“Stay out of my family,” my son said before blocking my number.
“Mum, how many times? I’m a grown man!” Tom tugged at his hoodie strings, standing in the hallway with a bag slung over his shoulder.
“Where are you off to in this weather? Its pouring out there!” Margaret glanced out the window, where fat raindrops slid down the glass. “And Im making dinneryour favourite, shepherds pie. Cant it wait?”
“Mum, Im thirty. Thirty! You still track my every move like Im fifteen.”
Margaret sighed, clutching a tea towel to her chest. He was right, of course. But letting go was hard, especially after David left, leaving her alone with their only child, the one shed longed for years to have.
“I just worry about you. Youve been different since the divorce with Emily. Closed off. Maybe we could talk?”
“About what?” Tom zipped up his jacket. “Im fine. Just heading to Jakes to watch the match. You remember himweve been mates since school.”
“Of course I remember Jake. Good lad. Dyou remember when you two built that den in the garden out of old planks?” Margaret smiled. “I used to bring you lemonade and sandwiches…”
“Mum, Im already late.”
Tom reached for the door, but she suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
“Wait! What if Lucys there? Jakes got a wifeshe might invite friends. You wouldnt mind meeting someone nice, would you?”
“Christ” He groaned, shaking his head. “Mum, enough! Ill sort my own love life.”
“Im not being difficult! I just want you happy, settled, with a family of your own”
She stopped when she saw his face darken. Children were still a sore subject after the divorce.
Tom opened the door and left without another word, slamming it behind him. Margaret stood frozen in the hallway, the tea towel pressed to her chest.
She turned off the stove. No point eating alone. Shed reheat it laterif he even came home tonight.
Sitting at the kitchen table, she stared at the empty room. It used to be full of lifeDavid reading the paper, Tom doing homework, her bustling at the cooker. Now, just silence, broken only by rain tapping the windowsill.
The phone rang. She snatched it up.
“Hello?”
“Margie, its me, Brenda. Howre you holding up?”
Brenda had been her closest friend since college.
“Oh, just had another row with Tom. Dont know how to talk to him anymore. Everything I say is wrong.”
“What set it off this time?”
“Same as always. Asked where he was going, and he bit my head off. Like Im some villain.”
“Love, ever think maybe hes struggling? A thirty-year-old man shouldnt be living with his mum…”
“But where else would he go? Rents too steep on his salary, and buying a place aloneyou know how impossible that is.”
“I do. But Margie, maybe hes not trying because its too easy at home? You still cook, clean, do his laundry like hes a boy.”
Margaret opened her mouth to arguethen closed it. Brenda was right. Shed never stopped treating him like a child.
“But Im his mother! How can I not care?”
“Caring and smothering arent the same. My Ben moved to Manchester at twenty-five. I miss him, but he needed to go.”
After hanging up, Margaret sat thinking. Maybe Brenda had a point. Maybe shed gone too far.
Tom came back near midnight, slipping straight to his room without a word. She heard him rustling about, drawers opening.
Breakfast was silent. He scrolled through his phone while she slid an omelette onto his plate.
“Tom, remember when Dad took you to the zoo? You adored the elephants.”
“Yeah,” he muttered, not looking up.
“And your first day of schoolso serious with your new backpack…”
“Mum, why dyou keep bringing this up?”
“Just time flies. Feels like yesterday you were little.”
He finally met her eyes, weary. “If you know Im grown, why treat me like a kid?”
“I dont”
“You rang Jake last night to check if I was really there. Think I didnt know?”
Her cheeks burned. She had calledjust to be sure he was safe.
“I was worried”
“Mum, Im thirty! Ive been married, nearly had kids. Im not some teenager!”
“But”
“But what? You think because I live here, you get to monitor my life?”
Her throat tightened. Shed only ever wanted to protect him.
“I just want whats best”
“I know. But your best is suffocating me.” He stood, gulping the last of his tea. “Dont wait up. Staying at Jakes.”
“But dinnerI thought Id make your favourite”
“Skip it.” He grabbed his coat.
