“You’re not family,” said the mother-in-law, sliding the meat back into the pot.
Lena froze by the stove, a plate still in her hands. The gravy from the stew remained, but the chunks of beef had vanished one by one, as if counted out deliberately.
“I beg your pardon?” Lena asked, her voice brittle.
“What’s not to understand?” Margaret wiped her hands on her apron and turned to face her daughter-in-law. “We never welcomed you into this family. You forced your way in.”
The kitchen fell silent, the only sound the bubbling soup on the hob. Lena set the plate down and pushed a loose strand of hair from her forehead. Her hands trembled.
“Margaret, I dont understand. Victor and I have been married five years. We have a daughter”
“And what of it?” Margaret cut her off. “Little Emily is our blood, yes. But you? Youll always be an outsider.”
The kitchen door swung open, and Victor stepped in, hair dishevelled, shirt half-buttonedclearly just woken from a nap.
“Whats going on?” He glanced between his wife and mother. “Why are you shouting?”
“Were not shouting,” Margaret said calmly. “Just having a conversation. Teaching your wife how to behave in this house.”
Victor frowned, his gaze settling on Lena. She stood pale-lipped, arms crossed tight.
“Mum, what did you say?”
“The truth. That the meat isnt for everyone. Big family, small portions.”
A lump rose in Lenas throat. So that was it. Five years believing she belonged. Five years biting her tongue, enduring the jabs, hoping things would soften with time.
“Vic, Im going home,” she said quietly. “To Mums.”
“What do you mean, home?” Margaret scoffed. “Your home is here now. Or do you think you can come and go as you please?”
“Mum, enough,” Victor stepped closer to Lena. “What happened?”
Lena swallowed. How could she explain that his mother had just made it clearshe was nothing here? That even a plate of stew was too much to ask for?
“Ill feed Emily and put her to bed,” she said instead. “Then Ill take her to my mums for the weekend.”
“And why on earth would you do that?” Margaret bristled. “Her grandmother is right here!”
“Her grandmother thinks her mother isnt family,” Lena murmured. “Maybe Emily deserves better.”
She turned to leave. Victor caught her wrist.
“Lena, stop. Just tell me whats really going on.”
Lena looked back. Her husbands confusion, his mother pretending to stir the soup.
“Ask your mum,” she said. “Shell tell you.”
In the nursery, three-year-old Emily was playing with her dolls. “Mummy! Look, Im feeding Katie!”
“Good job, love.” Lena crouched to hug her. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes! Granny said were having stew tonight.”
“We are, sweetheart. But were going to have it at Nanas instead.”
“Nanas house?” Emily clapped. “Yay! Is Daddy coming?”
“No, Daddys staying here.”
Lena packed a bagdresses, tights, toys, everything for a few days away. Victor appeared in the doorway.
“Lena, this is ridiculous. Youre leaving over a plate of food?”
“Ridiculous?” She straightened. “Your mother just told me I dont belong. Took food off my plate. Thats ridiculous to you?”
“Mum says things she doesnt mean! You know how she is.”
“And Im supposed to forget?”
“Just ignore her!”
“Ignore being called an outsider in my own home? Vic, listen to yourself!”
He rubbed his neck, pacinghis tell when cornered.
“Lena, where will you even go? Were a family. We have a child.”
“Exactly why Im leaving. I wont let Emily hear her mother disrespected.”
“Whos disrespecting you? Mum just spoke her mind.”
“Spoke her mind?” Lena stared at him. “She took food from me, Vic. Said I wasnt family. Thats speaking her mind?”
“Maybe she was harsh, but”
“Five years. How much longer do I wait?”
From the kitchen, Margaret called: “Victor! Dinners getting cold!”
He exhaled. “Come on, lets eat. Well talk later.”
“No, thanks. Ive lost my appetite.”
He hesitated, then left. Muffled voices rose and fell from the kitchen.
Lena dialled her mother. “Mum? Can we stay a few days?”
“Of course, love. Whats happened?”
“Ill explain later. Were on our way.”
“Good. Ive made roastplenty to go round.”
Lena smiled faintly. Her mother never portioned love.
Emily chattered happily on the bus. “Mum, why isnt Daddy coming?”
“Hes working, sweetheart.”
Her mother, Susan, greeted them at the door. Warm, soft-spokeneverything Margaret wasnt.
“My girls! Oh, how Ive missed you!” She scooped Emily up. “Look how big youve grown!”
At the table, Susan served generous helpings. “Eat up, Lena. Youre too thin.”
Lena exhaled. Here, no one called her a stranger.
Later, over tea, she told her mother everything.
“And Victor?” Susan asked.
“Says she didnt mean it. That I should ignore her.”
Susan stirred her tea. “Are you happy in this marriage?”
Lena stared out at the rain. “I dont know anymore.”
Victor called that night. “Mum wants to apologise.”
“Does she?”
“She knows she was wrong.”
“Because you told her to.”
“Lena, Im on your side!”
“Then why wait five years to say so?”
In the background, Margarets voice: “Tell her I made her favourite soup!”
Lena hung up.
The next morning, Victor arrived with flowers.
“I rented us a flat,” he said. “Just for now. Well try living on our own.”
Lena took the keys. A chancewithout Margarets shadow.
Susan set the table, equal portions for all. “Shall we celebrate your new beginning?”
Lena looked at her familyher real familyand nodded.
Tomorrow, theyd see their new home. Where no one counted portions. Where love had no limits.
