Family?
Tell David to get here right now! the daughter gasped, her voice cracking. All three little ones have a fever and are whining. I cant get them to the clinic on my own. He needs to drive them over.
Eleanors eyes widened, though Emily could not see her distress. Inside, panic for the grandchildren tightened the room.
Ill sort it out, love. Dont worry, Eleanor tried to speak calmly, hoping not to add to her daughters nerves. She pressed the phones end button and fell silent. Her fingers fumbled for Davids number in her contacts. Three sick children, Emily alone, husband at work a crisis.
David would help, she was sure. The first ring, then the second, finally he answered.
Hey, Mum, he said hurriedly.
David, dear, its a mess Eleanor chose her words carefully. Emily just called. All three kids are ill; they need to see a doctor immediately. Her husband cant get off work. Could you drive over and take the nieces? It wont take long.
A heavy silence settled. Eleanor heard her sons breathing and a muffled clatter in the background.
Mum, todays the thing I cant, David sighed. Its Annes birthday. We booked a restaurant two weeks ago. The traffic across the city is terrible now, and we wont make the reservation in time. So Im sorry, I cant.
Eleanors grip on the phone tightened, her palm slick with sweat. Was he really turning his back?
David, can you hear me? The children are sick! Your nieces! she shouted, trying not to lose control. Emily cant manage three stubborn toddlers by herself. They need a doctor now!
I understand, Mum, David replied flatly, emotionless. But we have plans. We cant cancel everything. Call a taxi, or you and your husband sort it out. Whats the problem?
Eleanor sank into a chair, her legs trembling. She couldnt believe what she was hearing.
Your fathers at work! she snapped, finally losing restraint. I cant handle three sick kids on my own! Dont you even get the basics?
Sorry, I cant. Its not my problem, David snapped back sharply. The kids are Emilys responsibility. Shell have to manage.
Eleanors throat tightened with rage. What do you mean not my problem? Its your family! Your sister! You cant just refuse to help a relative once!
I said I cant! Were about to leave, sorry, David cut off.
Sharp beeps pierced the quiet. Eleanor stared at the screen, unable to process the scene. Her hands trembled. She dialed again. No answer. Again. Silence.
A hot, burning anger flared inside her. How could her son behave like this? She called her daughterinlaw, hoping Grace might reason with David.
Hello, Eleanor? Grace answered almost immediately.
Grace, love, Eleanor forced a calm tone. Why arent you asking David to help? Those are his nieces! Emily is struggling alone. You understand, youre a mother yourself.
Grace exhaled, her voice cool and distant.
Eleanor, the parents are supposed to look after their own children. There are taxis, an ambulance if needed. The kids arent infants any more. Emily is an adult, shell manage.
Eleanor froze. Graces words scorched deeper than Davids refusal.
Grace, can you imagine trying to ferry three sick, whiny toddlers in a taxi? Eleanors composure shattered. Theyre tiny! Emily cant do it by herself!
Its her children, Eleanor, Grace replied indifferently. Weve already planned our evening. We dont want to ruin it over someone elses trouble.
Rage supplanted embarrassment.
If you cant help your own future children, then dont bother ours! Eleanor shouted, slamming the handset down.
The following days drifted like a fog. Eleanor stopped calling David; he remained silent. She tried not to think about the incident, but the hurt lingered, a constant ache.
At night she lay awake, replaying the cruel conversation. How could her son act so? Where had she failed as a mother? What had she raised him to be?
Davids husband tried to talk to her a few times, but Eleanor brushed him off. She felt she had to sort it out alone, to understand what went wrong.
On the fourth evening, patience snapped. Eleanor decided to drive to Davids flat. She needed to look him in the eye, to hear how her son could betray his own family.
Grace opened the door, surprise flickering across her face, then stepped aside quietly. Eleanor entered without even hanging her coat.
Wheres David? she demanded sharply.
In the living room, Grace said, gesturing toward a doorway.
Eleanor pushed the door open. David met her gaze. For a heartbeat something unnameable flickered in his eyes, then his face hardened.
Mum? Whats happened? he asked, eyebrows raised.
How could you? Eleanors cry was so loud the room seemed to shake. Everything she had bottled up for four days burst out.
How could you refuse a sick child? Your own sisters? I didnt raise you to be selfish and cold!
David rose slowly, his expression unchanged, almost indifferent.
Mum, you could have called a taxi yourself, he shrugged. Went to Emilys, helped with the kids. I dont have to drop everything at the first call.
He paused, staring directly into her eyes.
Did you forget how Emily stopped speaking to us after we bought that flat? She started gossiping, remember? he continued.
Since we bought the house, shes been angry at everything, wont answer the phone, even turns away strangers. Its been six months, and now you suddenly need to help?
Eleanor stumbled over her words, her mouth opening and closing.
Its its just Emily lives in a rented flat with three kids.
And you and Grace have a twobedroom house, no children. Of course she feels left out. I didnt know what else to say what else to do?
Grace stood in the doorway, arms crossed, expression unchanged.
She talks a lot, says nasty things about Anne. About the flat, its not her business, David said coldly. We earned this place ourselves, no one helped us. Let Emily sort her own problems, not drag us into them.
Eleanor stepped forward, fists clenched involuntarily.
What are you saying? Shes your sister! Shes family!
No, Mum, David retorted, voice rising. My family is Anne. Emily should have thought ahead!
She chose to have three children! No one forced her! Eleanor snapped. Im not obligated to drop everything the moment she calls.
Youre selfish! Eleanor shouted. You only think of yourself! Your sister can barely handle the kids and you cant even lend a hand!
Help? David smirked. Why should I help someone who hasnt spoken to me for six months? We stopped talking to Emily! How could you not see that?
He took a breath, his tone softening slightly.
What am I even talking about? he shook his head. All you ever worry about is Emily. Its always been that way. Im just an empty space for you.
Youre heartless! Eleanor snapped, turning away. How can you say that? Your sister is struggling and you cant even try?
Try? David laughed bitterly. Why would I help a woman whos ignored me for half a year? Weve cut ties. You never noticed it, did you?
He paused, eyes narrowing.
You see only Emily. Always have. Im nothing to you.
Youre a monster! Eleanor shouted, tears streaming. I didnt raise you like this! I taught you to help each other!
She bolted out of the flat, stopping on the staircase landing, breath ragged. The hallway seemed to blaze with heat. How could her son speak to her like that?
The cold night air slapped her face, but it didnt ease the sting. She walked toward the bus stop, her mind looping the same question: where had she gone wrong?
Why had she raised such a selfish person? Why couldnt David grasp the simplest truth that family should support one another?
Deep down, in a corner of her mind shed avoided, a troubling thought grew. Davids words about Emily: the rift after the house purchase, the gossip, his own familys needs.
She halted halfway down the pavement. Passersby brushed past. What if David was right? What if she herself had been blind, demanding too much without seeing his burdens?
No. Eleanor shook her head violently. She could not admit that. She was a mother; she knew what was right for children. She had always believed that.
But doubt settled, a small, sharp seed. With each step toward her bus, it sprouted, swelling, pressing against her chest.
She boarded the minibus, pressed her face to the window. Outside, houses, cars, ordinary life rolled by. Inside, something inside Eleanor cracked, something changed forever.
She didnt know if she could ever mend it, if she could speak to David as before, if she could forgive his refusal, or if he would ever forgive her blindness.
The bus jolted over potholes. Eleanor closed her eyes, hoping tomorrow might bring clarity, hoping the right words might surface, hoping the family might become a family again.
Or perhaps it was already too late….
