**Diary Entry A Grandchild at Any Cost**
*”Well, are you pregnant yet?”*
*”No, Margaret, not yet,”* Emma sighed, rolling her eyes as she fought to keep the irritation from her voice.
*”Honestly!”* her mother-in-law huffed. *”You two arent getting any younger. This is urgent. Ill send you a videovery informative.”*
*”Right. Thanks,”* Emma muttered, already dreading another lecture on the *”miracle of motherhood.”*
The call ended. The knife clattered loudly against the cutting board as Emma chopped cucumbers with twice her usual vigour, venting her frustration.
Lately, Margaret didnt even bother with pleasantriesjust launched straight into *the* question, as if Emmas womb were public property. It hadnt always been like this.
Once, theyd had a decent relationship. Margaret had kept her distance, calling once or twice a week, visiting even less. Shed occasionally ask for a lift after shopping or a ride to her mothers cottage, repaying them with homemade jam, grapes from her garden, or cherries.
Then, everything changedbecause of Edith, Margarets mother.
Even her own daughter joked that Edith was a *”general in a skirt.”* A retired schoolteacher, impossibly strict, she ruled the family with an iron fist. Emma had been luckyby the time she married Daniel, Edith rarely left her flat. Age and poor health kept her housebound.
But one day, Edith visited. Once was enough.
*”What on earth is this slop? Youd feed this to chickens!”* Edith peered into the pot of simmering soup. *”Move over. Ill show you how to make a proper base.”*
In Emmas family, they made soup without frying onionshealthier, fewer calories. Shed carried on the tradition, partly because Daniel had a bit of extra weight. She never pushed diets, but she wasnt about to worsen things.
*”Edith, please dont. Its fine as it is,”* Emma said.
*”You youngsters Cant cook properly with all these takeaways,”* Edith grumbled but sat down.
It might have ended therebut Emmas phone rang. She stepped away to talk privately. When she returned, onions sizzled in the pan. She clenched her jaw, shooting Edith a sharp look.
*”Why did you? We prefer it without.”*
*”Youve never had proper soup. Youll thank me later,”* Edith declared, smug as ever.
Emma held her tongue. She *could* have dumped it down the loobut that seemed extreme. Edith rarely visited. For Daniels sake, shed endure it.
Yet Edith meddled from afar.
At a family dinner, she announced:
*”Ive decided. My inheritance goes to whoever gives me a great-grandchild first. I want to see the family line continue before I go.”*
Daniel laughed as he relayed this to Emma. She smiled. As if theyd upend their plans for a whim!
Their roadmap was clear: careers first, then a house, *then* children. Margaret had once agreed, insisting they shouldnt rush.
Now, they were on step twopaying off the mortgage. A year left, by Emmas calculations. Plenty of time. But to Margaret, it was suddenly *”only a year.”*
*”Emma, sweetheart,”* Margaret cooed one day. *”Why wait? Youll get the inheritance too!”*
Emma gaped. Since when did anyone dictate her life? Not even her own mother dared.
*”Margaret, were still sorting the mortgage.”*
*”Its just a year! By the time the baby arrives, youll be done!”*
*”People in 2019 thought the same. Look how that turned out. Nowell sort the house first.”*
*”Even if the mortgage falls through, youll have Ediths flat! And her cottage. And her jewelleryso much gold!”*
*”We wont rush. If it happens, fine. If not well, it wasnt meant to be.”*
*”Suit yourself. Daniels cousins wont wait.”*
From then on, these *”chats”* became routine. Emmas patience frayed. She explained, pleadednothing worked.
*”Just humour her,”* Daniel said once. *”Shell drop it.”*
Easier said than done. Margaret took silence as agreement and doubled downflooding Emma with *”expert”* videos, bragging about friends grandchildren, gifting *”romantic”* candles
For Emmas birthday, Margaret brought a pram. *”Youll need it soon!”* It was expensive, sleekbut Emma hated being railroaded into a game where her body and future were the stakes.
Every visit included some variation of:
*”Vickys marriage is crumbling, and Katies still trying. Youve got the lead!”*
Like a bloody horse race. Emma gritted her teethfor family peace. She nearly snapped, *”You carry it, then!”*until salvation came.
*”Katies pregnant,”* Margaret sighed.
Emma barely swallowed a *”thank God.”*
*”Still, best hurry just in case,”* Margaret added.
The *”just in case”* never came. Katie had the baby. Emma breathedfinally, an end. But then
*”My familys growing,”* Edith announced at the next gathering. *”Whoever cares for me in my old age gets my inheritance.”*
Jaws dropped. Katies husband choked on his cake. Margaret, though, brightened.
*”But you promised us!”* Katie whispered.
*”Did I?”* Edith arched a brow. *”Think I owe you for popping out a baby? Wholl care for *me*? I can barely walk to the shops!”*
Emma smirked. So much for *”a kingdom for a grandchild.”*
After that, the pilgrimage beganaunts, uncles, Margaret, even Katie with her newbornall suddenly desperate to *”help.”*
Emma and Daniel stayed out of it. They lived their lives, in their home, on their terms. *That* felt like winning. You could spend life chasing carrotsor just grow your own.
