“My Earrings, Surely You Haven’t Lost or Sold Them? You Never Know What to Expect From You! — What Earrings? — The Ones I Gave You for the Wedding, with Emeralds. Give Them Back. They Were Meant for My Son’s Wife, and You’re No Longer Her.” Nastya sat staring at the jewellery box. Inside lay the emerald earrings—expensive, beautiful, sparkling—a wedding gift from her mother-in-law three years ago. The phone rang again. Galina. For the fifth time that day. Nastya didn’t pick up; she knew it’d just be more accusations and demands. The divorce from Alex passed quietly. They simply realised they weren’t right for each other. He was homey, quiet, attached to his mum. She, meanwhile, wanted to travel and live her own life. Then there was the mother-in-law—intrusive, always in control. “Nastya, why is this soup so watery?” Galina would ask on her visits. “Why haven’t you cleaned the flat? Alex has a dust allergy.” “Why do you dress like that? A married woman should look more modest.” Nastya lasted three years. Then she asked for a divorce. Alex agreed without fuss. No disputes, no shared property—amicable, really. But Galina lost it when she found out. The first call came a week after the official separation. “Nastya, you’ve ruined my son’s life,” her mother-in-law’s voice crackled with rage. “Galina, we both made this decision.” “Don’t lie. You left him. He’s suffering, crying.” Nastya stayed silent. No one was crying. In fact, Alex seemed relieved. “All right, not about that,” Galina continued. “My earrings—surely you’ve not lost or sold them? You never know with you.” Nastya stiffened. “What earrings?” “The ones I gave you for the wedding. With emeralds. Give them back. They were meant for my son’s wife, and you’re no longer her.” Nastya couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Galina, it was a gift!” “A gift for my daughter-in-law! And you’re not that anymore. So bring them back.” “It doesn’t work like that! You can’t demand back a gift.” “You can if you’ve divorced my son. Give back the earrings, Nastya! Don’t make me get the courts involved.” She hung up, stunned. The earrings were presented in front of everyone at the wedding, accompanied by tears, hugs, and “Now you’re my daughter.” Now Galina wanted them back. The next day, the calls from mutual friends began. “Nastya, is it true you won’t return the family heirloom?” “What heirloom?” she asked, puzzled. “The earrings your mother-in-law gave you. Galina says they’ve been in the family for generations.” Nastya laughed. “She bought them at a jeweller’s. I saw the price tag.” “Well, still, it’s improper not to return them, since you divorced.” She was tired of explaining. Galina began a real campaign—telling everyone Nastya was greedy, mercenary, that she’d nearly stolen valuable family relics. One evening Alex himself arrived. “Nastya, could you just give the earrings back? Mum’s driving me mad—hysterics every day.” “Alex, they’re a gift! I don’t have to return them.” “But mum wants them.” “Why?” He hesitated. “She wants to give them to my future wife. When I remarry.” Nastya looked at him. “So your mum’s already planning your next wedding?” “Well…sooner or later, I’ll marry again.” “And she’ll give these earrings to the new wife—and then demand them back if you divorce again?” Alex shrugged. “Please. Give them back. I’m sick of the drama.” Nastya thought about it. She could hand them over and forget, but something inside rebelled. It felt humiliating, as though she didn’t have any right to the gift. “No, Alex. I won’t return them.” He left. The calls continued. Galina texted, threatened legal action, spread rumours, even phoned Nastya’s parents. Eventually, Nastya consulted a solicitor. She explained the situation. “You don’t have to return a gift,” he said. “It was given freely, with no conditions attached.” “What if she takes it to court?” “She can try. She doesn’t have legal grounds.” Nastya felt reassured, resolved to stand her ground. A month later, Galina did take her to court, claiming the earrings were a family heirloom. At the hearing, the judge asked, “Do you have proof these earrings are a family heirloom?” Galina produced an old photo. “See—my grandmother wearing them. They’ve been passed down through generations.” Nastya looked closely. But the earrings in the photo were round; hers were oval—with different stones. “Your Honour, those aren’t the same earrings,” she said calmly. “They are!” insisted Galina. “No, the ones in the photo are round. Mine are oval, with different gems.” The judge examined the photo and the actual earrings. “They are indeed different styles.” Galina blanched. “Maybe I chose the wrong photo. But they’re still family.” “Please provide evidence,” said the judge. Galina couldn’t. The earrings had been bought from a shop three days before the wedding, as Nastya well knew. The court rejected Galina’s claim, confirming the earrings as a non-returnable gift. Galina stormed out, red-faced. Nastya felt calm and satisfied. But that wasn’t the end. A week later, a strange girl called. “Hello, my name’s Olivia. I’m Alex’s girlfriend.” Nastya was surprised. “Hello—can I help you?” “Galina told me you stole the earrings.” “They weren’t stolen—she gave them to me.” The girl hesitated. “I spoke to Alex; he admitted his mother bought them at a shop, and wanted them back after the divorce. I asked her why.” “And?” “She said she wants to give them to me, if Alex and I marry.” Nastya burst out laughing. “Seriously?” “Absolutely. I told her I don’t want someone else’s earrings—she can buy new ones or nothing at all. She’s offended now, says I’m ungrateful.” The women talked half an hour. They had a lot in common—including Galina. “Good luck, Olivia,” Nastya said at the end. “She’s not a bad person, just overbearing.” “Thank you. I’ve told Alex—either he learns to say no to his mum or I’m leaving.” “Wise decision.” A year later, Nastya ran into Alex on the street. He was alone. “Hi. How are you?” “All right,” he replied. “You haven’t remarried?” “No. My fiancée ran off. Said she didn’t want my mum as part of the package.” “That’s a shame.” “Yeah. Mum’s forgotten about the earrings, anyway. Now she’s hunting for a new bride for me.” Nastya smiled. “Good luck, Alex.” She walked on, satisfied. The earrings stayed in their box at home—not for their value, but because she’d stood her ground, resisted the pressure, and hadn’t caved in. And every time she looked at them now, she didn’t remember the wedding or Galina. She remembered, for the first time, having the courage to say no. And what do you think—would you have done the same? 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You havent lost or sold my earrings, have you? Id expect anything from you! Which earrings? The emerald ones I gave you for your wedding. Hand them back. They were meant for my sons wife, and youre not her anymore.

