Taught My Husband, Mother-in-Law, and Sister-in-Law a Lesson
Wheres my dinner, Emily? I said, wheres my food?!
Emily didnt even turn her head in her husbands direction. She sat on the edge of the sofa, gently rocking a small bundle in her arms from which soft grumbling could be heard.
Hush, Rosie, she whispered. Shes only just calmed down! I spent most of the day at the doctors, then to the chemist, then
I dont care where youve been! her husband, James, strode into the living room without taking off his coat. Im the one who works, I keep a roof over your headsI expect to see a hot supper on the table when I walk in, not your sour face and that endless wailing. What have you done all day?
I was looking after your daughter, Emily replied, lifting tired eyes to meet his. Shes broken out in another rash on her cheeks. Doctors are clueless, so I had to find ointments myself. Have you even once asked how she feels?
Whats the point? If shes crying, shes alive. Youre her motherthats your department. My jobs to bring home the bacon; yours is to make my life comfortable. Why else did I marry you? To eat frozen pies and be kept up all night?
You married me because it suited you, Emily said, her tone edged with fatigue. And I married you because everyone insisted it was time. There you have ittime indeed.
James scowled, pacing over to the pram in the corner, and deliberately kicked one of the wheels. The pram rolled into the chest of drawers. The baby in Emilys arms startled, shrieking into a new fit of crying.
Silence her! James barked. Or Ill lose my temper.
Only a year before, Emilys life had looked so different. She was the sort women envied on the street: always stylish, sharp-minded, plans for every weekend. James seemed the perfect catchgood-looking, driven, used to getting his way. Their relationship was a whirlwindbreakups and passionate make-ups performed for an audience.
When James produced an engagement ring, Emily hesitated, but her parents insisted.
Emily, how long are you going to play the field? her mum would say, spooning out her famous bread pudding. Youre twenty-seven. James is solid, comes from a good family. Youre already planning on buying a flat. And children? What about when youre older?
Mum, Ive just started a new project at work, I love what Im doing.
Work is nothing in the long run, her dad chimed in, eyes never lifting from his crossword. A woman without a familys like a tree without rootsdry up before you know it. James loves you. Everyones got flaws. Youll get used to each other.
And so Emily gave in. She displayed the very weakness shed recall on every sleepless nightthe wedding was grand, the mortgage daunting, and pregnancy struck out of the blue. It all happened so fast. She barely had time to adjust to being a wife before she became the vessel for new life.
She was convinced she was having a boy, picturing future football matches and a calm, sensible child like her. But the scan revealed, Its a girl, and something inside her twisted with disappointment.
Labour was a nightmare. Complications, drips, endless sterilised hospital corridors, and a sense of hopelessness. When she finally came home, Emily felt like a shattered vase badly glued together.
She looked at the tiny being in the cot and felt nothing but dull irritation.
Why does she cry all the time? Emily asked her mother, whod come to help.
Thats just colic, love. We all suffered through it. Be patient, shes just hungry.
She wont feed! Everything hurts, Mum!
Then youre not trying hard enough. Youre a mum nowforgets wants, its all needs from here on.
James, meanwhile, withdrew. For a fortnight, he tried to act hands-on, but quickly gave up. The smell, the cluttereverything about the baby annoyed him, but most of all Emilys transformation from playful companion to tired mother.
***
Mum called, James announced from the kitchen, watching Emily try to stir watery soup one-handed while steadying their fussy daughter with the other. Says Sophies in tears again.
Sophie, Jamess sister, was three years older, married for five, no children. Every time she saw a post from Emily or heard about her niece, shed work herself into a state.
And what am I expected to doapologise for having a baby? Emily retorted, dropping her spoon.
You should be more modest. Mum says youre showing off, acting superior just because youre a mother. She also says the flats dustyshe can tell, apparently, from your Instagram stories.
Your mother hasnt been here in two weeks, James, how would she know?
She just knows! James smacked the table. And shes rightlook at yourself: dressing gowns a mess, eyes red. Youre like an old farm woman.
If you helped with her, if you got up once at night
I go to work! he shouted. Got that through your thick skull yet? I bring in the money. You look after the baby and the house. Oh, by the way, were seeing your parents at their cottage this weekend. They rang, say the country air will do Rosie good. My lot will be there too.
I dont want to go. Its cold, washings a pain, and your mother will be whispering to mine about me behind my back.
Couldnt care less what you want. Were going. Bags packed for eight. And skip the moaning.
***
At the cottage, things went from bad to worse. Emilys parents, delighted to be grandparents, practically wrenched the baby from her arms.
Youre holding her wrong, Emily! her mum cried out from the pergola. Support her head! Oh, for goodness sake, who swaddles like that? Let me do it.
