You wont have a mother any longer! Margaret bellowed, her voice cracking with fury.
Forget that you ever had a mum. After you marry, youll stop bothering me and act as if I never existed. And I wont give you a single penny for the wedding. If I didnt pick your bride, I wont foot the bill for this whole charade.
James felt an indescribable surge of joy whenever his little son, also called James, clutched him and declared,
Mum, youre the best in the world. Ill do everything to keep your smile alive.
The boys innocent words turned his mothers heart insideout. She swelled with pride at having raised such a wonderful child, whom she lovingly called her little angel. Golden curls, blue eyes, perfectly formed features every trait whispered aristocracy. As James grew, Margaret began to scrutinise every possible candidate for her future daughterinlaw. The woman had to boast a respectable lineage, immaculate looks, a slim figure, a university degree, flawless manners, and ideally a respectable career in a prestigious firm, preferably at a senior level with influential connections.
My son already has a flat. He now needs a proper lady to keep it tidy at all times, and she must be ready to welcome his guests even at three in the morning, because thats her duty as wife and housekeeper.
Time passed, and Margarets demands did not soften; they grew ever more exacting.
No woman over twentyfive, or else shell bear a frail child. And we must be absolutely sure the child is Jamess.
Margaret, for heavens sake, have some mercy, her sisters would chide. In todays world there are no girls who meet your standards. If you want James to marry and have children, drop the impossible conditions, or hell remain a bachelor forever.
James excelled at school and university, landed a highpaying job, yet his love life stalled. Every time he introduced a girl to his mother, she found a thousand reasons to push the prospective daughterinlaw away. At each meeting, she would command,
James, go to the kitchen and slice some fruit while we chat.
The first woman Margaret met was Emily. Emily came from a modest background: her mother worked as an accountant, her father as a coalminer, and she had two younger brothers. Emily herself worked as a pharmacy assistant, which made Margaret uneasy.
So she has constant access to medicines. Could she poison my son? Or me? No, shes out of the question. And her family are labourers; we need something finer, Margaret muttered.
Darling, you understand you cant marry James, dont you? Margaret whispered when she was alone with Emily. Youre too different. Hes grown up in a world you cant imagine. Forget him and find someone more ordinary.
Emily left without a word, never even saying goodbye to James. When he pressed for an explanation, she replied coldly,
Ask your mother, the one who raised you in those special conditions. Shell tell you Im too good for you and that you should look for someone simpler.
Mum, why did you hurt Emily? I like her, I really do. What did you tell her? James pleaded.
Son, youve forgotten something, Margaret said slowly. Im your mother and I know best what will make you happy. Not that Emily, thats for sure. Where did you even find such a? As if there were no respectable families left.
Realising his mother would never be swayed, James walked away. He occasionally mentioned meeting a new girl, but never rushed to bring her before Margaret. When Margaret offered to help him start a family, he politely declined,
Ill marry when Im ready. Thats my decision, not yours.
I know exactly who youll choose, Margaret snarled. Some housekeeper with nothing but a mop and a rag in her head.
At least the floors will shine, James muttered with a wry smile.
Dont talk to me like that! Margaret snapped.
James retreated to his room. Eventually he decided to move out of his mothers house and take the flat she owned, which they had been renting out together.
His father, who had long been divorced from Margaret, had barely spoken to James since the split when James was six. Recently, a tentative meeting was arranged.
You know why I left Margaret? Because she never let me live. She controlled everything where I went, when I came back, what I said. When I tried to spend time with you, shed scream I wasnt fit to teach you anything because I had no degree. Why should she have taken me on? I was just a cog. I thought, why waste my life on a lunatic who never cared? I left, she refused child support and I lost parental rights.
And youre happy now? James asked, frowning.
Why ask? his father replied, hurt. I bought you a flat and gave you the keys. Did she say anything?
What? James stared, bewildered.
I saved for ten years to give you a place of your own. If you stay with her, youll have no life of your own. She doesnt consider anyone a person.
Why didnt you ever talk to me? James asked tentatively.
I didnt want you to get into trouble. Margaret threatened to whisk you away to another town, and Id never see you again. So I kept my distance.
