“You won’t see your granddaughter again,” declared my daughter-in-law before blocking my number.
“Margaret, would you mind if I did the washing up? My hands are itching to do something,” offered Emily, peeking into the kitchen where her mother-in-law sat reading the paper.
Margaret set aside her newspaper and studied Emily carefully. There she stood in her usual dressing gown, hair in a messy bun, but her eyes had an odd, feverish gleam.
“Oh, love, dont worry about it. You were up late working on that presentation yesterday. Ive got this,” Margaret replied, folding the paper neatly.
“Honestly, let me help. You do so much around here, and I just feel like Im in the way,” Emily insisted, already moving toward the sink.
Margaret frowned. Something about Emilys energy felt offunlike her usual quiet, slightly tense self. She was bustling about like a student before exams.
“Wheres Sophie?” Margaret asked, referring to her four-year-old granddaughter.
“Still asleep. She stayed up late watching cartoons,” Emily answered, scrubbing a plate with unnecessary force.
Margaret stepped closer, standing beside her at the sink. The familiar scent of Emilys perfumethe one Daniel had bought her for her birthdaylingered, but underneath it was something else. Anxiety, maybe.
“Emily, sweetheart, whats wrong? You seem on edge today,” Margaret said gently.
Emily froze, the wet plate clutched in her hands. Her shoulders stiffened, fingers tightening.
“Nothing much. Just didnt sleep well, I suppose.”
“Wheres Daniel? He promised to take Sophie to the park today,” Margaret pressed, sensing the tension thickening.
“Daniel wont be coming,” Emily said sharply, slamming the plate onto the drying rack with a clatter that made Margaret jump.
“What do you mean? He said just yesterday”
“Margaret,” Emily turned slowly, and Margaret saw her red-rimmed eyes. “We need to talk.”
Margarets pulse quickened. She sank into a chair, her legs suddenly weak.
“Sit down, love. Tell me whats happened.”
Emily remained standing, drying her hands so vigorously it seemed she wanted to scrub her skin off.
“Daniel and I are getting divorced.”
The words dropped into the quiet kitchen like stones into water. Margaret felt something inside her snap, as if every string holding her together had been cut at once.
“Divorced? But but everything was fine yesterday. You all had dinner together, Sophie recited that poem…”
“Margaret, weve been strangers for six months. We were just pretending for Sophies sake. But we cant anymore.”
Margaret tried to stand, but her legs wouldnt obey. She gripped the edge of the table.
“But why? What happened? Cant it be fixed? Should I talk to Daniel?”
Emily gave a bitter smile.
“Talking wont change anything. He packed his things last night and left. For *her*.”
“Whos *her*?” Margaret whispered, though deep down, she already knew.
“His new fling. Jessica, from his office. The one hes spent the last six months telling me is so brilliant and understanding.”
Emily sat across from her, placing trembling hands on the table.
“Margaret, I know you love him. Hes your only son. But he betrayed our family.”
“Emily, darling,” Margaret reached for her hands, but Emily pulled away. “Men sometimes lose their heads. Hell come to his senses. He loves Sophie…”
“Loves her,” Emily nodded. “So much that hes decided weekends will be enough. How convenient, right? No responsibility, just fun.”
“And you? You loved him too…”
Emily closed her eyes, dragging a hand down her face.
“I did. For five years. Had his child, quit my good job because he wanted a housewife. Cooked, cleaned, waited. While he flirted with secretaries.”
Margarets throat tightened. Shed always suspected somethinghis late nights, sudden business trips.
“Emily, are you sure? Maybe its just a rough patch”
“He told me outright hes in love with someone else. That he only stayed for Sophie. Romantic, dont you think?”
Tears spilled down Emilys cheeks, but her voice stayed steady.
“What happens now?” Margaret whispered.
“Im filing for divorce. Sophie stays with me. Were moving to my mums in Manchester.”
“Manchester?” Margaret gasped. “Why so far?”
“Because everything here reminds me of him. And because Mums offered me a job.”
Margaret stood, walking to the window. Outside, children played, including a neighbours girl Sophies age. Her heart ached.
“But Sophieher nursery, her friends Shes used to me…”
“Shell adjust. Kids do.”
“Emily, I know youre angry with Daniel. And youve every right. But why punish me?”
Emily whirled around.
“Not your fault? Who spent his whole life telling him he was special? That rules didnt apply? Who excused every tantrum, every selfish act?”
“I loved him”
“Loved him? Or spoiled him?” Emilys voice turned sharp. “Remember when he dumped his uni girlfriend after she got pregnant? You said, Good lad, dodged a bullet there.”
Margarets face burned.
“That was years ago”
“And when he skipped child support for his first kid? Shouldve thought before having it, you said. Now youre shocked he walked out on us?”
