My husband left me. My motherinlaw heard of it and turned up at my door.
He had taken the modest savings we had been squirreling away for a home and bolted. I was left in a rented flat in Leeds with my halfyearold daughter, Emily. When my motherinlaw, Eleanor, learned what had happened she came over and said,
Pack a bag, love. You and the little one can stay with me.
I tried to refuse. For years Eleanor and I had been at odds, each of us never hearing a kind word from the other. When George fled, she was the only one who reached out. My own mother, Margaret, told me there was no room for me in her house. My older sister, Helen, also objected; she lived with her children at her mothers, and my mother spent her life dancing around the kitchen as if it were a ballroom.
Thank you. Ill be ever grateful for your hospitality, I muttered.
It was the first time Id ever said thank you to Eleanor.
Dont be daft! Youre not a stranger, she replied, scooping up Emily in her arms. Come on, love. Let your mum get ready and we wont be a bother. Will you move in with your gran, dear? Of course you will. Gran will tell you stories, take you for walks, braid your hair.
Listening to the soft rumble of her voice, I could hardly believe my ears. She had always warned me never to get near my bachelors quarters.
I packed my bag and we moved in with Eleanor. She set up a large bedroom for us while she took the smaller one herself. I blinked in astonishment as she said,
Whats the matter? The child needs space; shell be crawling soon enough. I dont need much room. Make yourselves at home. Dinner will be ready in an hour.
For supper she offered steamed vegetables and boiled meat, adding,
Youre a nursing mother, so if you wish I can fry something, but a light diet is better for the baby. Its up to you.
The fridge was stocked with rows of baby jars.
Time to try new flavours, dont you think? If little Emily isnt happy with this lot, well buy something else. Speak up, dont be shy, Eleanor smiled.
At that moment I broke down in tears. Her unexpected kindness moved me to the core. No one had ever cared for me and my daughter as she did, the woman Id always regarded as my chief adversary. She pulled me close and said,
Hush now, girl, hush. Men are puzzling creatures. I raised your husband alone after his father left when he was eight months old. I wont let my granddaughter grow up like that. Thats enough, youve wept enough. Pull yourself together!
Through my sobs I managed to tell Eleanor I had never expected such generosity and thanked her,
Thank you, truly. If it werent for you I dont know where Emily and I would have turned up.
She replied, Im the one to blame for raising a reckless son. Ill try to mend what I can. Come, wash your face and off to bed. Tomorrow will be brighter.
We celebrated Emilys first birthday togetherjust the three of us, Eleanor, our beloved gran and guardian angel. We laid Emily down for her afternoon nap, sipped tea and nibbled cake when the doorbell rang. Eleanor went to answer.
Mum, meet Lucy. Lucy, this is my mother. Mum, could we stay with you for a while? I cant afford a flat, Ive lost my job.
Hearing Georges voice, my skin went pale. I feared Eleanor would let them in and throw me and Emily out. Tears sprang to my eyes.
Get out! Take your girl and go. You robbed your wife and child and left us penniless. This is the life youve earned. Leave now. And you, Lucy, watch outhe could leave you high and dry too.
I had been terribly wrong about Eleanor. She became more than a second mother; she was the first. We lived under the same roof for six years, until I married again. At my wedding she stood in the place traditionally reserved for the brides mother. Emily now attends school, and a little grandson is on the way. Eleanor beams at the thought of a greatgrandchild, her heart full of joy.
