Why are you giving him this grandmother?
Youre a fascinating woman! First you invited your grandson for the whole summer, we planned everything, and now you say dont bring him? What are we supposed to do?
The phones speaker crackled with the daughterinlaws outrage. Margaret held the smartphone a few inches from her ear, so she could hear every word without shouting.
Eleanor, your plans are your business. You never consulted me, and now
You were the one who begged us to bring Sam to you! Eleanor cut her off, voice sharp. I dont understand you at all. What kind of grandmother are you? You cant take your grandson in, you cant even drive him to the cottage. Youve never brought him any berries, you just haul crates into your house! And why does he need a grandmother like you when theres a perfectly fine one elsewhere?
Margaret winced, exhaling sharply, hand pressed to her chest. She understood the subtext: either take the boy, or never see him again. A low, underhanded blackmail. Eleanor had a point if you looked at the facts, but she was turning the whole situation upside down.
It started with the cottage Margaret had once hoped to use for Sam. It was basicno indoor bathroom, an outdoor loo, a summeronly shower, a modest grill where she and her late husband once roasted meat. The plastic chairs and table were simple, but to Margaret they felt cosy in a plain, honest way.
When Andrew, her son, announced he wanted to visit the cottage with his girlfriend, Margaret grew uneasy.
She knew Eleanor only superficiallypretty, wellkept, selfconfident, with a trace of spoiled entitlement. Eleanor always looked down on everything and everyone, as if constantly judging. At their first meeting the future daughterinlaw roamed Margarets house without invitation, like a strict inspector. Margaret didnt like it, but she obliged, giving her a tour of her porcelain figurines and family photo albums.
Andy, the ideas nice but are you sure Eleanor will like it? Its one thing for youyou grew up at that cottage. Eleanor, I think, isnt used to that sort of thing, Margaret said cautiously when her son eagerly shared his weekend plans.
Ill explain everything to her. Shes been saying she wants a country break for ages. And this place its perfect, Andrew replied.
Margaret sighed, refusing to argue. She feared people would think she didnt want them there. Better to say yes than refuse outright.
She spent two days preparing: cleaning, baking pies, pulling out the special larder reserves saved for rare occasions. Anxiety gnawed at her, but the anticipation of a joyful reunion eclipsed the bad omens.
From the first moment, things went wrong. Eleanor stepped out of the car in a white dress and skyhigh heels, glanced around, and squinted disdainfully. Her face darkened instantly.
Is this a toilet? she asked, pointing with a flick of her finger.
Well yes. Its outside, but its clean, just like a proper one, Margaret replied, her smile stretched thin.
Oh, a true communion with nature, in every sense, Eleanor replied sarcastically.
The nightmare deepened.
Its horrendous it feels like weve been thrown back to the Stone Age, she complained to Andrew. Did you really wash yourself in a bucket as a child? There are so many mosquitos you might as well stay in the car! And the smelldisgusting.
Thats just the neighbours chickens. Nothing to worry about, Andrew shrugged.
Eleanors shrieks filled the air, and Margaret heard every one. She felt humiliated. She hadnt invited Eleanor; shed prepared everything, only to be met with a verbal spit in the face.
Maybe shell get used to it, Margaret thought. The daughterinlaw and her son lived far away, a days drive, so they had planned to stay the whole weekend.
But Eleanor didnt last a day. After another mosquito bite, she swatted wildly and headed for the car.
Enough! Either you drive me home or Im calling a cab, she snapped at Andrew. You cant live like this!
Andrew didnt argue. He hurriedly said goodbye to his mother and awkwardly slunk away behind Eleanor.
I didnt realise it would be so hard for her he muttered, embarrassed.
Margaret tried to blame it on habit and unfamiliarity. She, too, struggled to adapt to the new lifestyle. Yet she didnt throw tantrums or slam doors. It was Andrews choice to live with this woman.
Six years later, Eleanor and Andrew were married, with a son, Sam. Their contact with Margaret was strained, but she still hoped to build a bond with her grandson. They lived in different towns, yet she believed there would be a way.
