Hey love, grab a cuppa and let me fill you in on whats been going on with Lily and David. So David drops this bombshell: Mums going to live with us now.
Lily is like, Wait, what? Shes doing fine, she can manage on her own.
And then she asks, Whos going to look after her at home? I need to get back to work properly, and the colleagues are already eyeing me my shifts been cut short.
David says, Ill take care of her myself. Well just have to move into a different bedroom Mum wants a room with a balcony.
Lily didnt buy it, and good for her, she had a reason.
Eighteen years ago, when Lily married David, she already sensed that her future motherinlaw, Margaret, wasnt exactly thrilled about her.
Lily was a smalltown girl from a modest background, just finished a vocational college, barely any savings, and she was marrying a heartsurgeon with a proper degree.
Still, they tied the knot.
Margaret never outright complained, but she kept things strictly professional and a bit cold.
How are you doing, Lily? Margaret would ask over the phone, but only if Lily answered.
Thanks, Margaret, alls well. Hows your health?
Health at my age? Im chugging along, thanks.
Shed always say she needed to check with David and hand the phone over.
Family gatherings were polite a couple of times a year the women would chat, but there were no hugs.
When Margaret heard Lily was pregnant, she suddenly suggested they swap apartments.
David had inherited a onebed flat from his late grandmother, while Margaret owned a threebed house outright after her husband passed.
Lily was over the moon at such a generous offer.
When baby Alice was born, things warmed up a bit. Margaret would sometimes look after the little girl, toss in a few pounds, and, surprisingly, stopped lecturing Lily though she still let out a sigh whenever she saw her unworthy daughterinlaw.
Fast forward: Alice turned sixteen and then Margaret suffered a heart attack.
The cobbler without his shoes, the doctor joked, how could you let mums condition slip?
David, looking flustered, replied, Shes been complaining for ages, hard to tell whats real.
The doctor shrugged, Shes only sixty, shell pull through.
While Margaret was in hospital, Lily visited daily with food, clean clothes, and reassuring words.
David managed three visits in two weeks work kept him busy but he kept in touch.
Then he surprised Lily again, saying, Mums moving in with us.
Lilys eyes widened. Shes fine, she can look after herself.
Its only two bus stops from her place, well pop over every day, he said. Shes scared to be alone, and shes got a foot problem.
Ill sort it, but she can barely get around, she cant live on her own, David added.
Lily asked, Whos going to watch her at home? I need to get back to work, and my colleagues are already staring at me my hours are reduced.
David replied, Ill take care of her. Well just move into the room with the balcony she wants.
Lily didnt believe him, and honestly, she was right.
David kept disappearing into work, staying late, and Lily found herself constantly battling Margaret.
Lily, I knew you were messy, but I never had to live with you before, Margaret would snap. When was the last time you cleaned under my bed? Its a dust storm in there!
Lily just grabbed a mop and brushed it off.
Margaret would also rail at Lilys cooking. Whats in this soup? If youve fed my son like this all his life, no wonder hes still stuck with you.
Lily would silently take the empty plate away.
The nagging continued, How long are we supposed to wait? Youre so clumsy!
After a month of that, Lily finally said to David, Your mum seems fine to me. Shes quite the bossy one, isnt she? Maybe she should go back to her own place.
Margaret shot back, She says youre not looking after her properly. Youre ignoring her pleas.
Is this a reason to be cruel? Lily snapped. Or a reason to be kinder?
She reminded Margaret that the flat was actually hers they never transferred the paperwork. Lily hadnt even thought about that when they swapped homes sixteen years ago; she was too busy sorting the move.
If this keeps up, Lily was ready to go back to the onebed flat.
Then, about a month later, Margaret was spotted on the steps outside their block, chatting cheerfully with their neighbour, Mrs. Anne, whod moved in a floor below and was a few years younger.
Isnt it nice when good people take you out for a walk, Lily? Margaret sighed, turning to Anne. See, dear, this is what old age looks like when you have a son, not a daughter.
Lily managed a weary Hello, Anne, while Margaret gushed, David asked me to take a stroll with Mum.
Anne shook her head, You both work too much, dont you?
By then Lily didnt care about anyones opinion. She was just glad Margaret had made a friend in Anne and wasnt tormenting her any more.
Lily thought maybe she could finally convince David to send his mum back home.
But David seemed completely distracted.
It all came out when Lily, after finally handing in a massive report, asked to leave early she was exhausted.
The lift was broken, so she trudged up to the fourth floor on foot.
She spotted David on the thirdfloor landing, looking like hed just stepped out of Annes flat.
He froze, then the door swung open and a lively voice called, Love, youve forgotten your watch!
A pretty brunette in a short robe appeared, eyes sparkling.
Lilys mind raced.
Its Irene, David stammered, Annes daughter. We were just talking about mum
Irene leaned in, serious, and stared straight at Lily. David, you need to know I love you, you love me, and well live together.
Lily walked past them, shaking her head.
Are you out of your mind? she shouted at David once inside. Whats this about?
David tried to shrug it off. It just happened, love. We ran into each other in the hallway, I liked her straight away.
Later, Lily muttered, Great, so while Im dealing with your mums quirks, youre off gallivanting next door!
David huffed, Dont exaggerate. Annes been looking after mum more than you have lately.
Are you paying her extra to clear the flat for us? Lily demanded.
No, but I gave Irene six hundred pounds for a car she needed, David admitted.
What? You gave that money the very cash we were saving for Alices university to that girl?
Alices smart, shell sort herself out, David shrugged.
Lily exploded, You think youre being generous, huh? Using our savings on a fling?
She rushed out, and the door opened for her by Anne herself.
Give us the money back! Lily yelled, nearly in tears.
Anne smirked, So David finally confessed? Maybe you should have thought twice before treating your mother like that.
She added, Our generous man might need a good home after all.
Fine, we gave that money to our daughter, and its all we had, thanks to me, Lily shot back. Return it or Ill go to court!
Anne just shrugged, slammed the door.
When Lily got back, David looked bewildered and Margaret was visibly shaken.
Margaret muttered, I didnt knowit was just a chat, I never thought shed belike that.
Lily, tears finally breaking, said flatly, Were getting a divorce. Ive had enough.
She shut herself in the bedroom and sobbed. Now she and Alice had to figure out where to go.
No matter how much Margaret begged or how much David apologized, Lilys decision didnt change.
Then, in a twist, Margaret convinced David to gift Lily and Alice that original onebed flat again.
Lily didnt refuse they moved back with Alice, and she cut off ties with the exinlaws for good.
So thats where we are. Hope that gives you a clear picture. Catch up soon, love.
