It was already evening. My mother-in-law had just been brought home by me, her son-in-law. I set her two bags down in the hallway, and she made her way straight to her daughter, Emily.
When Emily saw her mum at the door, her disappointment was impossible to miss.
So, this is it then? Im going to be responsible for you for the rest of my life? I suppose you wont want to go back to your village now
Not long ago, Id heard about an old schoolmate of mine who hadnt dealt very kindly with her own elderly mother. As it happened, things worked out well enough in their familyher son-in-law took proper care of her, arranging a place for her in a good private care home, all expenses covered. But at that time, Emily knew nothing about what had happened to her mother, only finding out after shed been released from the clinic.
Now it was I whod brought my mother-in-law back to our house, and I explained everything to my wife:
Your mums alright now, Ive bought her everything she needs, but for a while shell need looking after. Shell be staying with us for some time. You dont mind, do you?
Really, youd think it would make more sense if Emily had asked me about this herself. Instead of thanking me for caring for her mum, Emily completely lost her composure, reacting in a way that was both odd and oddly understandable:
Mum, Ive just moved to London! Ive only just set up my life here, and now youve come along and want to stay with me? So thats it, I have to look after you for the rest of my life? Dont you want to go back to your village eventually?
Naturally, her mother looked distressed after hearing what Emily had to say, but I was the most taken aback.
At last, it seemed, my wife had shown me a side of herself I had never known before, not when I proposed, not at any time since. The worried mother-in-law began packing her things, while Emily slammed the front door behind her and stormed off to a friends flat.
Later that evening, when Emily returned, she found her own suitcases packed and, next to them, a rail ticket. Perplexed, she asked me:
Why is my mum still here? Are you off somewhere?
No, those are your things and your train ticket, I replied. Perhaps itd be best if we live apart for a while. Id always hoped to have a child with you, but today I realised Im not ready for my children to have a mother who acts like this. Think about what youve done. Go spend some time in your mothers village house in the countryside. Shell stay with me for now. When you’ve come to your senses, you can come back, I told her.
