“How about that cafe on the square, you know, where Mike and I celebrated our anniversary. Is six o’clock convenient for you?”
“It is.”
“Great, I’ll be waiting. Thank you, Susan.”
Susan hung up. Mary, who sat at the next desk, looked over curiously.
“Was that your mother-in-law?”
“Yes.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, she just wants to meet.”
Mary grunted.
“Be careful. Mothers-in-law rarely want to meet ‘just because.’ It usually means something.”
Susan nodded. Mary was right. Eleanor wasn’t the type to just apologize and make peace. She always had a plan.
That evening, Susan drove to the cafe. She found a table by the window and ordered a tea. Eleanor arrived ten minutes later, wearing a light trench coat, her hair done, a fresh manicure. She looked like she was dressed for an occasion.
“Susan, dear!” She hugged Susan and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m so glad you came.”
She sat down across from her, took off her coat, and ordered a coffee. She was smiling, but her eyes remained cold and calculating.
“Alright, let’s be honest.” Her mother-in-law leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I know you’re pregnant.”
Susan froze, her heart sinking.
“How?”
“Mike let it slip yesterday. He said you’ve been in the bathroom every morning, that you’re pale and nauseous. I knew right away. I’m a mother, I know the signs.”
Susan said nothing. Eleanor leaned back in her chair, a self-satisfied smile on her face.
“And now it all makes sense. You’re saving money for the baby, right? Good for you, you’re a smart girl. But here’s the thing: you can’t do it alone. A baby is a huge responsibility. You’ll need help, you’ll need a grandmother around.”
Susan stared at her, unable to believe what she was hearing. Eleanor continued:
“I’m ready to help: I’ll watch my grandchild, take him for walks, feed him. But to do that, I need access to your home. Give me back the key.”
“No.”
“Susan, don’t be so stubborn. I just want what’s best for you.”
“You want control. And I’m not giving it to you.”
Her mother-in-law’s face darkened.
“You’ll regret this. It will be hard for you without my help. Very hard.”
“I’ll manage.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Eleanor stood up and put on her coat.
“I offered you peace, and you refused. From now on, things will be different.”
She left without saying goodbye. Susan sat there, finishing her cold tea. Her hands were shaking. Her mother-in-law had declared war. Openly, without any pretense.
That evening at home, Susan lay on the sofa, covered with a blanket. Her stomach was cramping again, not severely, but uncomfortably. She lay with her eyes closed, thinking: what now? Would Mike come back or not? Her mother-in-law was planning something, that much was certain. But what?
Her phone rang. Mike. Susan answered.
“Hello.”
“Mom said you two met. She said you were rude to her.”
“I wasn’t rude.”
“She was crying when she got back. She says you’re using her grandchild to blackmail her.”
Susan sat up, stunned.
“What?”
“Mom says you told her you wouldn’t let her see her grandchild unless she left us alone.”
“That’s a lie, I never said that!”
“Then why was she so upset?”
“Mike, your mother is lying. She’s the one who said she wants to control our lives, that she wants the key back. I refused, and now she’s getting revenge.”
Silence. Then Mike’s voice came back, hollow.
“I don’t know who to believe.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I don’t know. You haven’t been yourself lately. All these secrets, hiding things, hiding money… How am I supposed to know you’re telling the truth?”
Susan closed her eyes, feeling something inside her break.
“Fine. Don’t believe me. Then stay at your mother’s.”
She hung up. Mike called back, she declined. He sent a text: “Sue, let’s just talk about this.” She didn’t answer. She turned off the ringer and placed the phone face down.
That night, Susan slept poorly. She woke at every sound, listening. She had nightmares: her mother-in-law taking the baby, carrying him away. Susan running after her, screaming, but no sound coming out. She woke up exhausted, with a headache. She barely made it to work. She spent the day in a fog, mechanically going through the motions. Mary asked her several times if she was okay. Susan just nodded without looking up.
On her way home that evening, she saw Eleanor by the entrance to her building. Her mother-in-law was leaning against a car, smoking. She saw Susan, threw down her cigarette, and walked toward her.
“We need to talk.”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“Oh, yes we do. I’ve been thinking… maybe you’re right. Maybe I have been too involved in your lives. Let’s start over.”
Susan stopped and looked at her mother-in-law suspiciously. She was smiling, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“What do you really want?”
“Just to talk. No arguments, no accusations. Let’s go up to your place, have some tea.”
“No.”
“Susan, please. Let’s at least try to fix things. For Mike’s sake, for our grandchild’s sake.”
Susan hesitated. On one hand, she didn’t want to let her mother-in-law into her home. On the other, maybe it was worth trying to talk, now that things had gotten so bad.
“Fine. Fifteen minutes, no more.”
They went up to the apartment. Susan turned on the lights and went to the kitchen. She put the kettle on and got out mugs. Eleanor sat at the table, looking around.
“It’s so clean in here, I always said you were a good homemaker.”
Susan didn’t reply. She poured the tea and sat down across from her.
“Talk.”
“Okay. I understand I was wrong. I shouldn’t have meddled, shouldn’t have gone through your things. I’m sorry.”
“Okay.”
“But you have to understand me, too. I worry about my son, about you. I want you to have everything you need. For the baby to want for nothing.”
“We’ll manage.”
“Of course, you’ll manage. But a little help never hurts. I was thinking… I have a friend. She’s on maternity leave, and she sells baby things. Gently used, very affordable. I could put you in touch with her.”
“Thanks, but I’ll figure it out myself.”
“Okay, okay. Just trying to help.” Eleanor took a sip of tea and set her mug down. “So where are you keeping the money? In the bank? Or at home?”
Susan tensed.
“Why do you need to know?”
Comments are closed.