The cold London rain drummed against the window as Emily tightened her grip on the doorframe.
Is it really so hard to spare an extra bowl of soup for me and your grandson? Her voice cracked. I dont understand you!
Yes, Emily. It is. Charlotte didnt step aside, didnt let her cross the threshold. Things changed while you were gone. Remind mewasnt it *you* who threw me out of your house and your life? So why demand anything now?
Emily rolled her eyes like a petulant child, and thats exactly what she wasa grown woman still clinging to the belief that the world owed her everything.
Mum, seriously? I was *pregnant* back then. Hormones, stressI dont even remember half of what I said!
But *I* do. Charlottes voice was steel. Every word. How you hated me. How I had no heart. How I wished your child deadand thats the polite version. If Im so terrible, why come crawling back?
Emily huffed. For Gods sake, Mum! Youre the adult. You shouldve understoodfound a way to make it work. You *know* what pregnancy does to a woman.
Even now, she twisted it. Always the victim. Always Charlottes fault for not bending, not smiling, not groveling. But Charlotte had had enough.
I *did* understand, she said slowly, arms crossed. But I didnt forgive. Ill give you money, Emily. A little. But youre not coming back.
It wasnt just the flat. She couldnt let her back into her *life*. Because Emily would push, and take, and destroy everything Charlotte had rebuilt.
How much is *a little*?
Three thousand quid. Enough to get back on your feet.
That wont last a *week*! Fine for meIll managebut your *grandson*? How can you do this to him?
Charlotte didnt flinch. People in need are grateful for pennies. If its nothing to youfigure it out yourself.
The door slammed.
Fine! I *will*! But remember thismen come and go, but its your children who hold your hand when youre old. And youll *die alone*. Mark my words, Emily spat through the wood.
Footsteps faded. Charlotte pressed her back against the hallway wall, biting her lip to keep from crying. It hurtGod, it hurtbut the rift had been there for years.
…Emily had always been spoiled. Grandparents indulged her whims, and her father, James, was the worst of all. A torn dress? Straight to Harrods for a new one. A phone shattered in a tantrum? No matteranother by morning. A puppy? *Of course, darling, pick any breed.*
No wonder she was Daddys girl. If Charlotte said no, Emily ran to James, who always caved.
James, why did you give her money for those concert tickets? Charlotte had snapped, hands on hips. I told her *no*. Its not about the moneyI asked her to come help your mum clean the garden, and you know what she said? *You two want it doneyou do it.*
James would shrug, sheepish but unrepentant. Come on, love. Werent we just as bad at her age? Let me spoil her while I can. Shell fly the nest soon enough.
A prophecy, in the end.
James died when Emily was fourteen. After that, it all crumbled. Emily, already difficult, blamed Charlotte for everything. A cold? *You brought it home from workalways letting sick clients in.* A breakup? *Because you wouldnt let me go clubbing.* Failed A-levels? *Everyone else had tutorsyou left me to struggle.*
Still, Charlotte had saved. Not for Emilys sakefor James memory.
Why even bother with uni? her friend Margaret had asked. Sorry, love, but Emilys not exactly Oxford material. What if she flunks out third year? All that money
She wanted it. And James hed have wanted her to have something.
Charlotte worked two jobs, scraping by. Colleagues called her a saint. But the truth was simpler: she was terrified of being alone. Emily was all she had.
At nineteen, Emily announced she was moving in with a flatmatewhose name, it turned out, was *Daniel*. A year later: Mum, Im *pregnant*!
Charlottes knees buckled.
You dont *work*. Where will you live? How will you
Benefits, Daniels parents, *you* Emily beamed. And Daniel will pick up shifts.
Charlottes stomach turned. Shed hoped supporting Emily through uni would be the end of it. Now she saw the truth: there *was* no end.
Mum tuitions due soon. Can you
*Tuition*? Youll take a baby to lectures? Take a gap year or sort this out. A child now is *madness*.
The explosion was instant. Screams about James savings, accusations of wanting her grandchild *gone*. Then the final blow: Youre a *monster*!and the door in her face.
Charlotte waited for the apology. It never came. Emily blocked her everywhere. She couldve gone to her, beggedbut no. Enough.
For the first time, Charlotte had nothing. Thenslowlyshe built a new life.
The gym first. Then Alexten years older, a widower with a grown son, Anthony, a daughter-in-law, Lucy, and a grandson, Oliver. A *family*. Not hers by blood, but they welcomed her. Lucy, especially, became a friend.
And Oliver His small hand in hers, his laughterit thawed something frozen.
Nana, can we feed the ducks today?
Shed forgotten love could be this simple.
Two years passed. Then Emily reappeared. Daniel had leftuni done, jobs scarce, arguments over money. Now she was back. Not to apologize. To *demand*.
*Youll die alone.* The words lingered.
Her phone buzzed. Alex: *Fancy a quiet night in?* Then Lucya photo of three lopsided gingerbread men. *Ollie made these. One for me, one for Dad. This ones for Nana, he says. Can we come over?*
Charlotte smiled. Warmth spread through her.
Once, shed have done anything to avoid being alone. Now she knew: being needed wasnt the same as being loved.
She wasnt alone. And perhapsshe never would be again.
