Every Trouble Has Its Roots
«James, are you serious? Off to your mum’s again?»
«What do you expect me to do? Leave her freezing with no power or water?» James snapped, rummaging through his rucksack. «Would you treat your own parents like that?»
«You know my parents would never put me in this position. They respect that I have my own family. But your mum» Emily began.
«Enough. You know I have to help,» James cut her off with a dismissive wave.
«I get it. But it still hurts. Not because the boys will forget their fathers name, but because you refuse to teach her independence. She made this messlet her deal with it. Choosewheres your family? Here, or there in that village?»
Emily turned and walked to the bedroom. Half a minute later, the front door clicked shut. James 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, leaving everything on her shoulders.
…Two years ago, things had been different. Emily remembered that day clearly. Theyd visited her parents, bringing along MargaretJamess motherso she wouldnt be lonely. She got on well enough with her in-laws, so no one minded.
As they sipped tea under the pergola, Margaret had a «brilliant» idea that upended Emilys life.
«Oh, its so lovely here!» Margaret sighed, inhaling deeply. «I should move to the countryside. Perfect for my agepeace, quiet, fresh air…»
Emilys mother chuckled, thinking it was just daydreaming.
«Its nice for a visit,» her mother-in-law said bluntly. «But maintaining a place like this is no holiday. Theres always something to fix. And forgive me, Margaret, but youre not cut out for it.»
Margaret pursed her lips. She wasnt lazy, just perpetually exhausted, even when she did little.
«Oh, Im not keeping livestock or digging in greenhouses! Just a few flowers and treessomewhere to sit in the shade and enjoy the view. The grandchildren would love it too. Id get them a paddling pool, let them run on the grass instead of breathing in fumes.»
«Flowers and trees need care too. You can barely manage your flat, and thats hardly any work. A quick dust, a mop every other day, then youre free to lounge about,» Emilys mother replied dismissively.
«You think we keep this place for fun?» her father-in-law grunted. «Its a money pit. The boiler breaks, the roof leaks, the fence collapsesalways something. We manage because we have to.»
«Well figure it out. Im not alone,» Margaret said stubbornly, glancing at James.
Emily raised an eyebrow but stayed silent. Changing her mother-in-laws mind was harder than stopping a hungry goat from eating cabbages.
Margaret didnt argue further that day, just smiled mysteriously, like the Mona Lisa. Six months later, she proudly showed off her new cottage, basking in the scent of roses from the neighbours garden. The house was decent, with all mod cons.
«See? You didnt believe me. Ill never step foot in that city again!» she declared.
But the happiness didnt last. First, Margaret asked James to help with redecorating. It dragged on for months, with him visiting every weekend. Emily grumbled but endured, believing life would return to normal once the work was done.
Then the power was cut off for two daysno lights, no water. James rushed over with bottled water and aspirin to calm her.
«Everythings come to a standstill! In this heatno aircon, no shower… Its unbearable!» Margaret wailed.
Next, she took in a stray dog, «just temporarily.» The poor thing had kidney problems. With no vet nearby, James had to drive it to the city.
«Hes poorly, my poor boy… But at least hell guard the house,» Margaret cooed, stroking the dog.
Emily later scrubbed the car seats clean after the «guardian» got car sick. Then came the special dietno pet shops or delivery in the village, so James became the courier.
«I cant just abandon Mum with a sick dog! You know how soft-hearted she is,» hed say whenever Emily protested.
«Soft-hearted? For dogs, maybe. Not so much for people.»
James spent every free moment at his mothers, sometimes staying overnight midweek.
«If I come home now, youll all be asleep anyway,» hed justify. «Ill leave early and go straight to work.»
Emily waited for things to ease, but they never did. The roof leaked, the septic tank clogged, snow piled up, grass grew wild… Margaret refused to lift a finger, not even to call a tradesman.
«What if theyre crooks? Or thieves? Theyll fleece me… James, youre a mantheyll respect you. Find someone decent and supervise them,» shed plead.
Emilys patience snapped when the power went out againthis time in late autumn. Briefly, but enough for Margaret to panic.
«Em, Im buying Mum a generator tomorrow,» James said casually.
Emily stiffened.
«From our savings?» She narrowed her eyesgenerators werent cheap.
«Well… yeah. You know her pension barely covers basics. The flat sale moneys almost gone.»
«Brilliant. So now were funding her dream home too. James, when does it end?»
He scowled and waved her off.
«Dont start. She cant freeze, can she?»
Emily rolled her eyes but swallowed her words. Now, sitting alone in their bedroom, she considered divorce. He was never home anyway. But life wasnt all bad… No, divorce was too drastic. She needed another way to stay sane.
And she found it.
…A week later, Emily rose early and dressed quietly. James stirred as she headed out.
«Where are you off to?» He rubbed his eyes, yawning.
«To my parents.»
«What? Today? I promised Mum Id prune the hedges.»
«You didnt check with me. Ive got parents too, you know. New ruleone weekend for your mum, one for mine.» She stepped toward the hallway, then paused. «Oh, and the chore lists on the fridge. Dont forget the boys homework. And make them pizza for lunchthey asked for it.»
She left, feeling his glare on her back but never turning. On the drive, she realisedfor once, she wasnt rushing.
Her «help» was lighta bit of cleaning, then lazing in the garden swing, reminiscing over lunch, even napping. Shed forgotten what it felt like to eat without wolfing down food between shouts of «Mum!»
Maybe there was no perfect fix. Maybe Margaret would never sell that cottage or solve her own problems. But now, Emily would have her own slice of peacea small victory in the battle for sanity and fairness.
