Youve lost your mother, you hear? snapped Margaret, her voice cracking like a broken vase.
Forget you ever had a mum. After youre married, you wont bother me, act like I never existed, and I wont even cough up a penny for the wedding. If I didnt pick your wife, Im not footing any of this nonsense.
Sam felt like he was walking on clouds whenever his little boy, Finn, clutched him and said,
Mum, youre the best in the world. Ill do everything to keep that smile on your face.
Finn had no idea how those words flipped Sams heart upsidedown. He was proud to have raised such a wonderful lad, calling him his little angel. Golden curls, blue eyes, perfect little features the boy looked like hed walked straight out of a picturebook aristocracy. As Finn grew, Sam started scouting for the perfect future daughterinlaw. Shed need a solid family line, a tidy appearance, a slender figure, a university degree, flawless manners, and ideally a decent job at a respectable firm with some influence.
My son already has a flat in Kensington, Margaret would say. Now we need a proper lady to keep it immaculate. She must be ready to welcome guests at three in the morning, because thats what a wife and housekeeper does.
Time went on and Margarets demands got tougher.
No women over twentyfive, or youll end up with a frail, sickly child. And youd better be sure the babys Sams.
Margaret, have a bit of sense, relatives would sigh. No one your age will meet those standards. If you want Sam to settle down, drop the extra fuss or hell stay single forever.
Sam graduated with honours from both school and university, landed a wellpaid job, but love never seemed to stick. Every time he tried to introduce a girl to his mum, she found a thousand reasons to push the wouldbe daughterinlaw away. At each meeting shed tell Sam,
Sam, go fetch some fruit from the kitchen while we have a chat.
The first girl Sam met was Claire. She came from a modest background mum a clerk, dad a boilerroom operator, two younger brothers. Claire worked as a pharmacy assistant, which made Margaret nervous.
So shes always around medicines what if she poisons my son? Or me? No, shes out. And a family of laborers? Not what we need.
Sweetheart, you cant marry Sam, Margaret snapped when she and Claire had a moment alone. Youre too different. He grew up in a world you cant imagine. Better find someone more downtoearth.
Claire didnt need an explanation. She stood up silently and left without a word for Sam. When he asked why, she replied coolly,
Ask your mum. She raised you in a special bubble. She says Im too good for you, so Ill look for someone simpler.
Mum, why did you snap at Claire? I really like her. What did you tell her?
Son, youve forgotten something, Margaret said slowly. Im your mother, I know what makes you happy. Its not Claire, thats for sure. Where did you even find that sort of girl? As if there arent decent families out there.
Sam realised arguing with his mum was pointless and walked away. Hed occasionally mention a new girl, but never brought her to Margaret. Sometimes Margaret offered to help him find a wife, but Sam politely declined,
Ill sort out my own marriage.
I know exactly who youll pick, Margaret growled. Some cleaning lady with nothing on her mind but mops and cloths.
At least the floors would sparkle, Sam muttered with a grin.
Dont you talk to me like that! she snapped.
Sam retreated to his room. Eventually he moved out of his mothers flat and into a separate place that Margaret had been renting out.
His father, David, had left when Sam was six and theyd never spoken since. Recently David agreed to meet.
You know why I left Margaret? She wouldnt let me live my own life. She controlled everything where I went, what I did, who I saw. When I tried to spend time with you, shed shout I could never teach you anything proper because I lacked a degree. Why did she even try to raise a kid for me? I was just a beast of burden. After I realised I was wasting my life on a lunatic who never cared, I left, let her keep the alimony and the parental rights.
And youre happy about that? Sam frowned.
Why are you asking? David snapped. I bought you a flat, handed you the keys. Did she not tell you?
What? Sam blinked.
David repeated, I saved for ten years so youd have a place of your own. Dont ever go back to her, youll have no life. She doesnt think of anyone as a person.
Why didnt you talk to me before? Sam asked, hesitant.