Just leave me be, Emily muttered, retreating to the far corner of the garden.
James made a show of ignoring his wife and daughter, sitting with his father-in-law to chat cars, and snickering when his mother found fault with Emily.
Oh, Emily, whats that on her cheek? Another rash? his mother, Patricia, peered into the pram. Not paying attention. Maybe its what youre eating. Now, if Sophie had a child, shed cherish every inchshes ever so careful
Then perhaps Sophie should have a baby, whats stopping her? Emily snapped.
Patricia clutched at her pearls theatrically. James! Did you hear the way she mocked your poor sister?
James hurried over, gripping Emilys arm painfully. Apologise to my mother. Now.
Let go, youre hurting me!
I said apologise! Got too big for your boots, have you?
Emilys parents stood by, but instead of sticking up for her, her father grumbled, Emily, be respectful to your mother-in-law. James is right.
Right then, Emily understood: she was on her own. Everyone was against herher husband, who saw her as a servant; her own parents, obsessed with image over her wellbeing; a mother-in-law undermining her out of jealousy.
***
The breaking point came a week after returning to London. The babys colic was intense, Emily hadnt slept in two days. When little Rosie finally drifted off, Emily sank onto the kitchen floor and closed her eyes.
The door slammed. James was home and in one of his moods.
Why are the bins still in the hall? he barked by way of greeting.
Emily stayed silent, lips pressed shut from exhaustion.
I said, why are the bins still here? He barged into the kitchen, clipping her with his foot. Get up and take them out. Now.
Take them yourself, she whispered. I cant do this anymore. My backs killing me, and I just want one hours sleep. Please, James.
You cant, can you? He grabbed the collar of her dressing gown and yanked her upwards, the fabric ripping.
Look at herprincess is tired. Plenty of women have five and still work in the fields, but youve fallen to pieces.
From the bedroom came the sound of their daughter crying. James, boiling with rage, stormed in.
Againwith this racket! He lunged for the cot, shaking it violently. Shut up already!
The babys cry turned to terrified choking sobs.
Emily rushed in, pushing at her husband. Dont touch her! Get away from her!
Shes ruined my life! James raised his hand and struck Emily across the face. She crashed into the wall, smacking her head against the wardrobe.
Her vision swam. Worst of all, James wasnt done. He marched back to the cot and, cruelly, pinched their babys tiny leg. Rosies scream was primala sound Emily had never heard from her before.
Something snapped within Emily then. Self-pity, exhaustion, emotional distanceall vanished. Only fury remained.
She grabbed a heavy figurineone of Patricias unwanted giftsand stepped forward without hesitation.
Do that again, she hissed, brandishing the statuette, and Ill smash your skull in. Get out.
James froze mid-motion.
Are you threatening mein my own flat?
The flat was bought while we were married, she enunciated clearly. Paid with my maternity pay, your bonuses, and cleared early thanks to my parents help. Half is mine. But right now, I dont care. Leave, or Im calling the police and reporting child abuse.
Emily strode from the room and dialled 999.
***
The investigation dragged on. James tried rallying his mother and sister; they called and sent threatening messages, but Emily refused to reconcileblocked each number, one after the other.
When her parents showed up to make peace, Emily wouldnt let them inside.
You either stand by me or forget where I live. Your son-in-law assaulted your newborn granddaughter. If you see nothing wrong with that, we have nothing more to say.
Her parents hesitated, but fell silent when shown the mark on Rosies leg. Both understood there was no excuseviolence against a baby couldnt be justified.
Emily filed for divorce, and she came to Jamess workplace in person: quiet, composed, with a folder of evidence. No fireworksshe simply showed the head of security, who happened to know her father, the baby monitor recordingthe one James himself had installed before Rosies birth.
It was all there: every detail, including that grim scene in the nursery.
James was encouraged to resign of his own accord. In their line of business, reputation was everythingno one wanted a scandal like that.
Upon hearing about her sons sacking, Patricia took to her bed with high blood pressure. Sophie, terrified Emily would publish the footage among their mutual friends, suddenly went silent.
***
Emily lives peacefully now. Money is sometimes tight, but she doesnt complain.
James relinquished his share of the flat in lieu of child support, which suited Emily just fine.
Her ex-husbands family forgot all about their grandchild; her daughters father never visits.
And as for the women James now tries to impress, he tells everyone hes never been married.
Through struggle and adversity, Emily realised an important truth: Respect for oneself and ones child always comes before keeping up appearances or pleasing others. Sometimes, you teach others how to treat you by refusing to stay silentstanding your ground is the first step to building a happier, healthier life.
