I was jolted awake by a clatter and saw my motherinlaw digging around my chest of drawers.
Come on, Mum, stop it! Davids voice echoed through the flat. Were adults, well sort ourselves out!
Emily froze by the cooker, a ladle clenched in her hand. David had been arguing with his mother for the past twenty minutes, and there seemed no end in sight.
Im your mother! Margaret stood in the middle of the kitchen, arms crossed over her chest. And I have a right to know where youre spending your money!
Mum, Im thirtyfive, I have a wife and a child! What business is it of yours how much I earn or where I put it?
Because I can see somethings off! Yesterday you came home and the fridge was bare. Emily must have forgotten to go to the shop again!
Emilys skin flushed at the mention of her name. She turned to Margaret.
The fridge isnt empty, I just havent been to the market yet. I was planning to go this evening.
Evening, you say, Margaret snorted. You sit at home all day and you cant even buy basic groceries!
Im not at home, Im on maternity leave! Little Lucy is only eight months old!
In my day we stayed at home too, but the house was spotless and we boiled stew for my husband every night!
David ran a hand across his face.
Mum, please, dont start again.
Im not starting, Im telling the truth! Look at her shes a mess, slopping around in her dressing gown all morning!
Emily felt heat rise in her cheeks. She was indeed in a cotton gown, hair tied in a loose knot. But wasnt that expected? Shed fed the baby, washed the laundry, hung the sheets, cooked breakfast there was no time left for herself.
Margaret, perhaps you should go home? she said as calmly as she could. Youve got your own errands.
My business is looking after my son! I cant be the one who raised you wrong!
Mum, thats enough, go! David grabbed his motherinlaw by the elbow. Please, dont make this harder.
Margaret flung her arm away, snatched her handbag from the table.
Fine, Im leaving. But remember, David, I see whats going on in this house, and sooner or later youll have to face it yourself!
She stormed out, slamming the door behind her. David stood in the kitchen, breathing heavily.
Sorry, Em, he said wearily. She kept ringing from the morning and then showed up unannounced.
Its alright, Emily replied, returning to the stove. Im used to it.
But getting used to it was impossible. Margaret had been meddling since the day they were married. She critiqued everything how Emily cooked, how she cleaned, what she wore, how she raised Lucy. She appeared without warning, inspected the fridge, peered into cupboards.
David defended his wife, but only weakly. He couldnt be harsh with his own mother. Emily endured it. What else could she do?
Theyd been married four years. Theyd met at the factorys accounts department David was a team leader, Emily a junior accountant. He courted her with flowers and dinner dates. She fell in love for the first time in her life.
From the start Margaret never liked her. At their first meeting she examined Emily from head to toe and muttered, Well, Denis chose a modest one. Id have hoped for someone else. What someone else was, Emily never learned.
After the wedding the nitpicking began. Margaret turned up with inspections, finding dust in corners, underseasoned soup, dishes left unwashed. She lectured on how a proper wife should love her husband and run a household.
David initially protested, then gave up. Hed shake his head and say, Cant help it, Mums like that.
But how could he ignore it when Margaret called every day? She asked what was for dinner, what she fed David, why he looked tired, implying she was a bad wife who didnt look after her man.
When Emily became pregnant, things worsened. Margaret monitored every step what she ate, which vitamins she took, how often she saw the doctor. After Lucy was born, Margaret practically moved in, coming daily to teach how to swaddle, bottlefeed and rock the baby.
Emily endured it for Davids sake, for the family, but she was running out of strength.
One night, when Lucy finally fell asleep, Emily curled up on the sofa next to David.
Dave, this is getting too much, she confessed. Your mum has no sense of boundaries.
I know, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. But what can we do? She lives alone, shes lonely.
You can be lonely without invading other peoples lives.
Were not strangers. Im her son.
And I am who?
David sighed.
Emily, lets not argue. Im exhausted.
Emily fell silent. He was tired she was too, after a full day of baby care, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and then Margarets complaints. Yet David had work and stress, so he couldnt see her exhaustion.
She got up, went to the kitchen, finished her cold supper, washed the dishes, checked that Lucy was still sleeping soundly, then returned to the bedroom.
David was already asleep. Emily lay down beside him, pulled the quilt up, closed her eyes, but sleep would not come. Thoughts of Margarets sharp words swirled in her head, and the certainty that the next morning the motherinlaw would be back.
She woke to a rustle. The clock read half past five in the morning, and the room was still dark.
A faint shuffling came from the bedroom. It wasnt Lucy the baby was still in her cot nor David, who lay still.
Emily propped herself up on her elbow. The noise seemed to come from the chest of drawers in the corner, where she kept underwear, papers and odds and ends.
In the dim light she saw a figure hunched over an open drawer, rummaging through her things.
