“We didnt invite her,” muttered Emily under her breath as she spotted me at the door.
“Mum, whens Granny Anne coming?” asked little Sophie, smearing the last of her porridge across her plate.
“I dont know, love. Maybe shes not coming at all,” replied Emily, clearing the breakfast dishes.
David glanced up from his newspaper and shot his wife a disapproving look.
“What dyou mean, not coming? Mums always been here for Sophies birthday. Its practically tradition.”
“Well, she can keep that tradition in your dreams,” Emily huffed, clattering the mugs into the sink.
Seven-year-old Sophie frowned, glancing between her parents. She hated it when they spoke like thatespecially about Granny Anne.
“But I *want* Granny to come! She always brings me presents, and we go to the park, and she tells me stories about princesses!”
“Sophie, go brush your teethwell be late for nursery,” Emily cut in.
Sophie pouted but obediently slid off her chair and trudged to the bathroom.
“Emily, whats got into you?” David said quietly, stepping closer. “Sophies been looking forward to this.”
“And whose fault is that?” Emily spun around. “*Your* mother decided she wasnt coming back after last time.”
“What dyou mean, last time? You just told her exactly what you thought about her parenting advice!”
“I told her the truth!” Emilys voice rose. “She spoils Sophie rotten! Every time she visits, it takes me a week to get Sophie back to normal. Granny lets me, Granny buys meits exhausting!”
David clenched his fists, then exhaled sharply.
“Mum just adores her. Shes been lonely since Dad passedSophies her whole world.”
“Oh, what a joy she is!” Emily scoffed. “Never mind that *Im* the one who has to deal with the fallout!”
Giggles and splashing echoed from the bathroom as Sophie hummed a nursery rhyme while brushing her teeth.
“Look, lets not do this in front of her,” David pleaded. “Sophie doesnt need to hear this.”
Emily wiped her hands on a tea towel and slumped into a chair.
“Im not a monster, David. I feel awful for your mum. But shes always interferingcriticising me, nitpicking. Last time, she outright said I was a bad mother because I wouldnt let Sophie have ice cream before bed!”
“She just cares in her own way”
“Her own way?” Emily cut him off. “And what, my way doesnt count? Shes *my* daughterI know whats best for her!”
Sophie burst out of the bathroom, her chin dripping, beaming.
“Mum! Dad! Lets call Granny Anne ourselves! Tell her we miss her *so* much!”
David and Emily exchanged a glance. In his wifes eyes, he saw exhaustionand something like defeat.
“Sweetheart, hurry up and get ready,” Emily said gently. “Or Mrs. Thompson will tell us off for being late again.”
The day passed as usualEmily dropped Sophie at nursery, then headed to her accounting job at a small construction firm. The work wasnt thrilling, but the payslip arrived on time, and thats what mattered.
At lunch, her colleague Jess asked, “Youve been off all morning. Trouble at home?”
“Just family drama,” Emily sighed. “Mum-in-laws taken the huff and stopped visiting. Sophies devastated.”
“What happened?”
Emily stirred her now-lukewarm soup absently.
“Jess, maybe I *am* a bit of a cow. But shes constantly telling me how to raise my own child! Emily, whys Sophie wearing that jumper? Shell catch cold. Emily, bedtimes too earlylet her play. Emily, are you feeding her properly? She looks peaky!”
“She just loves her granddaughter,” Jess offered.
“Oh, I know *all* about her love. When David was little, she dragged him to the GP every other weekwrapped him in cotton wool, barely let him play outside. Hes told me himselfnow hes terrified of making decisions!”
Jess snorted. “And now shes doing the same with Sophie?”
“Exactly! Id rather she didnt come at all than have her undermine me.”
But Emily didnt sound convinced. Deep down, she pitied her mother-in-lawand Sophie, and even David.
That evening, after Sophie was asleep, the couple sat at the kitchen table. David flipped through a magazine; Emily doodled on a crossword. The silence was thick.
“Listen,” David finally said. “Maybe we *should* call Mum. Sophies birthdays next week.”
Emily looked up.
“You *want* to call her?”
“I dont know. You were the one who said if she didnt like how we parent, she shouldnt bother coming. She took it to heart.”
“David, I didnt *throw her out*! I just asked her to respect our choices. Shes the one who stormed off!”
“Mum was just upset”
“Mum, Mum, *Mum*!” Emily exploded. “Youre thirty-two! Youve got your own family! When will you start being a husband and father instead of a mummys boy?”
David paled. “Thats uncalled for.”
“Is it? Your mums spent your life making decisions for youeven picking your wife! And guess what? I didnt fit her perfect daughter-in-law checklist!”
“Thats not true”
“Oh, really? Remember what she said when we got married? Well, David, lets see how Emily handles married life. Like I was on *probation*!”
David stood, pacing the kitchen.