“Tom, wait!” She chased him to the door. “Why are we fighting? Ill back off”
“Mum, its not about that. I need space. My own life.”
“But Im alone!” The words burst out. “Dad left, now youwhat am I supposed to do?”
“Dunno. But I cant be your whole world. Its not right.”
The door slammed. Margaret numbly cleared his half-eaten omelette.
All day, her thoughts churned. She rang Brenda, complaining, but her friend surprised her.
“Margie, think how he feels. All his mates have their own places, families. Its embarrassing.”
“But he doesnt have to stay! He chooses to!”
“Does he? Youve made it so hed feel guilty leaving.”
Margaret wanted to arguebut couldnt. She *had* clung to him.
Three days passed without a call. On the fourth, she tried his number.
“The person youre calling is unavailable,” the recording said.
Strange. Tom never turned his phone off. Battery dead? Or worse?
She found Jakes number.
“Jake, its Margaret. Is Tom there?”
“Sorry, no. He moved out three days agosigned a lease.”
“Moved out? Without telling me?”
“Dunno. Probably wanted to tell you himself…”
Her hands shook as she hung up. A flat! And he hadnt even said! What if he got ill? Whod look after him?
She redialled Toms number. This time: “This number is no longer in service.”
Her stomach dropped. Had he changed it? Not told her the new one?
She rushed to Brendas.
“Hes gone! Changed his number! Like Im some enemy!”
“Margie, breathe. Sit. Have tea.”
“Tea? Brenda, hell be lost without me! Wholl cook? Wholl do his washing?”
“Love, hes thirty. Not a baby.”
“But”
“No buts. You pushed him away. Smothered him.”
“I just wanted whats best!”
“You did. But best for who?” Brenda passed her a cup. “A mothers love can lift up or weigh down. You chose the second.”
“What was I supposed to do? After David left, Toms all I had!”
“And thats the problem. A child shouldnt be your whole world.”
“What world? Im fifty-five!”
“So? Lifes not over. Look at Susan from number twelvesixty-two, does line dancing, goes to book club. Lives!”
Margaret bit her lip. Brenda was right. Had she loved Tomor her need for him?
A week passed in quiet agony. Work, empty meals, TV she didnt watch.
Then, a knock. Her heart leaptTom?
A young woman stood there, mid-twenties, blonde, kind-eyed.
“Hello. Margaret?”
“Yes”
“Im Lucy. Tom and I were together. May I come in?”
Margaret stepped aside, pulse racing.
They sat at the kitchen table. Lucy spoke gently.
“Tom hasnt told you, has he?”
“No. Hes not speaking to me.”
“I know why.” Lucy folded her hands. “Were getting married.”
Margarets chest tightened.
“Married He never said”
“Hes scared of how youll react. He told me about Emilyhow you were with her. How you control his life.”
“I dont control”
“You care. But your care” Lucy hesitated. “Its choking him.”
“How would you know? Youre not his mother!”
“No. But I love him, and I see how torn he isbetween being a good son and living his life.”
Margaret stayed silent. This girl, a stranger, was lecturing her on motherhood!
“What do you want?”
“Let him go. Truly. No daily calls, no unannounced visits, no unsolicited advice.”
“And what do I get?”
“A son who visits because he *wants* to. A daughter-in-law who doesnt see you as competition. Maybe grandchildren.”
“Grandchildren” Hope flickered.
“Yes. If you let us live *our* way.”
Lucy stood, adjusting her bag.
“Think about it. Tom loves you. But he cant stay your little boy forever.”
After she left, Margaret sat for hours, thoughts tumbling. Anger at Lucys nerve. Fear shed lost Tom forever.
Then, as she wiped tears over old photos, a quiet relief settled. Something clicked.
*If I love him, I have to let go.*
Next day, she dialed the number Lucy left.
“Hello?” Toms voice was wary.
“Tom Its me. I wont interfere. Just know the doors always open. I love you. And if Lucys willing, Id like to meet her properly.”
Silence. Then, softly:
“Thanks, Mum. That means a lot.”
And in that moment, Margaret understoodshe wasnt losing her son. She was giving himand herselfa chance to be happy.
