Blythe, you and Victor must come over and help me, said Sophie Anderson in a deadserious tone, the windows need washing and the carpets need a good beating!
What a brilliant proposal, replied Blythe with a sideways grin, but I think Ill pass.
Blythe, whats this about? We need to help your mum! Victor blurted, looking bewildered.
No, we dont! Blythe snapped, wiping the smile from her face.
Why not? Its your mother, Victor stammered, more confused than ever.
Weve been married nine years, Victor! Do you really think Im losing my wits? Blythe asked, staring him straight in the eye.
Its not that I think you are, Victor muttered, gesturing vaguely toward Sophie.
So dont try to teach me that a mother is just a mother!
And why wouldnt you help your mother if she asks for help? Victor pressed.
Did you even hear a hint of a request in her words? Blythe countered. She gave us a list of chores! Were supposed to do them, thats what she said.
Yes, we must! Sophie burst out. Youre my daughter and hes my soninlaw! The soninlaws duties are fewer, but a daughtershes my flesh and blood. You cant just leave your mother in a bind!
Mmm, thought Blythe, I can.
And what kind of daughter are you? Sophie demanded.
Exactly the same as you, mother! Blythe retorted.
Blythe, have some shame! Victor shouted. How can you speak to your own mother so harshly?
I have every moral right to! Blythe declared. If you dont know the whole story, I wouldnt raise my voice at my own wife!
Blythe, Victor said, his face turning solemn, I may not know everything, but a mother deserves respect. Parents need help, and you mustnt be rude. He turned to Sophie. Sophie, forgive my wifes tone. Well come over at the weekend and sort it all out.
No, we wont come! Blythe thumped the table.
Fine, then Ill go alone! Victor blurted, taking charge as if he were the head of the family.
If you go, you might never set foot back in this house again, Blythe warned, turning away.
Indeed, Sophie nodded, my daughter is simply marvelous.
Exactly! Blythe said, swivelling toward her mother. Why didnt you ask Tamsin to wash the windows and beat the carpets for you?
Whos Tamsin? Victor asked.
You were told you know nothing! Blythe snapped. And Tamsin is my sister, my own blood!
So why didnt you ask her, Mum? Blythe turned to Sophie. Or is she not owed that right because you keep poking me?
Victor stared at Sophie, who flushed but said nothing.
Whats the matter, mum? Blythe teased. Lost for words? Need help finding them? Ill sort that out while Victor flounders in confusion!
Sophies voice grew thin. I never asked Tamsin because she sent me away forever when I got married, six years ago!
Ah, thats when you, Victor, met my other daughter! Blythe emphasized Victors name. Remember that?
Victor chuckled. Right, right! No one ever mentioned her until she turned up six years back. I thought you had no mother at all, not even a father figure.
Your attention was blowing up the roof! Blythe laughed. I never had a mother, then one appeared. You never bothered to ask how that happened!
I was about to, but I got distracted, Victor admitted, embarrassed. Then the conversation just kind of drifted off.
Want me to tell you the whole truth? Blythe offered brightly.
No! Stop it! Sophie shrieked.
Whats wrong, mum? Ashamed? Did your conscience finally wake up?
He doesnt need to know! Its none of his business!
How can it be none of his business when hes about to wash the windows and beat the carpets? Its absolutely his business! Blythe declared. And I want him to understand why I refuse.
When parents split, its the children who feel the sting first. A child will always carry a scar, but only sensible parents can ease the pain. They can arrange visits, leaving past quarrels at the door. A child sees parents as onceloved figures, even if they no longer live together. Even if the two adults no longer wish to be together, they should keep a civil relationship for the childs sake.
Blythes parents never even thought about that. Their only goal was to part ways.
I wont be paying any child support, Sophie declared.
Im not pushing the law, but it exists, SamuelVictors fatherreplied.
Fine! If my wages get docked, youll hand them over to me!
Typical! Samuel scoffed. That money is for the kids!
For your kids, then keep them fed yourself! Sophie shouted.
But theyre my kids too! Parental responsibility is shared equally!
I dont want to hear a word of it! Not about you, not about the children, not about support! Sophie wailed, flailing her arms.
Tell the judge!
The divorce was set to start in two days, but it was far from ordinary. Sophie tossed not only her husband but also two childrengirls aged four and tenout the door without a care for where theyd end up. The only thing that rattled her was the thought of the maintenance shed have to pay.
Samuel could have managed without those payments; he earned a decent wage. Yet the idea of his exwife meddling, especially with a strangers hands, was deliciously infuriating. He would have lived fine without it, just to free his daughters from their mothers hysteria.
Sophie did not bother explaining; she played a clever move. She coaxed tenyearold Tamsin into saying she wanted to live with her mum, all while she could barely stand her own sister. Tamsin had spent too much time with their mother, soaking up her mannerisms.