His fathers words reshaped Jamess view of Margaret. He began to think she was his greatest blessing and often said he wanted a partner who reminded him of his mother. Margaret, with a faint smile, warned, You wont find anyone like me anytime soon. Im one in a million, if not a billion.
After Emily, James met several other women, but none satisfied Margaret. Finally, James set a condition for his mother:
Either you stop meddling in my life, or Ill cut off contact with you.
You ungrateful wretch, Margaret raged. Who do you think youre talking to? I bought you a home, paid for your education. How dare you?
Mum, enough, James pleaded. I know who actually bought that flat. I spoke with Father; he told me everything.
And you believe him? Margaret exploded. Not my own mother, but some loser?
If you must know, that loser is my father.
Margarets face turned a mottled shade. She stared at James with contempt and shut herself in her room. The next morning she didnt come down for breakfast. James knocked, only to hear a sharp shout from inside:
Leave me alone and go back to that worthless father of yours!
Mum, why? James opened the door and stepped inside. She lay on the bed, hair dishevelled, dress rumpled, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was a stark contrast to her usual immaculate, perfumeladen appearance.
You know, son, Ive figured something out, she said slowly. Marry whoever you like; Ill be indifferent. Even a man halfPapua, halfPenguin, halfIndian rhinoceros. Just forget you ever had a mother. After the wedding, stop bothering me and act as if I never existed. And I wont give you a single pound for the ceremony. If I didnt choose your bride, I wont fund this farce.
Got it, mum, James replied with a mock bow, quietly closing the door behind him. That day he moved into his own flat.
Six months later, he invited his mother to a restaurant to announce his forthcoming wedding.
So, who is she? Margaret asked, feigning indifference.
Whoever she is, you wont like her, James replied coldly. Just so you know, her name is Olivia. Shes twentysix, from a long line of doctors. A very respectable young woman.
Lord, where does that confidence come from? Margaret rolled her eyes. Show me a photo.
James pulled out his phone and displayed a picture of his bridetobe. Margaret pursed her lips and shook her head disapprovingly.
And you call that the future mother of my grandchildren? What a nightmare!
The woman in the photo was of EastAsian descent.
Thats some Gulchatai, not Olivia. Why call her that?
Olivia is halfKorean, James explained patiently.
Even better, Margaret sneered. Like a bulldog mixed with a rhinoceros.
Youll like her once you get to know her after were married, James smiled.
Margarets breath caught at his words.
After the wedding?! Youre actually getting married? To spite me?
Not to spite you. For my own happiness, James grinned, summoning a waiter to place their order.
She sat in stunned silence, trying to picture the grandchildren she imagined would look like. The image was unsettling.
At the ceremony, James approached his mother and warned,
No dramas, please. If Olivia leaves me because of you, Ill never forgive you.
Margaret was forced to sit quietly, like a shadow beneath the festivities, watching the radiant bride and her joyous son receive applause, join in games, and dance with genuine smiles. The next morning the newlyweds delivered a tray of treats for Margaret, but she wouldnt let them cross the threshold.
Listen, son. Ive done everything you asked. Now hear me out. Dont bring that mixedblood woman into my house again. Do you understand? You may have a thousand wives, but youll only ever have one mother.
The couple left, and Margaret, in a fit of anger, tossed the tray into the rubbish bin.
I wont take anything from that halfblood, she snarled.
After that, Margaret fell ill frequently, and Olivia took charge of her care. Sometimes James and Olivia hired a nighttime or daytime carer so the elderly lady wouldnt be left alone. Margaret could never accept the daughterinlaw she despised for daring to compare her unfavourably.
You said youd find someone who looks like me. Where is the resemblance? Margaret muttered, irritated that she now relied on Olivias assistance.
When the phone rang, Margaret answered in a lilting tone,
Hello, Olivia dear. How are you? Im feeling a bit wobbly, my blood pressures spiking. Could you pop over? All right, then
In the end, James realised that the relentless pursuit of perfection had only built walls between him and the people who truly cared. Margaret finally saw that love could not be bought with flats, degrees, or aristocratic pedigrees; it thrived on acceptance, humility, and the willingness to let go of impossible expectations. The lesson lingered: happiness is not a contract to be negotiated, but a simple, shared breath between hearts willing to forgive.
