Oh, that grandmother, got married again and upset the children!
On weekends, Alice, as usual, visited her mother. Her mother was seventy-eight and had lived alone for ages. In two days, Alice would tidy the house, wash all the linens by handno washing machine, no running water. In the summer, there were vegetables to tend in the garden as well.
“Youd be better off moving in with me, darling. Everything would be easier,” her mother said. “You havent had a proper rest in years.”
“Mum, Ive got a job, a daughter, and grandchildren there,” sighed Alice in reply.
“Stephen has returned. Hes torn the boards off the windows of his old house. Five years his home stood empty, after Violette died. Says he wandered the world and wants to grow old here now. Asked about you; hell probably come round,” her mother announced.
Stephen Stevie Hed been Alices school crush. She loved him, but he never noticed her. In their final year, Alice bravely tossed a bucket into the village well and rushed to Stevie, begging him to fetch it or shed be in trouble with her mum.
Stevie grabbed a pole and went. He wrangled with the frozen well for half an hour and finally fished out the bucket.
“Think the old saying will work?” he joked as he left.
“For whom you fish the bucketso shall you wed,” went the village girls proverb.
But Stevie was right. It didnt work.
He moved to London, graduated from university, hopped cities and towns across England, married and divorced and now he was back.
Alice, after school, entered a business college in a town not far from her village. Shes still a bookkeeper. She married, had her only daughter, Charlotte. Eight years ago, Alice was widowed.
Stephen turned up in the evening. Older, greyer, changed.
“Youre still beautiful,” he said, hugging her.
“Youve learnt to fib, I see. Like you, Im well over fifty. Changed and aged, just like everyone else,” Alice interrupted.
Later, they sat in the garden arbour, sipping homemade elderberry liqueur to mark their reunion, and talking, endlessly talking.
Stephen explained that hed parted amicably with both his wives. He never hurt anyone. For each, he left a flat and all the joint belongings. He had a grown son from his first marriage, who moved to Germany with his mother. His wife was of German descent, from those settled in the Midlands before the war.
His second wife filed for divorce, fell in love with someone younger. Stephen didnt fight it. They had no children.
Now Stephen was retired, thanks to years working up north and hazardous trades. He planned to form a crew of local lads and start building houses, garden sheds, summer homes, and doing repairs. Demand was high, and he had a bit of capital to start.
“But enough about me! How are you, Alice? Heard youre alone these days,” Stephen pressed.
And Alice, unexpectedly even to herself, told him everything. Maybe it was just the right moment, or perhaps the liqueur loosened her tongue.
“Im not alone, Stephen. My familys huge. Though in this house, Im more servant than mother,” she began.
“My dear Charlotte didnt want to study after school; she married immediately and brought her husband home. Three bedrooms, so plenty of space for all. She had my granddaughter, Daisy.
And somehow, all the housework became my sacred duty. Charlottes always down with depression and caring for a small child. My husband (he was golden) always helped, never complained about his health, but one morning he just didnt wake. That devastated me! But I had no time to grieve.
I worked and carried the whole load. Expenses grew, my son-in-law doesnt earn much, so I pour all my money into the joint pot. I hoped Daisy would get older, Charlotte would send her to nursery, find a job, and life might ease up a bit. But Daisy turned four and Charlotte had another girl, Maisie.
Now the eldest goes to school, youngest is five, and Charlottes still home. Every morning, I feed the son-in-law and girls breakfast, pack Daisy off to school, Maisie stays home with her mum. Well, with her mumshe plays quietly or watches cartoons on her own. Such a calm girl, and her mother sleeps until midday.
I see Daisy off, head to work. In the evening, I cook for the next day, help the girls with homework, do laundry and tidy up.
I tried telling Charlotte Im no longer young, time for her to do something. No use. Shes too tired with the children.
My son-in-law is perfectly content. Mother-in-law works, covers expenses, he neednt lift a finger. Plus, they get village-grown veg.
Hed help in the garden, but oh, the issuetheres no car. Hints I should shell out for one. They know I have savings, Im fearful of handing over the last and ending up penniless. Anyway, it wouldnt be enough for a decent car.
Im exhausted. Know its my own fault. Raised a lazy, shameless daughter. I understand it all, but have no idea how to break free.”
“Thats some tale! Dont fret, Alice, well figure things out. Let’s head home, dawn is almost here,” Stephen said, before leaving.
On Sunday evening, he drove her into town in his car. Alice was glad for all the provisions she could bring from the village. Stephen helped haul sacks and bags up to her flat.
When he’d gone, Charlotte asked, “Whered you pick up that old fellow?”
Alice explained he was a former classmate and went on to sort the vegetables.
Two weeks later, her schoolmate arrived near lunchtime and started removing pre-packed boxes and bags from the flat, as Alice had prepared. Bleary-eyed Charlotte and her husband poked their heads out.
“Whats going on?” they said in unison.
“Im leaving. Im getting married, going back to my home village to spend my days with Stephen,” replied Alice.
“Youve lost it in your old age, havent you? Getting married! Bride with no prospects! And have you made lunch, madwoman? The girls will be hungry soon!” Charlotte exclaimed in outrage.
“You can feed your daughtersand your husbandnow. Ive lived ten years for you all, but now I want to live for myself. Time to get moving, dear Charlotte,” replied Alice.
“Traitor! I forbid you to see your granddaughters!” Charlotte shrieked.
“I hadnt planned on seeing them right away. Ill be busy. Anyway, Ive seen them far more these years than you have,” and Alice left.
Sitting in the car, she wept.
“I shouldve told them sooner,” she said to Stephen.
“Youd have heard the same, only louder and nastier. Best to cut quick and clean. Theyve leached too much; nothing would change otherwise,” replied Stephen.
Alice made Stephens house homely. He built a warm indoor loo for her, and installed a shower. Water had to be fetched and poured into a tank, with the septic emptied twice a month, but that was just part of life.
Alice accepted a job as school caretaker. The pay was less, but life was quieter. Stephens crew built and fixed things all year round. They were happya peaceful, friendly life.
Roughly a month later, her son-in-law brought the girls for the weekend. Daisy told her grandmother that her parents argued often. Dad cooked soup, couldnt manage much else. Mum was thinking about working, but hadnt decided.
On Sunday, her son-in-law wanted to leave Maisie to stay in the village, but Alice refused, “I work; Stephen does too. Children belong with their parents. Visits, yesbut you must raise your own. You had them for yourselves, not for me.”
Charlotte and her husband were offended, but a week later the girls were back at Nans.
“Just for the weekend,” said her son-in-law, and stayed too, missing his mother-in-laws cooking.
Thats how things went.
Some might say the mother acted cruelly towards her daughter; others would call it fair. As many opinions as there are people.
