Edward left her with their little daughter and walked away. But when her mother-in-law came to gloat, Helen
Helen couldnt settle. Little Emily had fallen asleep in her arms, yet she still lingered by the window, staring into the courtyard. An hour had passed since shed started watching.
Just a few hours earlier, her beloved husband, Edward, had come home from work. Helen had been in the kitchen, waiting, but he never joined her. When she stepped into the living room, she found him packing his things.
“Where are you going?” she asked, bewildered.
“Im leaving. Im leaving you for the woman I love.”
“Edward, is this a joke? Did something happen at work? Are you going on a business trip?”
“Cant you understand? Im sick of you. Its always Emilyyou dont even notice me anymore. You dont take care of yourself.”
“Dont shoutyoull wake Emily.”
“See? There you go again, only thinking about her. Your husbands walking out, and you”
“A real man wouldnt abandon his wife and child,” Helen said quietly before retreating to her daughters room.
She knew Edwards temper. If she pressed the argument, it would only spiral into a row. Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let him see them. She scooped Emily from her cot and retreated to the kitchenhe wouldnt follow. There was nothing of his to take from there.
Through the window, she watched him climb into his car and drive off without a backward glance. Yet Helen stayed rooted to the spot, foolishly hoping his car would reappear, that hed say it had all been a stupid joke. But it never happened.
She barely slept that night. There was no one to call, no one to share her grief with. Her mother had long since lost interest in hershed been thrilled when Helen married but swiftly moved on. To her, it was as if Helens younger brother had always been her only child. Friends? They were mothers too, probably asleep by now. What could they even do to help?
Helen finally dozed off at dawn. She tried calling Edward, but he rejected the call and texted her to leave her alone.
Just then, Emily began fussing. Helen went to her. No time to wallow. He was goneso be it. She had her daughter to care for. She had to figure out how to survive.
A quick check of her purse and bank account left her horrified. Even if she begged the landlady for five more days until her benefits came through, it wouldnt be enough. And they still needed to eat. Freelancing was an option, but Edward had taken his laptop.
She had two weeks of paid rent left to figure something outand she needed to act fast.
But after ringing every contact, she realised it was hopeless. No one would hire her with a baby. Even cleaning jobs required someone to watch Emily for an hour or twobut she had no one. Moving wouldnt help eitherthey already rented the cheapest flat around. The only option was her parents house. But while shed married late, her brother had settled down early, crammed into their mothers two-bedroom with his wife and twin boys. Five people already. If she and Emily joined them, how would they all fit?
She told the landlady shed leave when the rent ran out. The thought of a bedsit crossed her mind, but the ones shed seen had neighbours she wouldnt wish on her worst enemy. She texted Edward, begging for child support, but he never repliedlikely had blocked her.
With five days left, she began packing. It wasnt much, but keeping busy helped. Then the doorbell rang.
Opening it, she froze. Standing there was Margarether mother-in-law.
*Could things get any worse?* Helen thought, stepping aside to let her in.
Their relationship had always been strainedall polite smiles with venom underneath. From their first meeting, Margaret had made it clear Helen wasnt good enough for her son. So Helen had insisted they live apartno way theyd get along under one roof.
Margarets visits were pure miserynitpicking over dust, refusing to eat Helens cooking, calling it “pig slop.” When Helen got pregnant, the jabs eased slightly. But once Emily was born, Margaret claimed the baby “wasnt their blood” and demanded a paternity test.
Only when Emily turned six months did Margaret finally acknowledge her resemblance to Edward and occasionally hold her. Edward had begged Helen to be patienthis mother had raised him alone, he said, and was just protective.
Now here she was, standing in the hallway after Edwards departure. Probably here to twist the knife. But Helen was beyond caring.
Margarets sharp voice snapped her from her thoughts.
“Right, pack your things. You and Emily dont belong here.”
“Margaret, I dont understand.”
“Whats to understand? Youre coming to live with me.”
“With you?”
“Where else? Your mothers place, crammed to the rafters?”
“You know?”
“Of course I know. Wish Id known sooner. That fool only told me today. Ive got a three-bedroom. Theres space.”
Helen had no choice. *In for a penny, in for a pound.*
Arriving at Margarets house, she was terrified at first. But Margaret showed her a room for her and Emily. Once unpacked and with Emily asleep, Helen entered the kitchen.
“Helen, I know weve never seen eye to eye. But try to understandand forgive me if you can.”
“Margaret, you only wanted what was best for your son.”
“Best for him?” Margaret scoffed. “I was selfish. Today, he called and told me everything. Forgive mefor raising a son like that. I dont know where I went wrong. His father left when he was three months old. He knew how hard it was for meyet he repeated that cowards mistake. Stay as long as you need.”
Helen couldnt believe Margaret had taken her side. Words failed hertears splashed onto the table.
“None of that,” Margaret said sternly.
“Its gratitude.”
“Then save it. Consider this my penance. Dont worrywell manage. Roof over our heads. When you find work, Ill mind Emily.”
From that day, they became inseparable. Margaret still had her moments, but she reined herself inoffering gentle advice instead of barks.
Today was Emilys first birthday. Helen and Margaret had decorated with balloons, and a fragrant apple pie sat on the table.
Emily toddled toward the balloons.
“Helen, lookher first steps!” Margaret beamed.
They caught her just as she plopped down, deciding walking was enough for one day.
As they sat down to eat, the doorbell rang. Margaret answeredand froze. Edward stood there with some woman.
“Hi, Mum,” he said casually, stepping inside.
“Well, hello, son. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Cant I just visit?”
“Five months without a word? Must be something.”
“Mum, rents steep. Angela and I thought wed stay with you.”
“Angela? And whos she?”
“Come on, Mum”
“No room. Ive got company.”
“Got yourself a toy boy?”
“Even if I had, its none of your business. Watch your mouth.”
Edward barged in, spotting Helen and Emily at the birthday table, surrounded by balloons.
“Son, youre not welcome. Were busy.”
“Whats *she* doing here?”
“*She* is still your wife. Final hearings tomorrownot that youll show. Todays your daughters birthday. But I see you forgot.”
“Thought we were divorced already. And the kidhow do I know shes mine?”
“If youd bothered visiting, youd know. Doesnt matter. Helen and Emily live here now. No room for traitors. Doubt the paternity? Refuse child support? Go aheadwaste your money on a DNA test. Now leave.”
“Mum, if I walk out now, its for good.”
Margaret said nothing. Just pointed at the door.
Later, with Emily asleep, Helen approached her.
“Margaret are you okay? Should I leave? Hes your son.”
“Helen, he is. But no man treats his child like that. Wives come and gochildren dont. He knew my struggles. I wont forgive him till he learns that.”
Four years passed.
“Helen, how long will you hide this man from me?”
Helen flushed. She hadnt realised Margaret knew.
“Stop blushing like a schoolgirl. Introduce us.”
“You dont mind?”
“Long as he treats you and Emily right. Go on.”
Margaret attended Helen and Davids wedding. She approved of himresponsible, clearly devoted to Helen, and kind to Emily.
“Dont think Ill stop helping with Emily,” Margaret said at the reception.
“Mum, of course not. She adores you.”
When Helen and David had a son, Margaret declared him her grandson too. No one arguedHelen had long thought of her as a mother. Even her own mum had never been this close.
Edward married Angela. They moved away, and Margaret only heard through distant relatives that he was doing well. Yes, hed hurt herbut he was still her son. Shed keep an eye on him from afar.
But now, she was happy. She had a daughter in Helenand two grandchildren. For now. She hoped for more. There was plenty of love left to give.
And that, friends, is the tale. What do you make of it?
