Grandma, would you mind if I stayed with you for a while? Hannah sobbed quietly as she stepped through the front door. I just cant stay with him any longer.
Of course, darling, stay as long as you need, Margaret said gently, pulling her granddaughter into a warm hug. Has he been mistreating you again?
He has, Hannah breathed out, wiping her tears. But Mum wont let me leave him, because she doesnt want any trouble with his family. I just cant bear it anymore.
Margaret never cared much for her daughter-in-law, Elaine. Elaine was cold, calculatedalways putting her own advantage and how things looked above anyones real feelings, especially her daughters. Shed all but forced Hannah to marry Paul because his father was a big noise on the council.
Does Paul hit you? Margaret asked, concern in her eyes.
He does, Hannah answered, breaking down.
And your parents know? Margarets voice was sharp now.
They know, came Hannahs tearful reply.
Margaret was appalled. They know, and they dont let you leave?
Yes, Hannah nodded, They say if I leave, Ill bring shame on the family. And that it’s my own fault, that I should be more easygoing. How am I supposed to be easygoing with someone so cruel? I just cant do it anymore, Gran.
Then dont, Margaret said, brushing Hannahs hair back lovingly. Stay here, love. Ill have a word with your mother and father.
Margarets call to Elaine was short and not sweet. As soon as she told Elaine what happened, Elaine screeched down the line, What do you mean, shes left her husband? Get her home at once!
Margaret snapped, Stop your shouting. Hannahs not going anywhere.
Do you know how much we spent on that wedding? Elaines voice trembled with emotion. His family is well respected, and now shes making fools of us.
You made fools of us, and weve put up with you, Margaret retorted sharply. Im done talking to you. You heard medont call back.
Margaret hung up, and her words made Elaine so furious she hurled her phone against the wall, cursing her mother-in-law in language usually reserved for football matches.
Margaret then rang her son, Edward.
Did you know that scoundrels been hitting Hannah? she barked.
Edward hesitated, Look, Ive heard things, but maybe its being made out worse than it is. Maybe Hannahs exaggerating…
Margarets patience snapped. Are you serious or just playing daft? Your daughters being beaten by her husband and all you can do is mumble?
What am I supposed to do? Edward said, baffled. Hes her husband.
You ought to teach him a lesson! Margaret yelled. Make sure he remembers for the rest of his life not to lay his hands on our girl. So he knows shes not alone, shes got people to stand up for her!
Let them sort it themselves, Edward muttered. Its not our place.
Margaret was livid. So youve given your own daughter up for a peaceful life. Shame on you.
Two days later, Elaine, Edward, and Pauls parents all marched up to Margarets house.
Hannah has to go back to her husband, now! Elaine demanded before shed even taken off her coat.
Hannah isnt going anywhere, said Margaret firmly. I cant believe youre acting as though shes nothing to you. What kind of parents are you?
Its you! All your negative influence! Elaine accused her. Im not letting your meddling ruin our connection with Geoffrey Peterson!
Perhaps Geoffrey should teach his own son not to raise a hand to a woman first, Margaret answered coldly, glancing at Paul.
Paul looked down at his shoes, while Elaine defended him. He didnt even hit her that hard. Couples have spats, thats normal.
Do you agree with her? Margaret demanded of Edward.
Mum, theyve got to work it out on their own. Hannahs very touchy, she could try changing herself, Edward mumbled.
With a sudden, swift movement, Margaret slapped Edward across the face, followed by Elaine and then Paul. All three stood stunned as she announced, Thats me just playing around. Just a bit of fun. Not very nice, is it? Bit hurt, have you? Well, perhaps youre just a touch oversensitive. Now go home and change yourselves.
She opened the door, shepherding the lot out. Go ontake your precious boy with you. And, Elaine, if youre so desperate to toady up to Geoffrey, perhaps you should marry his son yourself.
Youll never see me in this house again! Elaine barked as she marched down the garden path.
Good riddance! Margaret shot back, Youre a disgrace of a mother, and not much cop as a daughter-in-law, either.
Margaret closed the door with a satisfied sigh and turned to Hannah, whod listened from the next room. Learn to stand up for yourself, love. Lifes full of people youll have to fend off. Dont live your life for the sake of othersits not worth it.
