Her mother-in-law let out a dramatic sigh and cried:
Me! Not allowed to visit my own sons home? William, for heavens sake!
Its a terrible crime to turn your mother away! I only want a quick glimpse of my youngest grandchild…
William shut his eyes and said firmly,
Mum, not this time. We cant have visitors right now.
Youre utterly henpecked! Spineless! You brainless, shameless fool, dancing to your wifes tune! Youre no son of mine now, do you hear?!
Emma was washing up, and Will hovered nervously in the doorway.
He hesitated, tried to speak once or twice, but couldnt bring himself to come out with it.
Emma understood why he was acting so awkwardly, but stayed quiet. She waited for him to find his courage.
Em, I Well, Mum called, he finally began. She misses us. Wants to come over on Saturday, see the little one.
Says hes growing up fast, and shes barely laid eyes on him.
Emma spun round, resting her back against the worktop.
Barely seen him, has she? Whose fault is that, Will?
Who was it that couldnt be bothered to visit us when he was born?
She explained, Will looked away. Said she already paid her respects after the first one. Its tradition. And now, her legs hurt, blood pressures up, the usual.
Oh, I know her all right. Came to see the first and thought that was good enough. She said so herself.
Em, whyre you getting worked up again? Will finally looked at her, weary-eyed.
He just wanted peace, some quiet, and a hot stew not another showdown between the two most important women in his life.
Its just tea and cuddles, Em. Shes the boys grandmother.
Grandmother, Emma gave a wry smile. Who thinks our sons are carbon copies of her family. As if Im not even there.
Not again
No, Will, youre the one who starts every time you answer her calls and agree to every whim without asking me! Emmas voice wavered, but she stayed calm. She didnt want to wake the baby.
She sat on a stool, her legs aching.
A memory from seven years back floated into her mind the days just after they married, living with Mrs. Graham, Wills mum.
Emma had been hopeful then, eager to please, baking pies, scrubbing floors spotless. Then she fell pregnant.
Remember living with her? Emma asked, looking Will in the eye.
He sighed and poured himself a glass of water.
I remember. It wasnt so bad, she helped out.
Helped? Emma gave a bitter chuckle. Will, when I was pregnant, she had you cornered in the kitchen every night.
Tie up those loose ends, son, make sure to sign your share of the flat over to me. You never know, you two might split its family property.
While I was standing there, carrying your child, she was already dividing everything up.
It was just caution old-fashioned, you know she worries about everything.
No, Will, thats not true. She was cutting me out.
And when our son was born, do you remember what she said the first time she saw him?
Will said nothing. He remembered, but refused to say it.
Oh, hes the spitting image of my darling Lucy! Completely takes after our side. Nothing from the mother thank goodness, hes got our familys features!
Our family, Will. And what am I, a mere incubator? There I was, barely on my feet from the hospital, hurting all over, and she didnt even ask how I felt.
No, she just cooed over finally getting a beautiful grandchild from her line.
She blurted it out, didnt mean it. Why hold onto words like that after all these years?
Words hurt, especially when they hit a raw nerve, Emma started dishing up dinner.
Will sat down, pulled the plate closer.
Smells lovely, Em. Look, lets not fight. If she pops in for an hour or so, sits quietly, then leaves whats the harm?
Ill stick with her, you can stay in the nursery if youd rather.
No, Emma cut him off. I will not hide away in my own home.
She wants to invite herself over again. If she just ignored me, fine, but shes always interfering.
Remember that time with the washing up? Our eldest was barely a year old.
Will stopped chewing.
I was doing the dishes, Emma stared at a point on the wall. He was having a tantrum, teething, remember?
He was tugging at my skirt, whining for a cuddle. I was up to my elbows in soap suds and told him: Wait a moment, darling, let me finish.
Thats when your mum barged in.
Emma glanced at her husband.
What sort of mother are you, she said, ignoring your boy while you worry about plates?
She snatched him up, while he screamed for me, but she just laughed and shouted over his cries:
Come to Grandma, Grandmas better! Grandma will look after you!
He was in hysterics, beet red, wriggling away from her. She dragged him into the kitchen and then, well
Will hung his head.
Em, please
No, Will. She stood there and said, Youre worse than those war criminals. Even in the camps, mothers werent this cruel.
I kept quiet then, Emmas voice was soft, I was a fool. Young, scared of upsetting you or your mother.
But really, I shouldve thrown a wet cloth in her face and chucked her out.
To compare an exhausted mother to a monster from history
How could anyone say such a thing?
And after that, she thinks she has a right to waltz in and lecture me about life?
She didnt mean it, Will said weakly. She just blurts things out. Probably regretted it.
Did she ever apologise, Will? No. Shes used to propping herself up by putting me down.
