just scoffed and walked away. And yet, against all odds, they married anyway.
But I didnt give up. When Emily had their son, Oliver, I made sure James saw her as I did. And eventually, they divorced. Oliver was just four.
Still, I worried. What if James went back to her? He still visited, still paid child support.
What I didnt know? Theyd never really split. While I thought James worked away in Manchester, he was living with Emily, raising Oliver.
This scheme wasnt just about me. Years before the wedding, James had gotten tangled in debtthanks to that so-called *mate* of his, Daniel.
*”James, dont be naive. Daniels a shark. Youre just prey to him,”* Emily had warned.
*”Dont exaggerate. Men stick together. Thats how the world works.”*
*”Grow up. Honor isnt measured by gender. Hes using you.”*
He didnt listen. Daniel made him director of a shell company, vanished with the money, and left James drowning in debt.
So they faked the divorce. My meddling made me pleased. The creditors thought James was broke. Officially, he lived in company digs. In truth, he came home each night to Emily and Oliver.
Still, he visited me monthly, playing the dutiful son while I pushed suitable women at him.
*”Just tell your mum about the debts. And us,”* Emily would say.
*”No. Itd crush her. Well find another way.”*
*”What way? We cant hide forever! Were practically paupers!”*
And we were. Emily scraped by with odd jobs. Jamess wages vanished into repayments.
*”Emily, why cling to him? Youve nothing but struggle. Renting a room, feeding himwhy?”* Her mother, Sarah, a retired schoolteacher, begged her to leave.
*”Mum, I love him. We have Oliver. I cant abandon him.”*
Sarah finally intervened. She met me secretly.
*”Margaret, your sons in debt. Hes still with Emily, hiding from you.”*
*”What? That lying little!”*
*”Were the parents. Shouldnt we help?”*
*”Help? Hes a grown man! My dutys done!”*
So Sarah took them inEmily, James, Oliverinto her cramped flat. Pride meant nothing compared to love.
Then Sarah rang her ex-husband, Robert, a successful builder.
*”Robert, Emily needs help. A place to live. Money.”*
*”How much?”*
She named the debt. *”Even if James leaves afterward at least theyll be free.”*
*”Ill pay. On one conditiondinner with you.”*
Sarah laughed. *”Be nice, and maybe.”*
Years later, Oliver turned eighteen. The family gatheredSarah and Robert, reunited; Emily and James, remarried (after Robert bought her a flat). James had steadied, working a modest job.
Then the doorbell rang. Oliver answeredand there I stood.
*”Oliver! We agreed”* Emily scolded.
*”Mum, she kept calling. Said she was lonely!”*
*”Took you long enough to apologise,”* Sarah said.
*”Leave it, love,”* Robert chuckled. *”If not for her, we wouldnt be here.”*
James frowned. *”Whats the act, Mum?”*
*”No act. I came to say Im sorry.”* Id waited for them to beg. Instead, I got silenceand emptiness.
Tea was poured. Sandwiches offered.
None of them knew which fork to use. But they knew forgiveness. And that mattered more.