Charlotte sat staring at the wooden jewellery box. Inside it lay a pair of emerald earringsbeautiful, costly, shining in the light from the window. Theyd been a wedding present from her mother-in-law three years before.

The telephone rang again: Margaret. That was the fifth call of the day. Charlotte didnt pick up; she knew it would only be more accusations and demands.

Her divorce from Edward had happened quietly. Theyd both realised they werent suited for each other. He enjoyed his comforts at home, was quiet, and downright devoted to his mother.

She, on the other hand, wanted to travel, to live her own life. And then there was Margaretinsistent, meddlesome, always overseeing their every move.

Charlotte, why is the soup so thin? Margaret would complain every time she visited.

Why havent you cleaned the flat? Edward has allergies, you know.

And why on earth do you dress like that? A married woman should look more modest.

Charlotte managed three years. Then she asked for a divorce. Edward didnt argue. They parted on good terms, no shared property, and kept things civil.

Once Margaret learned of their decision, though, all hell broke loose.

The first call came a week after the marriage was legally over.

Charlotte, youve ruined my sons life, Margarets voice trembled with anger.

Margaret, it was a decision we both made.

Dont lie. You left him. Hes heartbroken now, crying his eyes out.

Charlotte held her tongue. She knew full well there hadnt been a single tear. In fact, Edward had almost looked relieved when it all ended.

All right, thats not why I rang, Margaret pressed on, The earringsyou havent lost or flogged them, have you? I never know with you.

Charlotte tensed. Which earrings?

The ones I gave you at the wedding. The emeralds. Give them back. They were meant for my sons wife, and youre not her anymore.

Charlotte could hardly believe her ears.

But Margaret, they were a gift!

A gift to my daughter-in-law! And youre not that anymore. The earrings come back to me.

Thats not how gifts work, Margaret! You cant just take them back.

You can, if you divorce my son. Hand them over, Charlotte! Or Ill have to take you to court.

Charlotte hung up, stunned. Those earrings had been given to her in front of everyone at the weddingwith tears, with hugs, and with the words, Youre my daughter now. And now Margaret was demanding their return.

The following day she began receiving calls from mutual friends.

Charlotte, is it true youre refusing to hand back family heirlooms?

