My mother-in-law thought I’d support her out of fear after the divorce, but she had no idea I had other plans entirely.
Lara stared at the elderly woman standing on her doorstep, suitcase in hand, and couldnt believe her eyes. Evelyn Carter, her former mother-in-law, looked as though shed simply popped round for a cuppa with an old friend.
“Lara, darling,” she began in that drawn-out tone, “Ive nowhere else to go. Daniels moved that whats her name Olivia into his place. And I dont want to intrude on the young lovers, do I? Theyre building their future, and whats an old woman like me to do? Youll let me stay a while, wont you?”
Lara stepped aside without a word. What could she say? Turn a sixty-year-old woman out onto the street? Yes, the divorce had been painful. Yes, Daniel had turned out to be the kind of man who, after twelve years of marriage, suddenly “found himself” in the arms of a twenty-five-year-old colleague. But what did any of that have to do with his mother?
“Evelyn,” Lara said quietly as she closed the door, “I dont understand. You have your own flat. Why do you need to stay here?”
“Oh, love,” Evelyn sighed, sinking onto the sofa and loosening her shoelaces, “you know how cramped my little place is. This is so much betterspace, fresh air. Daniel said youre rattling around in this two-bedder all alone. Whats the harm in letting an old woman stay?”
Lara clenched her fists. Of course Daniel had said that. How convenientnew girlfriend moved in, mother dumped on the ex-wife. And no one cared how she felt.
“Its just temporary,” Evelyn repeated, already unbuttoning her coat. “Just until I sort something out.”
For the first week, Lara tried to be understanding. She made breakfast for two, bought the “urgently needed” prescriptions Evelyn demanded, tidied up after her in silence. Evelyn wasnt the tidiest housematedirty dishes piled in the sink, clothes strewn about, telly blaring late into the night.
“Lara, sweetheart,” Evelyn said one morning, “my pensions barely enough. Could you spare a bit for groceries? And my blood pressure tablets. Im completely skint.”
Wordlessly, Lara opened her purse and handed over fifty quid. Then another thirty for a “new heart supplement.” Then twenty for “a little treat with tea.”
“Evelyn,” Lara ventured cautiously a month later when yet another request left her wallet nearly empty, “maybe we should live within our means? Im not exactly rolling in it either.”
Evelyn spun around, eyes flashing. Lara knew that lookthe prelude to a spectacular row.
“What did you just say?” Evelyns voice shot up an octave. “Live within our means? How dare you! I welcomed you into this family like my own daughter! Twelve years I treated you as one of my own! And now youre throwing pennies in my face?”
“Im not throwing anything, I just”
“What do you know about sacrifice, childless as you are!” Evelyn shrieked, waving her arms. “I raised my son alone after his father passed! Worked three jobs! And now you grudge me money for my heart pills? Ill tell the neighbours what youre really likeungrateful!”
Lara endured the scene in silence. And the next one. And the one after that, over an “unsuitable” dinner. Evelyn was a master of theatricshours of shouting, neighbours drawn in, accusations of every sin under the sun.
After the latest performance, Lara dialled Daniel.
“Dan, come and get your mother. Please.”
“Lara, come on. Im trying to build a life here. Mums already upset about the divorce. And youve got all that spacewhats the harm?”
“The harm is my money, my nerves, and my peace.”
“Dont be dramatic. Shes elderlyshe needs support. Youve got the means to help, so help.”
The dial tone buzzed in her ear. Hed hung up.
Sitting at the kitchen table, Lara realised shed had enough. Evelyn acted like she owned the place, threw tantrums over nothing, demanded money without a second thought.
“My mother-in-law thought Id support her out of fear, but she had no idea I had other plans entirely,” Lara thought, staring out at the grey February courtyard.
The next morning, while Evelyn was at the GPs, Lara called a locksmith. The locks were changed in an hour.
That evening, Evelyn returned from her usual strollshe loved moaning to shopkeepers about her troubles. But her key wouldnt turn.
“Lara! Lara, open up!” She banged on the door. “Whats this nonsense?”
Lara stepped onto the landing, calm as ever. “No nonsense, Evelyn. Pack your thingsIve called a cab.”
“What? Have you lost your mind? Where are you sending me?”
“Home. To your son. Where you belong.”
“But I cant! Olivias there! Its awkward!”
“And was it awkward for me?” Lara asked, watching Evelyns face harden, ready for battle.
“How dare you!” Evelyn screeched. “Im an old woman! My hearts bad! You cant do this!”
“I can. Its my flat.”
“Ill go to the neighbours! Tell them all what youre really like!”
“Tell them. I dont care anymore.”
The suitcase was packed quicklyEvelyn didnt own much. In the cab, she sat in seething silence, gripping her chest theatrically.
Outside Daniels building, Lara helped with the suitcase. Up to the third floor. The door opened to a bewildered ex-husband in joggers.
“Lara? Mum? Whats going on?”
“Whats going on is Im returning your mother,” Lara said, shoving the suitcase inside. “Evelyn no longer lives with me.”
Olivia appeareda pretty blonde in a dressing gown. Her face fell when she saw Evelyn.
“But Mum cant stay here!” Daniel protested. “Weve got were just”
“Building a new life,” Lara finished. “Lovely. Build it without me.”
“Lara, you dont understand,” Daniel said, as if explaining to a child. “Mum needs help. Shes elderly, unwell. Her pensions tiny.”
“Shes got a son. Let him help.”
“But Ive got a new family now!”
“And Ive got a new life. One that doesnt include your problems.”
Evelyn, silent until now, exploded:
“Daniel! You see how she treats me? Throws an old woman out! Heartless! I loved her like a daughter!”
“Mum, come on,” Daniel muttered, but Lara saw the panic in his eyes.
“If you want to abandon your mother, thats your conscience,” Lara said, turning to leave. “But no one from your family steps foot in my flat again. I wont open the door.”
“Lara, wait!” Daniel called after her.
But she was already down the stairs, ignoring the shrieks and protests behind her.
At home, Lara logged onto a travel site. The money shed saved for new furniture covered a two-week all-inclusive trip to Spain. Exactly what she needed after a month of Evelyn.
That evening, her phone rang. Daniel.
“Lara, how can you be so cruel? Mums in tears.”
“Let her cry in your flat.”
“But Olivia and I are just starting out! You understand, dont you?”
“I do. I understand these are your problems.”
“Lara, be reasonable. Well figure something out, but not now. Give us time.”
“You had time. A whole month while I supported your mother. Times up.”
She hung up and switched off her phone.
For three days, her phone buzzed nonstopDaniel, Evelyn, even unknown numbers. Probably Evelyns friends roped into the drama. Lara ignored them all.
On Thursday morning, she sipped coffee by the window, watching children play in the courtyard. The silence was bliss after a month of shouting and demands.
The doorbell rang. Olivia stood there, tear-stained.
“Lara, can we talk?”
“About what?”
“Evelyn. I know youve had a falling out, but”
“We didnt fall out. I set boundaries.”
“Shes difficult,” Olivia whispered. “She blames me for breaking up the family. Every day theres a scene. Daniels never home, and Im left with her. The things she says”
Lara almost smiled. A month ago, shed have pitied the girl, offered advice, maybe even helped. Now, she just watched her calmly.
“Thats your familys problem.”
“But maybe we could take
