Mums nothing special, I suppose
Eliza, have you left your wet towel hanging on the hook in the bathroom again?
My mother-in-laws voice called out from the hallway the moment I stepped in from work. Mrs. Harris stood there, arms folded, giving me one of her famous stares.
Its drying there, I replied as I kicked off my shoes. Thats what the hook is for.
In proper homes, towels go on the heated rail. But I suppose you wouldnt know about that.
I just walked past her, not bothering to argue. I was twenty-eight, held two university degrees, managed an entire departmentyet here I was, getting nagged about towels. Every single day.
Mrs. Harris watched me with her usual dissatisfied look. That way I always ignored her, stone-faced, acting as if I owned the place. She was fifty-five and reckoned she could see straight through peopleand shed taken a dislike to me from the start. Too chilly. Too high and mighty. Max needed a warm, homely sort of woman. Not someone like her, not this frozen statue.
So she watched. Noted. Remembered.
Arthur, tidy your toys before supper.
I dont want to.
I wasnt asking, Arthur. Please put them away.
Six-year-old Arthur pulled a face, but shuffled over to start picking up his toy soldiers. I barely even glanced his way, busy chopping vegetables at the counter.
Mrs. Harris sat in the lounge, observing. There it was, that frosty manner. No smile, no gentle word. Just orders. Poor little boy.
Nanna, Arthur clambered up beside her on the sofa, after Id gone to fold laundry in the bedroom, why is mummy always angry?
She stroked his hair, her moment having come at last.
You see, darling Some people just dont know how to show love. Its a bit sad, really.
But you do?
Of course, my lovely. Nanna loves you ever so much. Nannas not angry.
He snuggled closer to her, and Mrs. Harris smiled.
Whenever they were alone, she made sure to add a few more brushstrokes to the picture. Careful. Subtle.
Mum didnt let me watch my cartoons today, Arthur complained another week later.
Poor love. Your mum is rather strict, isnt she? I sometimes think shes a bit too tough on you. Dont you fret, you can always come to nanna. I understand you.
Arthur nodded, soaking up every word. Nanna is kind. Nanna understands. But mum
Some mums just arent very good at being warm, Mrs. Harris would whisper conspiratorially. Its not your fault, Arthur. Youre a wonderful boy. Its just mums not very good at loving.
Arthur hugged her, but for the first time, something cold and confusing began to cloud his feelings about me.
Within a month, I noticed the change.
Arthur, love, come here for a cuddle.
He backed away.
I dont want to.
Why not?
Just dont, he muttered before running off to nanna.
I stood in the middle of his room, arms outstretched, unable to work out what had changed. Something in our everyday life had broken, but I couldnt tell when it had happened.
Mrs. Harris watched this from the hall, the hint of a smile on her lips.
That evening, I knelt next to Arthur.
Darling, are you upset with me?
No.
Then why dont you want to play with me?
He just shrugged, looking right through me.
Id rather be with nanna.
I let him go, my chest tight with confusion.
Max, I dont recognise Arthur anymore, I confided late that night when we finally got a moment to ourselves. He keeps pushing me away. Hes never done this before.
Oh, dont worry, said Max, Thats just kids. Change their minds every five minutes.
No, Max, its different. He looks at me as though Ive done something awful.
Youre overthinking. Mums always with him while were out at workyou know how kids get attached.
I wanted to argue, but Max had already gone back to his phone.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Harris was tucking Arthur into bed on one of the nights we were both late again.
Your mum does love you, in her own way, she murmured. Just a bit cold. Too strict. Not all mums can be gentle, you know?
Why?
Its just how it is, sweetheart. But nanna, Id never hurt you. Ill always look after you. Not like mummy.
Arthur drifted off with these words in his mind, and every morning hed eye me with a little more suspicion.
It wasnt long before he made his preferences blatantly clear.
Come on, Arthur, shall we go to the park? I asked, holding out my hand.
I want to go with nanna.
Arthur
With nanna!