Heirlooms? Charlotte replied, bewildered.

Yes, the earrings Margaret gave you. She says theyve been in her family for a hundred years.

Charlotte laughed. She bought them at a jewellers. I saw the box, the price tag still on.

Still, her friend said, its a bit indecent not to return them. You are divorced now.

Charlotte tired of explaining herself. Margaret had launched a genuine campaign, telling everyone that Charlotte was greedy, mercenary, had practically stolen the family jewels before running off.

One evening, Edward paid her a visit.

Charlotte, look, can you just give the earrings back? Mums driving me mad. Tantrums every day.

Edward, they were a gift. I shouldnt have to return them.

But Mum wants them.

What for?

Edward hesitated.

She wants to give them to my next wife, when I marry again.

Charlotte looked at him incredulously.

So, your mothers already planning your next wedding?

Well, Ill marry again sooner or later, wont I?

And then shell hand over the same earrings to your new wife? And if you get divorced again, shell want them back, too?

Edward just shrugged.

Please, Charlotte. Give her the earrings. I cant stand all this fuss anymore.

Charlotte pondered. She could return them and put it all behind her. But something within her refused. It felt humiliatingadmitting she had no right to keep a gift given openly and without condition.

No, Edward. Im not giving them back.

He left. The calls continued. Margaret sent letters, threatened court, spread rumours, even rang Charlottes parents.

Eventually, Charlotte decided to consult a solicitor. She booked an appointment and explained her situation.

You have no obligation to return the earrings, the solicitor told her. They were a voluntary gift, with no strings attached.

And if she takes me to court?

Shes entitled to try, but she has no case.

Charlotte felt reassured. She decided to stand her ground.

A month later, Margaret did indeed take her to court, demanding the return of the earrings, claiming they were a family heirloom.

At the hearing, the judge asked, Do you have evidence that the earrings are a family asset?

Margaret produced an old photograph.

There! My grandmother wearing them. Theyve passed down the generations.

Charlotte examined the photograph. The earrings were utterly differentwrong shape, wrong stones.

Your Honour, those arent the same earrings, she said calmly.

They are! Margaret insisted.

No, the earrings in the photo are round. Mine are oval, and the stones arent the same.

The judge took the photograph, inspected it carefully.

Indeed, there is a difference.

Margaret paled.

Well, perhaps I confused the photographs. But theyre still family jewels!

Please provide evidence, said the judge.

Margaret couldnt. The truth was, the earrings had been purchased at a shop only three days before the wedding. Charlotte remembered it perfectly.

The court refused Margarets claim, ruling that the earrings had been a bona fide gift, not subject to return.

Margaret left the court furious; Charlotte was calm and satisfied.

The whole matter still wasnt over, though. A week later, Charlotte received a call from a young woman she didnt know.

Hello, my names Emily. Im dating Edward.

Charlotte was surprised.

Hello. Is there something I can help with?

Margaret told me about the earrings. She said youd stolen them.

I didnt steal anything. They were a gift.

There was a pause.

I spoke to Edward. He admitted the earrings came from a shop, and after the divorce, his mother simply wanted them back. I wondered why.

And?

I asked her directly. She said shed planned to give them to me if I married Edward.

Charlotte laughed.

Seriously?

Truly. I told her I didnt want someone elses earrings. She should buy new, or give nothing at all. She was offended. Called me ungrateful.

They carried on chatting for half an hour, realising they had much in commonincluding their dealings with Margaret.

Keep your chin up, Emily, Charlotte said as they said goodbye. She isnt a bad person, just a bit overbearing.

Thank you. Ive told Edward: either he learns to say no to his mother, or Im out.

Sensible decision.

A year on, Charlotte passed Edward on the street. He was alone.

Hello. How are things?

All right, he replied.

You havent remarried?

No, my fiancée left. Said she didnt fancy living with my mother as part of the package.

Pity.

Thats life. Mums over the earrings now, by the way. Shes busy trying to find me a new fiancée.

Charlotte smiled.

Best of luck, Edward.

She walked on, content. The earrings remained safe in her box at home, not for their value, but for what they represented: shed stood her ground. She hadnt bowed to pressure. For the first time in her life, shed dared to say no.

And every time she looked at them, she didnt think about the wedding or Margaret, but about that moment of courage.