I didnt want you to get into trouble. Margaret threatened to ship you off to another city, and Id lose sight of you. So I watched from afar.
Those words made Sam see his mother in a new light. He often said he wanted a partner who reminded him a bit of her. Margaret smirked, knowing hed never find anyone like her she was a oneinamillion, maybe a oneinabillion.
After Claire, Sam met a few more girls, but none passed Margarets gauntlet. Finally he gave his mother an ultimatum,
Either stop meddling in my life, or Ill stop speaking to you.
You ungrateful brat, Margaret fumed. Who do you think youre talking to? I gave you a home, an education. How dare you?
Mum, enough, Sam pleaded. I know who really paid for that flat. I spoke to dad, he told me everything.
And you believe him? she exploded. Not my own mother, but some loser?
If you want to call him a loser, fine hes my dad.
Margarets face turned a mottled shade. She stared at him with cold contempt and shut herself in her room. The next morning she didnt come down for breakfast. Sam knocked, heard a harsh shout,
Leave me alone and go pestering your pathetic dad!
Mum, why? Sam opened the door and stepped inside. She was on the bed, hair in disarray, dress rumpled, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was a stark contrast to her usual immaculate, perfumescented self.
You know what, son? she said slowly. Marry whoever you like, even a bloke with a penguinrhino mix. Just forget you ever had a mother. After the wedding you wont bother me, and I wont give you a penny for the ceremony. If I didnt pick your bride, I wont fund any of this farce.
Got it, Mum, Sam said with a cheeky bow and closed the door. That day he moved into his own flat.
Six months later he called Mum to a nice restaurant to tell her about his upcoming wedding.
Who is she? Margaret asked, bored.
She wont win you over, but I want you to know her name Emily. Shes twentysix, from a long line of doctors. Very respectable.
Oh, where does that confidence come from? Mum rolled her eyes. Show me a picture.
Sam pulled out his phone, showed her a photo. Margaret pursed her lips, shook her head disapprovingly.
And thats the future mother of my grandchildren? What a horror show.
The girl in the picture had an exotic look.
Thats not Emily, thats some Gulchatai, isnt it?
Emilys halfKorean, Sam explained patiently.
Even better, Mum snorted. Like a bulldogrhino hybrid.
Youll like her once you get to know her after the wedding, Sam grinned.
Margarets breath caught at his words.
After the wedding? Youre actually getting married? Just to spite me?
Why would I? Sam laughed, calling over the waitress to place the order. Its for my own happiness.
She sat there, stunned, trying to picture the grandchildren shed never get. The image was grim.
On the wedding day Sam gave Mum a stern warning,
No drama, alright? If Emily walks out because of you, Ill never forgive you.
Margaret kept her mouth shut, like a mouse under a stone. She watched, barely breathing, as her son and his radiant bride exchanged vows, laughed with guests, and danced the night away. The next morning the newlyweds brought a gift for Margaret, but she wouldnt let them in.
Listen, son, I did everything you asked. Now hear me out. Dont ever bring that mixedblood woman into my house again. Do you understand? You could have a thousand wives, but Im only one mother.
The couple left, and Margaret, in a fit of anger, tossed the gift into the bin.
I wont take a single thing from this halfbreed, she growled.
After that, Margaret fell ill often, and Emily started looking after her, hiring night and day carers so the old lady wouldnt be left alone. Margaret could never accept the daughterinlaw shed despised for daring to compare her to herself.
You said youd find someone like me. Wheres the resemblance? Margaret muttered, irritated that she now relied on Emilys help.
When the phone rang, she answered in a singsong tone,
Hello, Emily dear. How are you? My blood pressures a bit jumpy. Could you pop round and have a look?
And thats how it all went, Mum. The whole circus of expectations, fights and grudging acceptance just another English family drama, all wrapped up in a flat in Kensington and a poundsigned wedding budget.