“Fine. Maybe Mum *does* overstep. But shes not the enemy! She just wants to help”
“She wants *control*,” Emily said, standing too. “And you know it. Youre just too scared to admit it.”
David sighed. “Alright. We wont call. If youre dead set against it”
“Im *not* against it!” Emily blurted. “I just want her to *respect boundaries*! To be a grandmother, not a backseat parent!”
“Then what do you suggest?”
Emily slumped back into her chair.
“I dont know. Honestly, I dont.”
The next day, Sophie got into a scrap at nursery with a boy named Liam. The teacher, Mrs. Thompson, pulled Emily aside.
“Sophies been acting out latelyhitting, shouting. Is everything alright at home?”
Emily flushed. “Just normal family stuff.”
“Children pick up on tension. Sophie keeps asking when Grannys visiting. Today she yelled at Liam, Youre mean, like Mummy!”
Emilys stomach dropped. Sophie had heard *everything*.
At home, Emily sat beside Sophie, who was quietly building with blocks.
“Sweetheart, lets talk.”
“Bout what?” Sophie mumbled.
“Mrs. Thompson said you hit Liam.”
Sophies lip trembled. “He said Grannys *never* coming cos you chased her away! I said hes a liar, but he *laughed*!”
Emily pulled her close.
“Oh, darling. Nobody chased Granny. Grown-ups just disagree sometimes.”
“But *why* wont she come?”
Emily hesitated. How could she explain what *she* didnt fully understand?
Sophies eyes welled up. “Mum, can we *go* to Grannys? On the bus, like before?”
Emilys heart ached at the hope in her daughters face.
“Alright,” she whispered. “Lets call her.”
The phone rang too long. When Anne finally answered, Emilys mouth went dry.
“Anne? Its Emily.”
Silence. Then, stiffly: “Yes?”
“Sophies birthdays soon. Shes been asking for you”
“Ill phone my greetings.”
“But she *wants* you here!”
“And you?” Anne asked suddenly.
Emily faltered.
“I I do too. Anne, lets talk properly. No shouting, no grudges.”
Another pause.
“Put Sophie on.”
“Granny!” Sophie shrieked. “Granny, when are you coming? I can read a *whole book* now!”
Emily only caught snippets, but Sophies face fell.
“But I *want* you at my party! All my friends ask where you are Why cant you come? Whats grown-up problems?”
Sophie handed the phone back, lip quivering.
“Granny wants to talk to you.”
“Emily,” Anne said wearily, “Sophie shouldnt suffer because of us.”
“I know.”
“Then tell mewhat do I do thats so *wrong*? Why cant you stand me?”
Emily leaned her forehead against the wall.
“Its not that. But you dont *trust* me as a mother. The advice, the criticismit makes me feel like Im failing.”
“I just want to help! I raised David”
“And hes *my* child!” Emilys voice cracked. “*Mine*. I get to raise her *my* way.”
“You do. But I get to *care*.”
Emily took a shaky breath.
“Anne, when you correct me, it hurts. Im trying *so hard*.”
A long silence. Then, quietly:
“I only want the best for her too. Maybe we just see best differently.”
“Maybe.”
“Emily if I visit, and try to step back could you try to be less bristly?”
Emily felt something unclench in her chest.
“I can try.”
“Then Ill come. Just for two days.”
“Thank you, Anne.”
“Dont. *I* should thank you. For not keeping Sophie from me.”
When Emily hung up, Sophie was staring at her.
“Mum? Is Granny coming?”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“And you wont be cross with her?”
“Ill *try* not to be.”
Sophie hugged her fiercely.
“And Ill be *so good* so you wont argue!”
That night, telling David about the call, Emily felt oddly at peace.
“Maybe we *were* both wrong,” she admitted. “I overreacted. Your mum overstepped.”
“Shes never known how to dial it back,” David said.
“And Ive never been good at sharing the reins.”
“Dyou think thisll work?”
“I dont know. But for Sophies sake we have to try.”
On Sophies birthday, Anne arrived with a massive cake and a small bouquet for Emily.
“We didnt invite her,” Emily murmured automaticallythen smiled and added, louder, “But were *so* glad youre here.”
Anne handed her the flowers.
“Lets start over. Ill stick to being Granny.”
“And Ill work on not biting your head off.”
Sophie barrelled into Annes arms.
“Granny! You *came*! I thought you didnt love me anymore!”
Annes voice wobbled. “Silly girl. How could I *not* love you?”
Watching them, Emily realisedtheyd kept the important part: the love. They just had to learn *new ways* to show it.
The party went smoother than expected. Anne bit back advice; Emily bit back retorts. Sophies joy was enough.
As Anne left, she squeezed Emilys hand.
“Thank you. For the second chance.”
“Thank *you*. For loving Sophie.”
“*Our* Sophie,” Anne correctedand smiled.
For the first time in years, Emily dared to hope they might *actually* feel like family.
