Not long ago, my daughter separated from her husband and moved back into our cramped flat with her little one.
Recently, my daughter divorced and settled in with us, though our place is smalljust my husband and me. I had thought, while she was on maternity leave, she might stay for a while with my mother. But now thats impossible, for Mother, at 68, has gone and remarried, living with her new husband.
When she first rang to say she meant to wed, I nearly laughedsurely a jest at her age! Yet it was true. She had been alone many years; her first husband passed two decades ago. I was 35 when I left home. My husband and I live in the city with our children, visiting Mother a few times a month, more on holidays.
Thank the Lord, shes fit as a fiddle and manages her own housework. My husband and I help when neededweeding the garden, chopping firewoodbut she tends to everything else herself.
And now shes brought a man into her home! It feels like a betrayal. She oughtnt have done this to us. Her betrothed was an old flame, a companion from her youth, and they rekindled their bond a few years back. In early July, they married at the registry office, with a modest celebration afterwardsjust close family.
We didnt attend. In my eyes, its a disgrace! What did she need it for? She couldve lived well enough without. Im dead against this marriage and still cant abide it. She has a fine house, and now they share it.
Her husband owns nothingjust three children and a brood of grandchildren. Why would she do this? How could she treat us so? Now, legally wed, he could lay claim to our inheritance. Weve only our little flat, my husband and I.
With my daughter now under our roof, I help mind the baby. My son rents a place with his sweetheart. Id hoped my daughter might stay with Mother awhile, but thats out of the question now.
Weeks passed without a word between us. Then my auntMothers sisterrang from the village and scolded me. She said we ought to be ashamed, that Mother has every right to happiness. We should rejoice for her. Fretting over inheritance while shes still living is unseemly. But surely I deserve some understanding?
What if, instead of Mothers house, were left with some old stranger, his pockets full of troubles and a flock of needy relatives wholl not hesitate to claim their share? In this, I believe Im right, and Mother wrong.