The judge left the younger daughter with Samuel and the older with Sophiesomething like a compromise.
In court Samuel received only a single line:
I told you I wont be paying a penny!
He didnt argue. He knew that if his daughter stayed with her mother, he still had a duty to support her, but Tamsin, under her mothers urging, spat vile accusations at him right there.
Of course the child was innocent; she was merely repeating what her mother fed her. Their mothernow called Sonjawould soon teach Tamsin to think the same way.
Samuel lost one daughter but kept the other. He still had responsibility for her, and he felt the loss keenly.
Later he tried to meet Tamsin, but Sophie barred him. When Samuel cornered her at the flat, she was sent so far away that looking into strangers eyes became mortifying.
For twenty years Blythe never heard from her mother or sister again. Strangely, she didnt mourn.
Samuel, a devoted father, poured his whole heart into raising his daughter. Blythe could boast of a wonderful childhood, a bright youth, and an adult life filled with happiness. She never felt abandoned or shortchanged by the lack of a motherbiological or otherwise.
She studied, got a qualification, married, and had a child. A good, happy life that many dream of.
She never imagined her own mother would turn up at her door after two decades, chatting as if theyd only been apart for a week. The surprise was so disorienting that Blythe let her in, introduced her to Victor, even presented her to her grandchild as a grandmother. She listened politely to the mothers chatter about daily troubles and recent news.
Later, after the conversation, the absurdity of the situation sank in. She called her father straight away.
I never told you anything about hernot good, not bad. And I wont now, Samuel said. I raised you to be a clever girl.
So I hope youll figure out why shes back and what she really wants, he added. I divorced her twenty years ago, but who knows what twenty years can do to a person.
Thats all I expected, Blythe replied. Thanks, Dad.
If you need anything, ring me. Samuel advised. He didnt believe Sophie could have changed for the better, but he kept his mouth shut.
After that call Blythe stopped worrying. Her father always had a calming effect on her. Once settled, she began to think.
What once required years of searching now seemed trivial. The internet left a trail for anyone. The key was knowing how to look.
Blythe worked as a software developer; she could search with a skill that would make even the police jealous.
She found nothing remarkable about her mother beyond two marriages and a divorce from her father. She had two children: Blythe and Tamsin.
When Blythe dug deeper, she learned Tamsin had trained as a geography teacher. Only two colleges in their town offered that course. Blythe joined the alumni groups, tracked down Tamsin by surname, and arranged a meeting.
Someones after you! Tamsin said, halfserious. She cant do it aloneshe needs a victim!
Who? Blythe asked, confused.
A victim! Someone she can hang onto, anyone she can manipulate to do her bidding, Tamsin smirked. I didnt just get marriedI ran from her!
She warned Blythe to send her mother packing and never look back. Shell lie so much youll never catch up, and youll end up blamed.
Blythe left the meeting deep in thought.
The warnings clear: be prepared.
If a mother craves contact, shell get it. If she starts to overstep, shell meet a fitting response.
It was odd that for six years Sophie only wanted conversation. Occasionally she asked for small favors, the sort neighbours might grant. Tamsin added a caution:
If you ever show a hint of weakness, youll be caught in her web, and shell torment you until you lose your mind. Shes done that to two stepfathers, driving them to madness for their assets.
Blythe didnt wait forever, but she did wait.
Eventually she pressed Samuel for the full story, which he only gave after Blythe mentioned her talk with Tamsin. With the pieces assembled, she waited for her moment.
Victor sat, mouth agape, watching his motherinlaw. He could not believe what he was hearing. Sophies expression confirmed that Blythe was telling the truth. The woman turned a shade of marble, a flushed face and beads of sweat marking her as human, not statue.
Are you still willing to go over there and do the labour? Blythe asked.
Victor shook his head.
Very well, Blythe said to her husband, then turned to her mother. Mum, if you want a proper conversation, even though you dont deserve it, I wont deny you that.
But if you keep demanding something from me, Ill throw it out the door and never let you back in!
Youever heard of that, you wretched woman! Sophie shrieked. Im your mother!
Clear enough! Blythe spread her arms. No one forced you to speak! She smiled. Off you go! If you turn up again Ill file a police report for harassment.
Sophies eyes popped.
What are we doing here? Knees gone? I could help with a magical kick to the door!
She stood stiff as a board, trying to keep her dignity, and stalked toward the exit. Blythe shouted after her:
Run, youblasted mum!
Sophie lingered, as if daring herself.
Nice one with her, Victor, he muttered after the mad dash.
What did she want? Blythe shrugged. She vanished for twenty years and now shows up demanding I owe her something. She even wants a thankyou for not kicking her out!
Well, mum Victor began.
by the books, youre a mother, but in practice youre a stranger, Blythe concluded, and that was the end of the matter.
