The door remained shut.
“Mum, open the door! Mum, please!” The son’s fists hammered against the metal surface, hard enough to rattle the hinges. “I know you’re in! The car’s not in the driveyou havent left!”
Margaret Elizabeth stood with her back to the door, clutching a cold cup of tea in trembling hands. The porcelain clattered against the saucer, her fingers shaking too much to still it.
“Mum, whats going on?” William’s voice grew more desperate. “The neighbours say you havent let anyone in for a week! Not even Charlotte!”
At the mention of her daughter-in-law, Margarets lips twisted slightly. Charlotte. His precious Charlotte, for whom hed do anything. Even what had happened last Thursday.
“Mum, Ill call a locksmith!” William threatened. “Ill break the lock!”
“Dont you dare!” Margaret finally snapped, still refusing to turn. “Dont you dare lay a hand on it!”
“Mum, why? Whats happened? Talk to me!”
Margaret closed her eyes, struggling to gather her thoughts. How could she explain to her son what shed overheard? How could she tell him what shed stumbled upon in the hospital corridor?
“Mum, please” Williams voice softened, pleading. “Im worried about you. Charlottes worried too.”
Charlottes worried. Of course she was. Probably terrified her plans were crumbling.
“Go away, William. Go away and dont come back.”
“Mum, are you ill? Do you have a fever? Should I call a doctor?”
“I dont need a doctor. I need you to leave me alone.”
Margaret rose and moved to the window. In the drive, William was on the phone. Probably telling Charlotte his mother was being difficult again.
Her son glanced up and saw her. He gestured that he was coming up. She stepped back and sank into her armchair once more.
A minute later, the knocking resumed.
“Mum, its me and Charlotte. Open the door, please.”
Margaret clenched her jaw. So hed brought her. His wife, whod so carefully plotted their future.
“Margaret,” came Charlottes gentle voice, “its me. Open up, please. Williams beside himself.”
What a brilliant actress. She could switch tones on demand.
“We brought you food,” Charlotte continued. “Milk, bread, pecan piejust how you like it.”
Pecan pie. Margaret smirked bitterly. A month ago, Charlotte had discovered her mother-in-law adored it, and now she brought it every time. What a devoted daughter-in-law.
“Margaret, say something,” Charlotte pressed, voice laced with concern. “Were worried sick.”
“Worried sick,” Margaret echoed, but so quietly they couldnt hear.
“Mum, Im not leaving until you open up!” William declared. “Ill stay here all night if I have to!”
She knew he meant it. Hed always been stubborn, even as a boy. Once he set his mind to something, he never gave up.
“Fine,” she said at last. “But just you. Alone.”
“What?” William sounded baffled.
“Charlotte goes home. Ill only speak to you.”
She heard their hushed exchange in the hallway.
“Mum, why? Charlottes worried too.”
“Because I said so. Either you come in alone, or neither of you do.”
More whispering, then Charlottes voice:
“Alright, Margaret. Ill go. William, call me when you know whats wrong.”
Margaret waited until the footsteps faded down the stairs, then slowly approached the door and turned the key.
William burst in like a storm, embracing her before holding her at arms length, his face etched with worry.
“Mum, youve lost weight! Youre pale! Whats happened? Are you ill?”
“I havent been ill,” she said, pulling free and moving to the kitchen. “Tea?”
“Yes,” he said, sitting at the table, eyes fixed on her. “Tell me whats going on. Why have you locked yourself away for a week?”
Margaret set the kettle on the stove and turned to him.
“Why open the door? Whats out there worth welcoming?”
“Mum, whats that got to do with anything? You cant stay shut in forever. You need to go shopping, to the doctor”
“Mrs. Thompson next door does my shopping. I leave her a list and the money. And I wont go to the doctor.”
“Why not?”
She poured boiling water into cups, added sugar.
“Because last time I was there, I heard things Id rather not have known.”
William frowned.
“What did you hear?”
“Your wife. On the phone with a friend. She didnt know I was there.”
“What was she saying?”
Margaret sat across from him, staring into his eyeshis fathers eyes, warm and honest. Could this man really be capable of such a thing?
“She was talking about selling my flat. Sending me to a care home. Spending the money.”
William went pale.
“Mum, you misunderstood. Charlotte would never”
“I understood perfectly,” she cut in. “Word for word. And she said, Williams already agreed. He says his mum cant live alone, its dangerous at her age. Well put her in a nice home, sell the flat. The money will cover the deposit.”
“Mum, I never”
“Dont interrupt me!” Her voice rose. “And she said, Thank God shes sweet, suspects nothing. Thinks we love her. But shes just in the way.”
William hung his head, fists clenched.
“Mum, I swear, Ive never agreed to this. Charlottes got a wild imagination.”
“Imagination?” Margaret laughed bitterly. “Then why did she go into such detail? About the home, the money”
William looked up, eyes shining. “Ill talk to her. Ill make this right.”
“Right?” Margaret scoffed. “And if you dont?”
“I will.”
She studied him, searching for deceit. But all she saw was her boythe one whod cried when his goldfish died, whod carried her shopping bags without complaint.
“Then prove it,” she said softly.
He stood, jaw set. “I will. But I need you to trust me.”
Margaret exhaled, the weight of the week pressing down. “Go. Sort it out. Then well talk.”
With a stiff nod, he turned and left.
And so, with a heavy but steady heart, Margaret Elizabeth spent the evening alone, knowing that no matter what her son decided, she would keep her dignityand her homeuntil the very end.
