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Mom, You Had Your Fun at Our Cottage, Now It’s Time to Go Back” – Daughter-in-Law Kicks Mother-in-Law Off Her Property
“Go on, Mum, youve had your fun at our cottage. Time to head back,” the daughter-in-law shooed her mother-in-law off the property.
Emily still couldnt believe it. After ten long years of dreaming, they finally had their own countryside retreat! Life had always thrown obstacles in their waymortgage payments, the kids school expenses, one financial crisis after another. But now, after checking their savings, theyd decided it was now or never.
Her husband, William, worked at an insurance firmnothing extraordinarywhile Emily was a paediatric physiotherapist. She earned decently, but owning a country home had always seemed out of reach. Then fate intervened. Both her grandmother and Williams passed away within months of each other, each leaving them a flat in small towns.
After long discussions, they sold both properties, pooled the money, and finally made their dream come truea plot of land in the countryside.
The perfect listing came up quickly. Few people sell property in winter, waiting instead for the summer rush. But William wouldnt hear of hesitation.
“Well talk ourselves out of it if we wait,” he grumbled. “A hundred excuses, and well never have this chance again.”
Emily agreed wholeheartedly. Everything was falling into place!
The plot was idealelectricity, gas, utilities already connected. All they needed was to build a small summer house.
Come spring, William took leave from work and, with his mate Thomas, set to work. They laboured tirelessly, skipping breaks, and within a month, the family celebrated their housewarming.
Sleeping arrangements were makeshiftair mattresses on the floor and quilts brought from the citybut they had a stove and running water. The rest could wait.
“Cheers, William! Congratulations!” Thomas raised his glass.
The men downed their drinks, grabbed slices of barbecue slathered in onions and ketchup, and dug in.
“Whod have thought itd happen so fast?” Emily marvelled. “At Christmas, I never imagined wed have our own cottage, and nowhere it is!” She gestured proudly at the little house.
Though dusk settled, they lingered outside, enjoying their impromptu picnic.
“Hello, love, hows it all going?” came Margarets gentle voice over the phone.
When she sounded this sweet, she was definitely scheming something.
“Mum, its brilliant!” William replied cheerfully.
“Oh, I know. The grandkids told meyouve bought a cottage?”
“Thats right! Not just any cottagea proper countryside retreat!” William boasted.
“Oh, listen to you,” Margaret laughed theatrically, but her voice suddenly dulled. “Well, good for you”
“Mum, how are you?” William asked belatedly.
“Oh, whats there to say at my age? The doctors say I need peace and quiet, no stress. Then maybe Ill recover But where do I find that? Spas are too expensive, and I cant afford them,” she hinted heavily.
“Mum, come stay with us!” William offered eagerly.
“Oh, love, dont be silly! As if youve nothing better to do! And Emily wont like it” she demurred.
“Mum, stop it. Just come, all right?”
“Fine, William, if you insist. Ill bake your favouritemy Victoria sponge.”
When William broke the news to Emily, she wasnt thrilled.
“So, we get a cottage, and suddenly her doctors prescribe fresh country air?” she said dryly.
“Yeah,” William shrugged.
“Not suspicious at all, is it?”
“No, shes got high blood pressure.”
“Youre missing the point. Shes not coming for her healthshes coming to gawk at our new place!”
“Relax. Shell stay a week, then go home.”
“Have you forgotten what happened last time?”
William had, but Emily remembered vividly. Margaret had done everything to sabotage their marriagespreading gossip, provoking arguments, insinuating their eldest son “wasnt cut from the same cloth.” Shed even resorted to petty tricksoversalting soup or swapping sugar for salt. Emily had finally sent her packing on the first train back.
Emily had no doubt Margaret would stir up trouble again. But she didnt want to turn William against his mother. Maybe, just maybe, this time would be different?
“Oh, its simply lovely here! A real idyll! The air, the trees, this charming little house” Margaret gushed as she surveyed the property. “This mustve been Emilys idea! Shes always been the clever one. Hold onto her, Williama wife like this is hard to find!”
“Well, this is new,” Emily raised an eyebrow. “Whats brought on the sudden change, Margaret?”
“Youve always been my favourite. My sons a bit of a fool, but his wife? Pure gold. Weve had our differences, but let bygones be bygones.”
“So *Im* the fool?” William laughed.
“Yes, but my favourite fool,” Margaret smiled. “Now then, whats for dinner?”
“Barbecue every night here!” Emily grinned. “Hope you dont mind. We just cant get enough of cooking outdoors.”
“Delighted. Last time I had barbecue was in BrightonWilliam was still in school. Can you imagine how long ago that was?”
“Well, William, fire up the grill. Ill fetch the meat from the fridge.”
“Mind if I join? Id love another look at the house.”
“Of course!” Emily nodded.
This time, Margaret seemed genuinely differentcheerful, cracking jokes, treating Emily warmly. Emily wondered if time had mellowed her. Maybe past conflicts had made her rethink things. Why would she sabotage their marriage now? Theyd been together for years, had grown children, and now this cottage. Besides, Emily was a good wifepractical, loyal, hardworking, an excellent cook.
While William and his mother fetched plates, his phone buzzed, screen-up on the table. Emilys gaze caught the message before she could look away.
*When are you back in town? Have you told her about us? Waiting for news. Kisses.*
Emily dropped the phone. It landed softly in the grass. Her thoughts spiralled.
*How do I tell the kids? How do we split the flat? Who is she? And how could William do this?*
“Plates are here!” William set them down.
“I need a moment,” Emily muttered, unable to face him. She needed cold water and air.
She rushed inside, splashing her face at the sink.
“Whats wrong?” Margaret nearly dropped a ketchup bottle as she dodged out of the way.
Emily scrubbed her face, tears mixing with water. After a minute, she dried off with a towel.
“Williams seeing someone.”
“Oh, love, come here,” Margaret hugged her.
Emily realisedMargaret wasnt surprised.
“You knew?”
“I hoped hed come to his senses. Youve been together since uni, have kids, this cottage Like I saida fool.”
Emily sobbed. If hed told his mother, it was serious. Their marriage was over.
“Listen. Calm down, dry your tears. You dont want a scene, do you?”
Emily shook her head, wiping her face.
“Well figure it out. I wont let him walk away that easily.”
The words offered a sliver of comfort.
The next day, William headed to town”for warmer clothes,” he claimed, citing a forecasted cold snap.
But Emily knew the real reason. As agreed, she played along.
Once his car vanished around the bend, Margaret sat beside Emily on the porch and laid out her plan.
“You need a man.”
“What?!”
“Not seriously. Just enough to make William jealous. Sometimes feelings fadethe wife becomes familiar, the husband strays. But if he sees youre still desirable, he might snap out of it.”
Absurd as it was, there was logic in it.
“Who did you have in mind?”
“Thomas? Hes single. Helped build the house.”
“Call him. Barbecue, drinks, a short dress. Let William come home to find his spot taken!” Margaret smirked.
Surprisingly, Thomas agreed, though theyd barely spoken before. Upon arriving, he asked, “Wheres William?”
“Back this evening. Im hopeless at grillingneed a mans touch,” Emily smiled demurely.
Margaret watched through the window.
“More wine?” Thomas reached for the bottle.
“Please, but keep eatingIll be tipsy too fast,” Emily flirted lightly.
“Youre lovely, Emily,” Thomas handed her a plate of fruit. “Wish I had a woman like you. Dont tell Williamjust thinking aloud.”
Emily flushed. She hadnt expected this. What if he made a pass? William would be back soon. Then againwhy should she care now?
Her thoughts swirled. She took another sipthen a car engine roared.
William
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