Exmotherinlaw, Im begging you as a former daughterinlaw, leave me alone!
Easy, love, I said, but I have a heap of questions about your Victor!
And since Im not authorised, let the proper authorities ask them, Margaret smiled.
Thats none of your business! Poppy shrieked.
No, dear, Margaret shook her head. It should both interest and worry me, and Im terribly worried!
Youd better have been worrying when I was still married to your son! Poppy snapped.
I was worrying then, too, Margaret replied. Back then I could decide and keep things under control, and tell Simon how wrong he was.
Now your Victor wont even listen to me! Whats the point?
Yes, why are you clinging to me? Poppy exploded. Youre still chatting with the grandson!
Simon can take him whenever he likes. Were not a pair any more; Ive got a new life, and theres no room for you in it.
Poppy, calm down first, Margaret urged.
How can I be calm when another form has just landed on my desk? Expect a surprise inspection on the 18th!
And now I have to mop the whole house, stock the fridge, train Jack so he doesnt say anything foolish!
I just want a normal life!
I dont mean to upset you, but everything you listed is something youre expected to do all the time. Your main concern is Jack, your own son, then your personal life, and so on.
Did I forget to ask you something? Poppy retorted.
If trousers matter more to you, you can always hand Jack over to Simon. Ill look after him myself, and Ill have the energy and time to raise him properly.
Right, just like his father, Poppy snorted. Hed need a proper upbringing first!
Im still raising him even though hes thirtytwo, Margaret said sweetly.
Seems I missed that! Poppy twisted her face.
Its been five years since you divorced, Margaret noted.
Margaret, Im begging you as a former daughterinlaw, please leave me alone! Poppy wailed, pulling a mournful face.
Fine, no problem. But I still have a lot of questions about your Victor. Since Im not authorised, let the proper bodies ask. Margaret smiled again.
Fine, have fun with that, Poppy spat.
Youll never get it, love. Ive worked my whole life, saved a decent pension, and still pick up odd jobs. I have savings, so worry about me last; worry about yourself first. You have reasons to be anxious, you just cant find them in Victor.
Victors a good man! Poppy cried.
Just not working, Margaret nodded. Hes been living off you for a year and a half!
Oh right, I forgot! Margaret rummaged in her purse and produced an envelope. Its a notice asking for a breakdown of the childsupport youre paying for Jack. Do the reporting, dont waste it on Victor.
Honestly! Poppy shouted indignantly.
I know, thats why the notice exists, Margaret agreed.
Thats not your concern! Poppy yelled.
Youre mistaken, dear. Its about my grandsons upbringing, and it matters to me more than anything else. Margaret threatened with a finger.
Youd have sent a socialservices check when I was still living with your son! Poppy lowered her voice. You were happy to sit back and watch while you arranged the boys future!
I didnt just arrange him, I looked after him, even offered you to help together! Margaret replied. You kept sending me away while I tried to keep Simon around.
Did you have a hard life? Margaret asked. Now you think Victor is better than my son?
Poppy sighed.
***
A great love is beautiful in a relationship, and in marriage it never becomes superfluous. Yet marriage needs more than just love.
When Poppy and Simon first got together, they were radiant, young, and full of energy. Both loved noisy gatherings and carefree evenings. They lived on the same wavelength, which is why they decided to marry so theyd never have to part.
Poppys mother gave the couple a flat and moved to her sisters cottage in the Cotswolds, saying, Live, have kids, raise them!
Who says twentysomething folk are ready to live on their own?
Before the wedding, Poppy lived with her mum, Simon with his, and neither worried about the mundane details of daily life. Then reality crashed in.
Poppys mother, having handed over the flat, considered her duty fulfilled and disappeared, calling only occasionally and never visiting.
Simons mother, knowing her son well, paid Poppy a serious visit:
Poppy, Margaret said kindly, I know my son isnt a perfect gift.
Its fine, were happy, Poppy replied with a smile.
This is just the start of your independent happiness, Margaret smiled back. I cant guarantee with certainty, but Simon, no matter how good he seems now, may not stay good forever.
I was the only one who raised him, I spoiled him, Margaret confessed.
My mum spoiled me too, Poppy laughed. But Simon and I will sort it out ourselves!
I just need to ask one thing, Margaret pressed, pursing her lips. If Simon does something wrong, or fails to do whats needed, dont go at him yourselfcall me and well handle it together. Hes a decent lad, but
All right, Margaret, Poppy said. If anything goes wrong well manage. Were adults, well figure it out.
I get it, dear, Margaret blushed. I just want the best for you. Im not forcing you, just offering help with Simon.
Poppy thanked her exmotherinlaw but decided she wouldnt lean on her any more. The less Margaret was in their lives, the calmer things would be.
Problems soon arrived. What had once been fine turned poisonous for the young couple. Simon was hopeless at cleaning and couldnt cook a thing; he dismissed those chores as boring and uninteresting. Hed rather hit a club with his mates and dance till dawn.