Meanwhile, Elaine was having another go at Edward the next night. Youd better get your insane mother to keep her nose out of our marriage! Whatll people think? Hannahs marriage is our ticket to the top! If she divorces, thats it! Finished! Get that through your head!
Edward just sighed, his head aching from her shouting. Why do you want to get to the top anyway? he asked wearily. Arent you happy?
No! I want status, money, position! I want people to envy me! Elaine shrieked.
Edward slunk off to another room. He couldnt stand conflict. Better to agree with whatever was shouted than put up a fight.
The following day, Edward turned up at Margarets door once again.
Dont even ask, Margaret said the moment he walked in.
Im not going to, Edward replied, resigned.
So, what are you after, then? Margaret asked, eyebrow raised.
May I stay here for a bit? Edward said at last.
Shes really driven you round the bend, hasnt she? Margaret said, with sympathy.
I cant cope with her rows anymore, Edward sighed. Shes like a woman possessed.
Youve brought it on yourself, Margaret pointed out. You never stood your ground, never learnt to protect your own boundaries. Instead of laying things out clearly, you kept silent and agreed with whatever was said. Now look where you are.
Edward nodded sheepishly. Hannah sat beside him and laid her head on his shoulder. Shed always known her mother dominated her father, and he, gentle and bookish, could never fight back.
Well, Im glad Hannah got out of that marriage in time, Margaret said, looking at her granddaughter with affection. Youre both responsible for your own happiness. Your life depends on the choices you make, you know. Got it?
Hannah and Edward nodded, and Margaret shook her head, adding, You two have a lot still to learn.
That very evening, Edward packed his things and told Elaine he was moving out. She responded in her usual way: screaming, smashing crockery, and throwing things at him.
Paul, meanwhile, phoned Hannah every day, first asking her to come back, then demanding, then threatening. Hannah stood her ground, determined not to go back to her old life. She had new plans now.
A week later, Geoffrey Peterson appeared at Margarets door, booming, Have you all lost your minds? One bolts from her husband, the other from his wife! Are you mad? Get back to your families this instant! And you, Margaretstop encouraging this nonsense!
Before either Hannah or Edward could reply, Margaret squared her shoulders and fired back, And who are you to teach me about life, Geoffrey? Better teach your own son a thing or two about how to behave.
Ive spoken to him, Geoffrey said, more subdued now, He said it wont happen again.
Perhaps you should have intervened sooner, before he started hitting her, Margaret retorted.
Why make things difficult for the girl? My lad loves her, hell change. Dont put us to shame with a divorce, or I might polish her reputation. Say she was unfaithful, or a mess, or something worse.
Dont threaten me, Geoffrey, Margaret coolly replied. I could say you wet yourself in class when you were little. Which story will folk find juicier: that your sons such a failure as a man his wife left him, or that a big shot like you was a bedwetter?
Geoffrey turned pale. You wouldnt say that, would you?
As her former primary school teacher, everyone would believe Margaret if she chose to spin such tales. Whether true or not, once a rumour started, it stuck.
Well, that depends on your behaviour, Margaret said, poker-faced.
Geoffrey suddenly felt like a schoolboy again, but gathered himself and replied, I take your point.
Right, glad we understand each other, Margaret said with a triumphant smile. Now, youll get a nice little trip for me and Hannah to a spahelp us recover from our ordeal. And youll tell everyone Hannahs gone away to look after me.
Geoffrey paused. Margaret, however ordinary she once seemed, had always known how to get through to peoplesometimes with kindness, sometimes not. Even with all his success, hed never gained the upper hand with her.
Fine, youll have a trip to the best spa in the county, Geoffrey grumbled. Im sorry for everything. And Im sorry for my sonseems I didnt raise him right.
Thats true enough, Margaret agreed. Now go, and remember, Geoffreylive with integrity, not for the approval of others. If you do things right, youll have nothing to worry about.
Geoffrey nodded and took his leave, true to his word buying the spa weekend. All things considered, his respect for Margaret remained. Hed always liked Hannah, and in truth, he was disappointed his son hadnt managed to make a good husband.
The divorce between Hannah and Paul finally came through after a year. By that point, both had moved on, so it all went quietly. Hannah remarried and is happy with her new husband and two children. Her grandmother now lives with her, much as Margaret had once taken her in.
As for Edward, he never did divorce Elaine, though he still lives at his mothers.
