“I dont have a spare room,” said my daughter when I arrived with my bags.
“Mum, did you pack everything? Didnt forget your documents?” Emma nervously fiddled with the strap of her handbag, standing by the kitchen window.
“Do I look that old to you?” Margaret waved her off, checking the contents of her suitcase for the third time. “Passports here, money, medicine… Oh, I forgot my dressing gown! Emma, wheres my blue one?”
“In the wardrobe. Mum, do you really need it? Charlotte probably has something to lend you.”
Margaret paused, studying her daughter carefully.
“Emma, love, Im not just staying for a night. Charlotte invited me for a proper visitto get away from the city. Fresh air, the river nearby. You said yourself it would do me good.”
“I did, I did…” Emma turned back to the window. “I just didnt know then that Daniel would lose his job again. Third time this year.”
Her mother stepped closer, resting a hand on Emmas shoulder.
“You never told me. What happened?”
“Whats there to tell? A new boss came in, wanted to refresh the team. Daniel was the first to go. Experience didnt matterthey wanted younger blood, cheaper labour.”
Margaret shook her head and sat on the stool.
“Thats hard on you both. Maybe I should stay? Help somehow”
“No, Mum. Go. Charlottes expecting you, shes got everything ready.” Emma turned, forcing a smile that didnt reach her eyes. “Youll rest properly. Come back refreshed.”
Margaret opened her mouth to reply, but the phone rang.
“Hello? Mum? Its Charlotte! Are you coming? Ive aired out the room, fresh sheets and everything!”
“Im on my way, love. Emmas taking me to the station now.”
“Brilliant! I was starting to worry. Mum, Ive missed you so much! You wont believe how lovely it is hereapple trees in bloom, the airs just divine. A world away from that city smog.”
“Lovely, Charlotte. See you soon.”
Margaret hung up and glanced at Emma.
“See how excited she is? Hasnt seen me in six months.”
“Right. Excited.” Emma grabbed the car keys. “Come on, Mum, youll miss your train.”
The drive passed in silence. Margaret tried to speak several times, but Emma answered in monosyllables, as if lost in thought.
“Emma, maybe I *should* stay? I can tell youre struggling.”
“Mum, stop. Its fine. Daniels been out of work beforehell find something.”
“And the money? How will you manage?”
Emma braked sharply at the traffic light.
“Well manage. Ive got my salary, hell get benefits. We wont starve.”
“But the mortgage”
“Mum, *please*. Stay out of it. Were adultswell sort it.”
Margaret sighed and looked away. Unease settled in her chest. Emma had never been so sharp with her. Something was wrongsomething serious.
At the station, as Margaret boarded the train, Emma suddenly hugged her tightly.
“Sorry, Mum. Im just… wound up. Nerves shot.”
“I understand, love. Call me if you need me. Ill come straight back.”
“Have a good rest. Say hi to Charlotte for me.”
The train pulled away, and Margaret waved from the window until Emma vanished from sight.
Charlotte met her at the station with a bouquet of lilacs and a beaming smile.
“Mum! Youre here!” She pulled Margaret into a tight embrace. “How was the journey? Not too tired?”
“Perfectly fine. Look at you, Charlotte! So tanned, so rosy-cheeked.”
“Country air. Better than choking on city fumes. Come on, Ill show you the houseyou havent seen it yet!”
The house was lovelysmall but cosy, with a sprawling garden and a view of the river. Charlotte gave a proud tour, pointing out new furniture, fresh paint.
“This is your room,” she said, opening the door to a sunlit space with two windows. “See? Sun in the morning, river views at dusk.”
“Its beautiful, love. Wheres James?”
“Still at work. Hell be home tonightthrilled to see you. Keeps asking when youll bake your famous pies again.”
“Ill bake him a dozen, dont worry.” Margaret sat on the bed, glancing around. “Its so peaceful here.”
“We love it. James has a good job, I do bits of work too. Were thinking of starting a family soon.”
“Wonderful! About time I had grandchildren.”
Charlotte sat beside her, taking her hand.
“Mum… hows Emma? She sounded off when I called.”
“Troubles, love. Daniel lost his job again. Moneys tight.”
“*Again*? But hes brilliant at what he does!”
“Just bad luck, I suppose. Emmas taking it hard.”
Charlotte bit her lip. “Maybe they should move here? Plenty of work, cheaper housing. I could ask James”
“I dont know, love. Theyre city people. And their flat… the mortgage isnt paid off.”
“Right. Tricky…” Charlotte stood. “Rest now, Mum. Ill start dinner. James wont be long.”
That evening, James was delighted to see Margaret. They drank tea on the porch, chatting until the stars came out. For the first time in months, Margaret felt the weight lift. Here, in this quiet place, among kind faces, her soul could breathe.
A week passed. Margaret helped in the garden, explored the village, read books by the river. She called Emma daily, but the conversations were clipped, tense.