If he earned a lot, Poppy might have tolerated his laziness and hired a housekeeper, but Simon made between £400 and £550 a month, dependent on his sales quotahardly enough to splurge.
Poppy wasnt a cleaning enthusiast either, but as head of the household she had to juggle both. She stretched everything to the limit, often with receipts and bills piling up.
A year together showed that Simon simply wouldnt change. His shouts bounced off Poppy like peas off a wall, and all he ever said was, Lets go for a walk!
She thought of turning to her mother for help, but Poppy stubbornly hoped she could wake Simons conscience. If she hadnt been pregnant, she would have divorced long ago. Shed pinned her hopes on the pregnancy to make Simon think, Ill be a proper dad now!
What she managed to achieve was that Simon stopped funding his night outs once Jack arrived. A child costs a lot, after all. He still didnt manage the finances well, but at least he stopped blowing cash on frivolities.
Instead of Lets go for a walk! he now muttered, Dont bother me after work!
Simon took over the sofa in front of the telly, never helping with the house or Jack. Even when Poppy pleaded, his conscience never stirred.
I earn the money! I wont go out without you. What more do you want?
Poppy lasted until she left maternity leave, then returned to work and could support herself and Jack. She had no need for a lazy man on the couch.
Simon went back to his mother, and Margaret chastised the former daughterinlaw:
I asked you to get involved! Together we could have taught him to clean, cook, and look after Jack!
Better teach your son to earn more, so childsupport isnt a paupers alms! Poppy snorted.
Will you at least let me see the grandson? Margaret asked.
Yes, of course, as much as you like, Poppy waved off.
Poppy still believed shed soon find a decent man whod love both her and Jack and provide properly, unlike her exhusband.
But the reality hit hard: no one wanted to start a relationship with her while she still had a child. Even a suitor who had courted her before Simon turned her down, saying, Youre lovely, Poppy, but I wont take on a kid.
Shed rather find a man with no strings attached. Good luck, she thought.
And so, for three years after the divorce, she kept meeting men, feeling hurt, angry, and eventually, a new light appeared: Victor.
Victor was handsome, cultured, chivalrous, courteous, and the fact that Poppy had a son didnt bother him. He famously said, A father is not the one who births a child, but the one who raises him. That sealed the deal.
For six months their relationship blossomed until Poppy suggested moving in together.
Ive already set up everything for the child, she said, apologetically.
Victor was hesitant because his business was in trouble and he couldnt afford a big flat for all of them. He finally agreed, and Poppy felt like she was walking on air.
How about work? she asked after a month together.
Im in the middle of a deal, Victor replied, whether Im in the office or at home makes no difference. I work from my laptop.
A deals good, Poppy mused, but Im a bit short until payday, which is still two weeks away
Sorry, I cant pull anything out right now, Victor smiled, the deal needs capital.
Youll get the childsupport in the twenties, right? Well make it to payday.
Right, maybe you could tidy up or cook a bit while Im on a break?
Too much work! Victor muttered, nose buried in his screen.
Margaret wasnt barred from seeing Jack. In fact, she learned about Victor from the boy. She discovered Victor was a homebound man who didnt work, while Poppy cleaned only occasionally and cooked rarely.
Its great the school feeds him, Jack said, and theres never any money! Victor always lights up when the childsupport arrives!
When Margaret visited, she saw the flat was a mess, with a constant smell of stale pizza. She even found bruises on Jacks arm.
Did you fall? she asked.
No, the boy replied, Victor grabbed me when I reached for the last sandwich
Margaret drafted a report to social services, determined to bring Victor down. The fact that Poppy allowed it infuriated her.
Whats the matter, dear? Margaret asked. Both my son and your Victor do nothing around the house.
My Simon at least earned a wage, she added, while your Victor lives off childsupport like manna from heaven!
And have you noticed the childsupport increase?
Yes, Poppy murmured, eyes downcast.
Not because Simon asked the accountant to raise it, but because he got a promotion. He now earns about £1,200 a month, not the old £400£550. Hes learned to clean, cook, and even looks after Jack when Im with him.
Poppy stayed silent.
You still dare talk to me? Margaret snapped. You could have had a wonderful husband, but you chose to swap the wheat for chaff and are happy with it!
If this only affected you, perhaps, but it doesnt. The inspections kept coming, and Poppy got written up. Simon later sued for custody of Jack, and the court granted it. Margaret pledged all the help she could.
When Victor learned the childsupport would stop and Poppy would have to pay, he vanished from the flat one dark night.
Poppy visited Simon a few times, hinting at a possible reunion, but he declined. Eventually Poppy disappeared from his life entirely, even from Jacks.
Through acquaintances it emerged shed married a new manthe same one whod turned her down because of Jack. With the child gone, she had no reason to stay.
And thats how it went, a tale of love, loss, and a sudden bright spark in the bleakness of domestic life.
