Hey love, you wont believe the drama with Emma and me. I asked her againwhere did that bracelet go? Did she lose it, pawn it, or what?
Her mum took it, she sighs, eyes dropping.
The room goes dead. I plop down on the sofa, eyebrows up. It sounds absurd.
Taken? I repeat, baffled. What do you mean?
Emma explains, She first asked to try it on, then said it looked good on me, and I felt awkward refusing. Shes his mum, after all.
I stare at her like Im seeing her for the first time. Sure, I know Emmas gentle, but I never imagined it could be this extreme.
So she just grabbed it and walked off with my bracelet? Come on, Emma, whats happening? Walk me through it step by step, I demand, a hint of irony in my voice.
Ive always wanted my wife never to need anything. Now I can finally give her that, but Emma cant.
We went back to the way we metfirstyear university, mutual friends, me a dreamy idealist from a modest family, promising my future kids the best I could ever afford, even though I had no clue how to deliver. Emma had no grand ambitions, just a big, kind heart. I fell for her when she showed up one chilly night with a thermos of hot soup because Id caught a cold.
Serge told me you were sick. I thought Id drop by, she whispered, slipping off her shoes.
Dont botheryoull catch it too, I protested, but I didnt push her away.
Fine, well both get a fever and nurse each other, she laughed. Im not a sugar cube, I wont melt away.
Thats the kind of woman I wantedsomeone whod have my back for free, just because she liked me.
A year later we were sharing a cramped flat in Manchester, a tiny kitchen with a rattling fridge, a leaky tap, and the occasional cockroach cameo. We pulled allnighters before exams, both hopping between parttime gigsme lugging boxes in a supermarket, her waiting tables.
We survived everything. We learned that instant noodles arent cheap, and I once ended up in hospital with gallstones while Emma couldnt even afford the meds. Wed borrow from parents or mates all the time.
Luckily, I had plenty of mates who tossed odd jobs my wayhelp on a building site, painting a garden fence for a token sum. Id take almost anything; Emma tried not to add to the load.
I want to help! shed say before a shift.
Sure, what? Carry coal? Youll tear yourself up and our medical bills will skyrocket, Id mutter, but I appreciated her spirit.
Step by step I chased my goals. We got our degrees, I bounced around a few firms before a friend landed me a junior role at a big London logistics company. The hours were brutallate nights, weekend crunches.
Emma held the fort at home, still working, whipping up my favourite meals, keeping the place tidy, looking after our dog even after it went blind.
Nothings permanent, love. This will pass, shed say when things got rough.
When I finally became head of logistics, the pressure only grew, but I knew I was loved and awaited at home. That kept me going.
We moved into our own flat, got a proper car, a modest cottage up north. No more buying secondhand furniture on Gumtree; we splurged on brandnew pieces. We swapped clothes for fun, not just when they wore out. Holidays stopped being a visit to the inlaws cottage and turned into trips abroad.
My gifts upgraded toono more chocolate bars, but leather bags, scarves, gold jewellery, just because it was Friday evening or I was in a good mood. Emma still felt shy about the price tags, which only made me love pulling her out of her pennypinching habits.
At first she was thrilled, hugging me tight, dashing around in a new perfume and designer outfits, cooking with a fancy multicooker that had a hundred buttons. Then something changed. She started using the old cooker again, walking around with a cracked handbag, stashing her perfume somewhere out of sight. I first thought she disliked the scent, then blamed old habits. But why keep wearing shoes that blister your feet when theres a perfectly good pair waiting?
I decided to test her, and the perfect excuse popped up. When my colleague Sam invited us to his birthday, I bought Emma a gold bracelet and sapphire earringswanted everyone to see how much I adore her.
Wear the dress we bought on Friday, and the jewellery I got you last week, I said. Theyre a perfect match.
She stammered, claiming the bracelet was broken, that shed given it to a jeweller, but she couldnt say where. Then she dropped the bomb: My mum took the gold. And more than just the gold.
So everything I gave you ended up with your mum? I pressed, lips tightening. Seriously, Emma? Cant you push back?
She looked away.
I tried. She gets angry, says she raised me, that I owe her everything, that Ill never get gifts again, and that you keep buying me things thatll just end up with her. It wont hurt you, she says.
I covered my face with my hands, feeling robbednot of cash, but of dignity.
Alright then, I sighed. From now on Ill only give you things that wont magically reappear at your mums house a week later.
She fell silent. It was clear shed been easy to manipulate. I wanted to shake her, to tell her this wasnt okay, but I knew it wouldnt do any good. I just accepted her as she was.
I realised if I wanted a warm home, the leak wasnt Emmait was my motherinlaw, Vera. Vera was loud, pushy, and everpresent. Wed met almost as soon as Emma and I started dating.
I wont meddle, but shed begin, then launch into unsolicited advice. She worked as an accountant, her husband somewhere in a job that didnt demand much attention. Their salary matched the job.
From day one Vera tried to worm herself into our lives, dropping by unannounced, sometimes at eight in the morning. One night, right in the middle of a romantic dinner, I simply told her we werent expecting anyone. Emma paled, whispering Its my mum, but I held my ground.
Yes, Mum, I nodded, but wed appreciate a headsup next time.
Now Vera invaded not through doors but through guilt she cultivated in Emma.
Oh, what a lovely perfume you have! Nobody ever gives me that. Can I borrow it for a week? Lucys birthday is coming, I want to spritz everyone and be the envy of the block. Dont you feel sorry for your mother, dear? Ive given you everything.
How do you fight that? How do you stop the stealing? With Emmas birthday looming, I tried a new tack. When everyone gathered around the table, I handed Emma a small envelope.
Sunshine, this is for you. I know youve always wanted to visit Italy. Have a proper break, on me.
Veras eyes lit up.
Oh! How lovely! Ive always dreamed of sunbathing on the Mediterranean, watching the Italians, their monuments!
Well, dreamings free, but Vera, the second tickets on me. Youll have to travel with me, and Im not the easiest travel companionloud snorer, nighttime music fan, and I walk around the room in my birthday suit. Are you up for that?
We all laughed. Emma blushed, smiled shyly. Vera turned red, pursed her lips, and slipped away early that evening. I just grinned: that day I got two giftsmy wifes genuine smile and my motherinlaws sudden silence.