“How are you, love?”
“Fine, Mum. Daniels had a few interviews. Might hear back soon.”
“And you? Not overdoing it?”
“Exhausted. But Ill manage.”
“Emma, maybe I should come back? I can tell youre”
“No, Mum. Stay. Charlotte went to so much trouble.”
“But if you need help”
“Mum. *Stop*. Its fine.”
Yet Margaret couldnt shake the worry. Emmas voice grew thinner, frayed at the edges. The last call ended with stifled sobs, quickly brushed off as “just tired.”
“Charlotte, I think Ill go home,” Margaret said at breakfast on the second week. “Somethings not right with Emma.”
“Mum, youve barely settled in! I planned tripstheres a lovely museum nearby, and we havent even been to the river proper!”
“I know, love. But my guts telling me Emmas in trouble.”
Charlotte sighed, setting down her cup.
“Alright. If youre sure, Ill ask James to drive you.”
The journey back was agony. Margarets phone calls went unanswered. The flats hallway felt darker, the lift louder. At the door, her key wouldnt turnthe latch was bolted from inside.
“Emma! Love, its me!” She knocked.
Silence. Then footsteps.
“Mum? Youre supposed to be at Charlottes”
“Open the door, darling.”
When it swung open, Margaret barely recognised her daughterhollow-eyed, gaunt, cheeks streaked with tears.
“Emma! Whats happened?”
“Nothing. Just… tired.”
Inside, the flat felt wrong. Suitcases lined the hall, papers littered the table.
“Emma, whats going on? Wheres Daniel?”
Emma collapsed onto the sofa, face in her hands.
“Mum, I didnt know how to tell you. Didnt want to ruin your trip.”
“Tell me *now*.”
“Daniel left. For good. Said we were dragging each other down. Moved in with a mate.”
Margaret sat beside her, pulling her close.
“Oh, my girl… I thought it was just the job.”
“That too. Doesnt matter now.” Emma looked up. “Mum, Im selling the flat. Cant cover the mortgage alone. Buyers are lined upsigning next week.”
“Where will you *live*?”
“Rent a room somewhere.”
Margaret swallowed hard. Then:
“Come to me. My flats small, but”
“Mum, yours is a *studio*. Where would I *sleep*?”
“The sofa, for now. Well figure it out.”
Emma shook her head.
“I wont cramp you. And works too far from yours.”
“What about Charlottes? She said theres work there”
“No. I wont be a burden.”
They sat in silence, holding each other as the light faded. Sometimes words werent neededjust presence, warmth.
The next day, they sorted the paperwork. The buyers were decent, in a hurry but fair. Emma signed with visible relief.
“Feels lighter already,” she admitted on the way home. “Like a weights gone. Mortgage cleared, a bit left over. Enough to start fresh.”
“And then what?”
“Ill land on my feet. Maybe… maybe I *will* try Charlottes. She called again last nightkeeps insisting.”
“Go, love. Clean air, good people. Works there.”
Emma stopped mid-step.
“Come with me?”
“Me? What for? My lifes heremy flat, my GP, the library volunteers…”
“But youll be *lonely*.”
Margaret smiled.
“Ill manage. Ive got my routines. And Ill visit often.”
On moving day, Margaret helped pack. Emma took only essentialsclothes, documents, a few treasured trinkets.
“Rest can be sold or donated,” she said, surveying the near-empty flat. “Fresh start, fresh things.”
“Thats the spirit.”
At the station, Emma broke down.
“Mum, Im sorry. For snapping, for hiding things. I was *ashamed*”
“Hush. Life isnt over. Its *beginning*.” Margaret held her tight. “Go. Charlottes thrilled, James will help. Ill visit soon.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart.”
The train carried Emma away. Margaret waved until it vanished, then walked home slowly. The empty flat was quiet, bittersweet but not bleak. Shed done the right thingnot smothered, not clung.
A week later, Emma called, voice bright.
“Mum, guess what? Ive got a job! Local school needed a history teacher. The deputy took one look at my CV and hired me on the spot!”
“Marvellous! And the room?”
“Staying with Charlotte for now. She says theres no rushtheir place is huge.”
“Charlottes always had a big heart.”
“Yeah. And Mum? Ive slept better this week than in *years*. Its… peaceful here. Maybe its where I belong.”
Margaret hung up, smiling. Emma would be alright. And she? Shed stay in her own world, content knowing both daughters had found their footing.
That night, she wrote to Charlottethanking her for taking Emma in, for kindness without questions. Sometimes the greatest help was simply *being there*.
The next morning, Margaret called a travel agent and browsed seaside cottages. At her age, new beginnings were possible tooa freer, brighter chapter. The children had their paths. Now it was her turn.
No spare rooms, no spare people in life. Just time and place, each to their own. A parents wisdom lay in knowing when to let go.