Her heart leapt. It was Margaret, rummaging through Emilys chest of drawers at sixoclock in the morning.
Emily sat up, eyes fixed on the intruder, her pulse pounding. Margaret? What are you doing? she managed.
Margaret snapped upright, a flash of surprise in her eyes that quickly hardened into composure.
Oh, youre awake, she said brightly. Didnt want to wake you.
What are you doing in my drawer?
Looking for some napkins. My nose is stuffy, I need to blow my nose.
There are napkins in the kitchen, not in the bedroom.
I didnt know, Margaret snapped the drawer shut. I thought Id have a look.
Emily stepped closer, staring straight at her. How did you even get into the flat?
I have a set of keys. David gave them to me when Lucy was born, just in case.
And you thought sixinthemorning was a good time to use them?
Im an early riser. Wanted to help with the granddaughter so you could get some rest.
Help by rifling through my underwear?
Margaret straightened, a defensive posture taking over.
I wasnt digging! I was just looking for napkins!
What napkins? You were poking about in my lingerie!
Who do you think you are, speaking to me like that?
David stirred, halfawake, and sat up.
Whats happening? he muttered.
Ask your mother! Emily snapped. She showed up at six in the morning and is rummaging through my things!
David rubbed his eyes.
Mum? What are you doing here?
I wanted to help, Margaret whined. And now youre calling me a thief!
I never called you a thief! I asked what you were doing in my drawer!
Looking for napkins!
What napkins?! Emily burst out. Do you think Im an idiot? Youre deliberately rummaging through my personal belongings!
Lucy began wailing from the next room, startled by the shouting. Emily scooped the baby up, soothing her. Shh, love, its alright.
In the bedroom the argument continued. David tried to mediate, Margaret defended herself, Emily kept repeating that she had seen her motherinlaw search through her underwear.
After a few minutes, Margaret sat on the edge of the bed. I really was just looking for napkins, she said, her tone softer. I thought they might be on the nightstand.
There were my underwear in that drawer! Emily cried. How does that make sense?
It was dark, Margaret whispered. I couldnt see.
Dont lie! Emily snapped. You came here to spy on me!
David stood, his voice rising. Enough! Both of you, shut up!
Lucys cries grew louder. Emily clutched her tighter and fled to the kitchen, shaking as she prepared a bottle.
Later, when David returned from work, he found Emily still awake, staring out the window, the baby asleep on her shoulder.
Did you talk to your mum? he asked.
She said she was looking for napkins, that shed be more careful, Emily replied, her voice flat.
Do you really believe that? David asked.
Its what she told me.
He sighed, pouring himself a cup of tea. Emily, Im not taking sides. But we need to set some boundaries.
She nodded, tears forming. I just want my privacy respected.
The next day, after the baby was asleep, Emily turned the lock on the chest of drawers, checked every compartment, making sure nothing was missing. Nothing was gone, but the violation lingered.
She called her own mother back in Manchester.
Its not normal, love, her mother said. You need to put a stop to it.
What if David protects his mother?
Then have a serious talk with him. Explain it cant continue.
Maybe I should change the locks?
Exactly. He wont like it, but you deserve a space you can call your own.
Emily hesitated, fearing a family rift.
That evening she found David in the living room, watching TV. She sat down opposite him.
David, we need to talk about Margaret.
What about her? he asked, not looking up.
About this morning. She was in my drawer.
He sighed. Weve been through this already.
No, we havent. You brushed it off.
I was trying to keep the peace.
Peace isnt peace when my privacy is invaded.
David stared at the screen, then turned off the TV.
Fine. Ill talk to my mother.
The next morning he called Margaret.
Emilys right, he told her. You cant just walk into our flat at fiveoclock and snoop around.
Margaret was silent for a moment. Im sorry, I didnt realise it upset you so much.
I need you to stop coming over unannounced, Emily said later on the phone. And please return the spare key.
Margaret agreed, promising to call first and to leave the napkins in the kitchen.
A few weeks later, Margaret arrived for Lucys first birthday, this time politely invited. She brought a modest present, greeted Emily with a smile, and left without lingering.
Emily thanked her at the door. I appreciate the apology and the effort to change.
Thank you for giving me a chance, Margaret replied, wiping a tear. I was scared of losing my son.
They shared a brief, tentative conversation and left on better terms.
Over the following months the tension eased. Margaret only visited when asked, helping with Lucy occasionally, but never prying. Emily still kept the spare key hidden, only for emergencies. David learned to balance his loyalty to his mother with his commitment to his wife.
The whole chestofdrawers incident taught Emily that she must defend her boundaries, even when it pains her, otherwise shell be trampled. And once those limits are respected, healthier relationships can grow.
If this tale strikes a chord, Id love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to comment and follow for more stories.