Mrs. Harris snatched up his hand.
Stop pestering him, cant you see? Come on, Arthur, lets pop round the shopsnanna will buy you an ice cream.
They left together. I stood and watched, something heavy tight in my chest. My own child wanted nothing to do with me. He ran to his grandmother, and I couldnt understand why.
That evening, Max found me sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of tea gone stone cold, staring at the wall.
Ill talk to him, I promise, he said softly.
I just nodded. I was too tired for words.
He sat with Arthur in the bedroom.
Arthur, tell me. Why dont you want to be with mummy?
Arthur turned away.
No reason.
No reason isnt an answer, mate. Did mummy upset you?
No
Then what is it?
Arthur stayed silent. How could a six-year-old explain something he didnt even quite understand? Nanna said mum was cold and didnt love him, so it must be true. Nanna wouldnt lie.
Max emerged, none the wiser.
Back in the house, Mrs. Harris planned her next move. Id lost my sparkshe could see that. Any day now, she thought, this upstart of a daughter-in-law would pack up and leave on her own. Her Max deserved better. A real womannot this block of ice.
Arthur, she caught him in the hallway while I was in the shower, you know nanna loves you more than anyone, dont you?
Yes.
And mummy mummys a bit rubbish, isnt she? No cuddles, no kind words always cross with you. My poor boy.
She didnt hear the footsteps behind her.
Mum.
Mrs. Harris spun round. Max stood in the doorway, face pale.
Arthur, back to your room, please, he said, voice low but firm enough for Arthur to obey immediately.
M-Max, I was just
I heard everything.
The silence between them was ice-cold.
Youve youve been turning him against Eliza? All this time?
Im just looking out for him! Shes so hard on him, its not right!
Have you lost your mind?
Mrs. Harris shrank back. Her son had never looked at her with such disgust before.
Max, please
No, you need to listen. Youve turned my son against his mother. My wife. Do you realise what youve done?
I only wanted whats best!
Best? Arthurs afraid of his own mum! Elizas beside herself! You call this best?
Mrs. Harris stuck out her chin.
Shes not right for you. Cold, selfish, heartless
Thats enough!
Maxs angry shout stunned them both into silence. He was shaking.
Pack your things. Tonight.
Youre turning your back on your own mother?
Im protecting my family. From you.
She opened her mouth to argue, but stopped. The sentence was there in his eyesno bargaining. No second chances.
She packed and left within the hour. Not a word of goodbye.
Max found Eliza in the bedroom.
I know why Arthurs changed.
She looked up, eyes red.
My mum she told him you dont love him. That youre cruel. The whole time, shes been poisoning him against you.
Eliza breathed out slowly.
I I thought I was losing my mind. I honestly thought I must be a terrible mother.
He sat beside her, gathering her in his arms.
Youre a brilliant mum. I dont know what got into her. But she wont come near Arthur again.
The weeks that followed were hard. Arthur asked about nanna, not understanding why she was suddenly gone. We spoke to himalways gently, always patiently.
Sweetheart, I would say, stroking his hair, What nanna told you about methat isnt true. I love you so much.
He looked up warily.
But youre mean.
Not mean, just strict. I want you to grow up to be a good man. Even being strict is a kind of love, do you see?
Arthur thought about it for a long time.
Will you give me a cuddle?
I hugged him so tight, he burst into giggles.
Bit by bit, our old Arthur returned. The little boy who used to run to me with his messy paintings. The one who quietly sang with me at bedtime.
Max would watch us playing in the sitting room and think of his mum. She phoned several times, but he didnt answer.
Mrs. Harris was left alone in her flat. No grandson, no son. All shed ever wanted was to save her Max from the wrong woman, and in the end, she lost them both.
I leant my head on Maxs shoulder.
Thank you for fixing things.
Im sorry I didnt see it sooner.
Arthur scrambled into his dads lap, beaming.
Mum, Dad, can we go to the zoo tomorrow?
Turns out, life was on the mend.