Eleanor, could you bring Sam over? Margaret asked one afternoon. I have a garden, a river nearby, fresh air. He could get a years worth of vitamins.
Where would we bring him? To this filthy place? Hed be better off staying at home, Eleanor sneered. You could send the vitamins yourself. You bragged about having so many cherries you didnt know what to do with them. At least you could have handed them over once this summer.
The remark cut Margaret to the core, but she didnt argue. It was ridiculous to expect a city girl to haul cherries in the heat for a whole day. Neighbouring children got used to the same conditions quickly. She simply wanted to see her grandson.
That had been last year. By now everything had changed dramatically.
Margarets life was now half spent in hospitals, dripstations, and endless clinic queues. The other half was bound by strict medical restrictions. She had just undergone heart surgery, and the doctor warned her against any heat or heavy lifting.
Take this seriously, the doctor said. Your heart needs protection. No strenuous activity, just light walks.
The most painful part was that Andrew never visited her, not even while she lay in the ward. They called occasionally, but that was all. Margaret saw her friend Valerie more often than her own son. Valerie, in fact, had helped her financially. When Valerie learned the cottage was now offlimits, she offered a lifeline:
Listen, I can speak to them for you. They wanted to get away for the summer, but their holiday budget is peanuts. The seaside isnt cheap either. Ill sort something out, no strings attached. Itll be good for you, and theyll get a bit of countryside rest.
Margaret accepted gratefully. In her condition, every penny counted.
Just as she began to regain her footing, Eleanor finally softened. When the young couple made new plans, the cottages squalor seemed irrelevant.
Eleanor, I suggested this a year ago, Margaret said. Plans are great; I had plans for this summer too, but life intervened. I cant go to the cottage nowmy surgery was two months ago.
Two months? People start marathons in that time! Youre lucky you can just sit at home and retire. Some of us still have to work, Eleanor snapped. If you cant take Sam to the cottage, just bring him to your flat.
From one city flat to another? Whats the point?
The point is that Andrew and I could finally have a proper break! Since birth weve never had a day alone with Sam. You kept shouting you wanted to see your grandson. Here, finally, you can!
Eleanor, are you even listening? A child needs constant attention, and I can barely move around the house.
Admit youre just lazy, Eleanor jabbed.
Margaret hung up, feeling the argument dissolve into exhaustion. She was alone; if she fell ill, would Eleanor ever come to look after her? Of course not.
That evening Andrew called, apologising for Eleanors behaviour and gently asking if there was any chance they could still take Sam to stay with him. The plea made Margarets eyes swell as if she were a small child hurt by neglect.
Andrew did you tell Eleanor Id had surgery? she burst out. How could you know and still dump Sam on me without asking?
Andrew fell silent. The silence pressed on Margaret like a weight.
Mum I said you were ill, but I didnt realise it was that serious.
Ill, didnt know the words struck her like a blow. He seemed indifferent to her pain, not even trying to understand when she told him she could barely climb a flight of stairs.
I see, she whispered.
Three days of oppressive quiet followed. It felt as if, by refusing the couple help, she had become invisible, forgotten by everyone. Even Andrew stopped sending evening texts to ask about her day.
On the fourth day Valerie called, just in time.
Shall we break into your cottage? My mates wont be there until the weekend. Its a cool day, lets have tea, chat.
Lets do it, Margaret replied, her heart clawing for any human contact.
They brewed tea, opened a box of pastries Valerie had brought. Conversation flowed, and Margaret poured out everything.
What can I say you understand. They have their own lives now. Dont tear yourself apart, live as you can. At least Im here for you. Maybe youll find an old chap to share evenings with, or finally focus on yourself. Health is precious; you wont get it back, and theyll never give you peace.
Margaret sighed, pulling the pastry box closer. Pain still lingered, but she finally knew she was doing the right thingno longer bending to others demands at the expense of her health. Life, with its highs and lows, would go on, even without them.
