All troubles have a single root.
«Oliver, are you joking? Off to your mums again?»
«What do you expect? Leave her in the cold, with no power or water?» he snapped, digging through his backpack. «Would you do that to your parents?»
«You know mine wouldnt put me in this position. They respect that I have a family and dont drag me into these messes. But your mum» began Emily.
«Give it a rest. You know I have to help,» Oliver cut in, waving her off.
«I know. But it still stings. Not because the boys will forget their dads name, but because you wont even try to teach her to stand on her own two feet. She made this bedlet her lie in it. So choose. Wheres your family? There, in the countryside, or here?»
Emily turned and walked to the bedroom. Half a minute later, the front door clicked shut. Oliver was gone. She was alone again, left with the boys shed promised a family day out in the park.
Once more, their father had slipped away from them. And once more, the weight fell on Emily.
…
Two years ago, things had been different. Emily remembered the day clearly. Theyd visited her parents, bringing along MargaretOlivers motherso she wouldnt be lonely. She got on well enough with the in-laws, so no one minded.
As they sipped tea under the dappled shade of an apple tree, Margaret had a «brilliant» idea that upended Emilys life.
«Oh, its so lovely here!» Margaret sighed, breathing deeply. «I ought to move to the countryside too. Perfect at my age. Peace, quiet, fresh air…»
Emilys mother smirked, thinking it was just wistful talk.
«Its nice when youre visiting,» her mother-in-law said bluntly. «But maintaining a place like this without a man around? Its no holiday. Somethings always breaking or needing fixing. And no offense, love, but youre not cut out for it.»
Margaret pursed her lips, though there was nothing to take offense at. She wasnt lazy, exactlyjust perpetually tired, even when shed done nothing.
«Oh, Im not planning to run a farm or dig in greenhouses! Youve got chickens and pigs, but Id be happy with just flowers and trees. A place to sit in the shade and admire the view. And the grandchildren would love itan inflatable pool, running on grass instead of breathing in exhaust fumes.»
«Flowers and trees need work too. You can barely keep up with a flat, and thats hardly any effortdust once a week, mop every other day, then put your feet up.»
«You think we keep this place for fun?» Emilys father chuckled. «Sounds simple, but a house is a bottomless pit. Today its the boiler, tomorrow the roof, the next day the fence. And it all costs money. We make do.»
«Ill manage. Im not alone,» Margaret said stubbornly, glancing at Oliver.
Emily raised an eyebrow but stayed silent. Changing Margarets mind was harder than convincing a starving goat to ignore cabbages.
That day, Margaret didnt argue furtherjust smiled mysteriously, like the Mona Lisa. Six months later, she was proudly showing off her new cottage, inhaling the scent of roses from next doors garden. The house was nice enough, with all the mod cons.
«See? And you all doubted me. Im never setting foot in the city again!» she declared.
But the happiness didnt last. First, Margaret asked Oliver to help with redecorating. It dragged on for six months, with him visiting only on weekends. Emily grumbled but endured it, believing life would return to normal once the work was done.
Then the power went out for nearly two days. No lights, no water. Oliver rushed to his panicking mother with bottled water and sedatives.
«My whole lifes on hold! In this heatno air con, no shower Its unbearable!» Margaret wailed.
Next, she took in a stray dog, «just for a while.» Turned out, the poor thing had kidney issues. No vet in the village, so Oliver had to drive him to the city.
«Well, hes poorly But at least hes a guard dog,» Margaret cooed, soothing the mutt.
Emily later scrubbed vomit from the car seatsmotion sickness. Worse, the dog needed special food, unavailable locally. Oliver became the deliveryman.
«I cant leave Mum with a sick animal! You know how soft-hearted she is. Shed blame herself,» hed say whenever Emily protested.
«Soft-hearted? For the dog, maybe. Not so much for people.»
Oliver spent every weekend there, sometimes darting over after work, even staying the night.
«If I come home now, youll all be asleep anyway,» hed reason. «Ill leave early from here and go straight to work.»
Emily waited for things to ease, but they never did. Leaking roof, blocked septic tank, snow to shovel, grass to mow Margaret refused to lift a finger, even to call a handyman.
«What if theyre crooks? Or thieves? Theyll rob me blind Oliver, love, youre a mantheyll think twice with you there. Find someone decent and supervise, wont you?»
The final straw came when the power cut againthis time in late autumn. Brief, but enough to send Margaret into hysterics.
«Em, Im buying Mum a generator tomorrow,» Oliver said casually.
Emily stiffened.
«From our money?» She narrowed her eyes, knowing the cost.
«Well yeah. You know shes strapped. Most of her flat sale moneys gone, and shes just on her pension now.»
«Brilliant. So now were funding her dream home too. Oliver, doesnt your mother want a bit too much?»
He scowled and waved her off.
«Em, stop. Their powers dodgy. You want her freezing to death?»
She rolled her eyes but swallowed her words again.
Now, alone in their bedroom, Emily considered divorce. He was never home anyway. But they had a good life, didnt they? No, divorce was too extreme. She needed another way to stay sane.
And she found it.
…
A week later, Emily rose early and dressed quietly. As she turned to leave, Oliver stirred.
«Where are you off to so early?» He rubbed his eyes.
«To my parents,» she said evenly, checking her reflection.
«What? I promised Mum Id trim her hedges today.»
«You didnt check with me. Ive got parents too, you know. They need help as well.»
«But theres two of yours!»
«Old age comes for everyone. New rule: one weekend for your mum, one for mine.» Emily moved toward the hallway, then paused. «Oh, and the to-do lists on the fridge. Dont forget the boys homework. And make them pizza for lunchthey asked.»
She left, feeling his stare burning into her back but never looking back. On the drive, she realizedfor once, she wasnt rushing, wasnt thinking of chores.
Her «help» was token. She tidied the spare room, then lazed aboutreading on the garden swing, reminiscing over lunch, lounging on the bed. Shed forgotten what it was like to eat properly, not scarfing food down between shouts of «Muuuum!»
Maybe thered never be a perfect solution. Maybe Margaret would never sell or learn to cope alone. But now, Emily would have her own sliver of peacea small victory in the war for fairness and her sanity.