To her, Im a mistake in your story, a blank space.
Remember two years ago, when you when things were bad between us?
Will winced at the memory. Hed made a stupid, thoughtless mistake. A brief affair that nearly broke their family.
Emma had left with their eldest and moved into a rented place.
I went to hers to collect my things, Emma recalled. I thought maybe, just maybe, shed have some empathy as a woman.
But she told me, Well, good wives dont get cheated on, do they Em. Clearly, you did something wrong, werent loving enough. Men just want warmth and a happy home.
You strayed, but I was the one to blame. I let it happen.
We got through it, Em. I made my choice. Im here, Im with you.
Yes, you are. But your mother still acts like shes done me a great favour letting me come back. And now the new baby apparently looks just like her again. Im invisible, Will. Only her precious genes come through. Its maddening!
So whatll I do? Will put down his fork, appetite gone. Tell her not to come?
Shell take it badly. Shell call, crying, claiming Im henpecked, that you turn me against her.
Let her, Emma sat across from her husband and took his hand. Will, listen. Im not forbidding you from seeing her. Shes your mum.
Go and visit her, take the elder if you want. But here, in our home I just cant have her. I feel sick just thinking about her.
Im on edge waiting for her criticism. Shell walk in, notice some dust, smirk. Look at the baby, scold me for holding him wrong.
So, never let her in?
Only on Christmas, Emma said firmly. And the childrens birthdays. Thats it.
Official visits. Short and polite, as if she were a Royal guest.
No more just popping in for tea and I was passing by.
She wont understand.
Then explain. Youre the head of our family, arent you? Your job is to protect my peace. If her nitpicking drives me mad, who will suffer? Us? The children?
Will stayed silent.
Shell say Im a bad son.
Tell her youre a good husband. A good father. What matters now is our calm.
The baby isnt sleeping, Im exhausted. I dont need guests who sap my energy.
Fine, he breathed out. Ill tell her. But therell be hell to pay.
Better one dramatic row than a decade of quiet misery.
I did try to talk to her, Will. I really did.
Told her, Mrs. Graham, maybe youd have preferred a different daughter-in-law, richer, more agreeable.
But you wont get better than me. Only worse.
And what did she say?
She laughed. Well, itd be hard to get worse! Great joke, isnt it?
Will squeezed her hand.
Sorry. I missed a lot. Or didnt want to see it. Kept hoping youd sort it all out yourselves just womens squabbles, I told myself
He didnt get to finish the phone rang. They exchanged glances.
Go on, Emma whispered. Now or never.
Will sighed deeply, answered, and put it on speakerphone.
Will, darling! his mothers voice chimed, So, son? Ive decided, Ill be round Saturday lunchtime. Ill bake that apple and potato pie you like. Your wifes probably too busy for baking with both kids, isnt she?
Emma rolled her eyes but said nothing.
Hi, Mum. Listen. Saturday wont work.
There was a pause.
Why not? Are you going away?
No, well be at home. But were not taking guests at the moment. Emmas worn out, the babys restless. We need some quiet.
Guests? his mothers voice wavered, growing shrill Will, Im not a guest, Im your mother! I want to see my grandson! Ive already packed my bag!
Mum, I get it. But not this weekend. Or the next.
Its her, isnt it? she snapped Shes put you up to this! Henpecked!
She wants to cut me out, keeping my grandkids from me!
Emma tightened her grip on his hand.
No ones keeping you from them, Mum. And Emmas not the issue. This is my decision.
I see how tired my wife is. She needs rest, not tea parties and pleasantries.
Ill visit you during the week, after work. On my own.
I dont want you on your own! I want my grandchild! He looks just like me everyone says so!
Mum, hes a mix of his parents, Emma and me. Please stop splitting the kids into yours and mine.
Oh, thats how it is she whimpered Raised a son for this Now Im nothing, orphaned, all because of her!
Mum, stop, Will said sharply. If you insult Emma again, Ill hang up.
Silence followed.
His mother wasnt used to pushback. Normally, Will would have apologised, caved in. Not this time.
So thats how it is?
Yes, Mum.
Fine then! Consider me gone from your life. You have no family, just your wife!
Ill tell everyone, open their eyes to what a thankless son I raised! Lost sleep, went hungry
Mrs. Graham sniffed, slammed the phone down.
Will hung his head; Emma knew how hard this was for him.
***
Will remained troubled for a couple of months, then gradually adjusted.
His mother faded from their day-to-day, and Emma breathed easier without her interference.
Truthfully, she still hoped, somewhere deep inside, that they might be able to establish a proper relationship one day, but for now
Sometimes, setting boundaries is the bravest act of love for oneself and ones family. Its not always possible to please everyone, but protecting peace at home is a responsibility worth taking.