“Emily, please”
“You raised a selfish man, Margaret. Now Im done staying quiet.”
Sophie shuffled in, pyjama-clad and sleepy-eyed.
“Mummy, why are you shouting?”
Emilys expression softened instantly.
“We werent, sweetheart. Just talking. Go wash up, Ill make breakfast.”
“Wheres Daddy? He promised the park.”
Margaret and Emily exchanged glances. Sophies trusting eyes made Margarets chest hurt.
“Daddy cant today, love. Hes busy,” Emily said softly.
“Tomorrow?”
“I dont know, Sophie. I dont know.”
Sophie frowned but toddled off. Once the bathroom door shut, Emily straightened.
“Now I get to explain why Daddy left.”
“Emily,” Margaret touched her arm. “I know youre angry. But think of Sophie. She loves me. Why take that away?”
“Because youll teach her that men get away with everything. That women should suffer in silence. I wont let her live like I did.”
“Thats not true”
“It is. Remember when Daniel hit me after Sophie was born? I came to you crying. You said, Men get stressed with babies. Be wiser.”
Margaret paled. She rememberedand at the time, shed thought it sound advice.
“But he never did it again”
“Because I threatened to leave. Not because he changed.”
Sophies off-key singing drifted from the bathrooman ordinary sound that now felt like goodbye.
“When are you leaving?” Margaret asked, voice shaking.
“Tomorrow. Tickets are booked.”
“Tomorrow? Thats so sooncant you wait till the weekend?”
“The longer we stay, the harder itll be for Sophie.”
“And for me?” Margaret whispered.
Emily turned to the window.
“You shouldve thought of that sooner. When you were raising your son.”
Sophie burst in, bright-eyed.
“Mummy, can Gran take me to the park? Theyve got new swings!”
Margaret looked at Emily pleadingly.
“Of course, darling,” Emily said after a pause.
Sophie cheered and dashed off to dress. Margaret watched her go, then faced Emily.
“Is this the last time?”
“Yes.”
“Emily, Im begging you Dont cut me out completely. We could call, I could visit”
“No,” Emily said firmly. “You wont see your granddaughter again. Ill block your number, and well start fresh. Without any of you.”
Margarets world crumbled. She sank onto a chair, covering her face.
“You know Ill wither without her?”
“I nearly withered *with* your son. Now its my turn to live.”
Sophie bounded back, ready.
“Gran, lets go! I want the slide!”
Margaret wiped her eyes, took Sophies hand.
“Alright, poppet. Lets go.”
At the park, Sophie laughed on the swings, chattering about a new cartoon. Margaret memorised every secondevery giggle, every word. Because tomorrow, it would all be just a memory.
“Gran, why are you crying?” Sophie asked, hopping off.
“Just the wind, sweetheart. Just the wind.”
Back home, Emily was packing. Sophie frowned at the suitcases.
“Mummy, where are we going?”
“To Grandma Helens, love. Itll be fun.”
“Is Daddy coming?”
“No. Daddys staying here.”
“What about Gran?”
Emily glanced at Margaret, something like regret flickeringjust for a second.
“Grans staying too.”
“But I want Gran!” Sophie wailed. “She does the voices in stories!”
“Ill do the voices,” Emily said gently.
“Yours arent as good!”
Margaret knelt, hugging her.
“Sophie, my darling. Youll be with Mummy, and Ill love you every day from here.”
“Are we coming back?”
“I dont know, sweetheart. I dont know.”
Sophie cried harder, clinging to her. Margaret stroked her hair, feeling something inside her tear apart.
“Emily, please,” she whispered. “Look how upset she is.”
“Better she adjusts now than drags it out,” Emily said, though her voice wavered.
That evening, with Sophie asleep, Margaret tried again.
“Emily, I know I failed. But give me a chance.”
“Its too late, Margaret.”
“What if I talk to Daniel? Make him see sense?”
Emily scoffed.
“You wont change him. Hes too wrapped up in his new life. And I dont want a man who has to be forced to love his family.”
Next morning, Margaret watched them load into the taxi. Sophie sobbed, refusing to let go.
“Gran, come with us!”
“I cant, darling. I cant.”
Emily buckled Sophie in, then met Margarets gaze before shutting the door.
“Goodbye, Margaret.”
“Goodbye, love.”
The taxi drove off. Margaret stood frozen on the doorstep. A neighbour, Mrs. Thompson, approached.
“Margaret, whats happened? Wheres Emily off to?”
“Gone,” Margaret said faintly. “For good.”
She wandered back inside, collapsing into her armchair. On the table sat Sophies forgotten toya worn teddy bear.
Margaret clutched it to her chest and wept. Her life, she realised, was over.
