You’re a True Gem!

Youre a real treasure, you know that?
Again? Emma, who on earth did you have that child for? For yourself or for us? I get home from the office, Im starving, I just want a quiet dinner with you, and instead Im forced to babysit someone elses kid!

The boy isnt exactly a stranger, Emma shivered, exhaling. Honestly, Im not thrilled about it either. But Lucy asked me to get my nails done, and you cant bring a toddler into the salon.

Ian ripped off his jacket, flinging it onto the chair. I should be feeding my nephew, but its far easier in home clothes. The chance of getting splattered with baby purée is a hundred percent.

I get it, love, but a manicure cant wait, can it? Are you the only one she can rely on? Why does our family feel like a nursery?

Theres Mom, but she cant be on call every day, Emma snapped, pulling a packet of instant noodles from the cupboard.

You think you can do it all, dont you? Ian interrupted. Do it for everyone except yourself and me.

He furrowed his brow, then sighed, his features softening. Your wife isnt an enemy, just inexhaustible.

Emma, if you dont cut her off, shell keep hovering over you. And youll be to blame, because the one who drives the car decides where it goes.

Emma pretended to be lost in the kitchen, but inside she knew Ian was right. She didnt want to be a second mother to her nephew, yet she didnt want to clash with family.

It had started innocently.

Emma, Im coming down with a cold and Ive got baby Charlie in my arms. I need to hit the pharmacy, but I cant leave him alone. I cant make it on my own, please help.

So Emma leapt into action without a second thought, forgetting about her own errands. Her sister was ill, possibly seriously, and needed rescuing.

Soon rescuing became a habit.

Need to pick up a phone from the repair shop? Lucys calling. Out of groceries? Emmas on it again. Package at the collection point? Emma darts over like a personal courier.

Emma could afford such feats because she worked remotely with a flexible schedule, but it didnt mean it was easy. A fifteenminute drive to Lucys flat, plus the roundtrip, the queue, the waiting all in all, at least an hour of her day vanished.

Now Emma worked mostly evenings and occasionally nights, when the flat was silent. Her husband, of course, wasnt thrilled, and neither was she. She tried to talk to her sister.

Lucy, how are things with Parker? He doesnt help at all? Emma asked cautiously, handing over another parcel from the online market.

He does help, sort of, Lucy replied. Hes tired after work, but if I need a breather while Im showering, he watches the little one. The rest falls on me.

Lucy looked after her own husband, but never thought of Emmas load.

Moms around, isnt she? Emma pressed.

Dont mention her! Lucy rolled her eyes. Ive had enough of that nagging motherinlaw. When she shows up, my head aches til nightfall. Shes not a woman, shes a fountain of unwanted advice. Id rather starve than ask her for anything.

Is there anyone else? Emma asked, desperate. Oxana has a baby about the same age as yours. Maybe we could trade off one watches, the other runs errands. Or Christina, who doesnt work at all.

I hate pulling strangers into this, Lucy confessed. They dont owe us anything.

Pulling on our own is convenient, Emma sighed.

After that, Emma decided she would say no to her sister. Even before Ian gave any input, she knew something was wrong.

The opportunity came the next day. Lucy called, saying shed booked a nail appointment.

Emma, come over and look after Charlie for an hour.

The tone had shifted from a request to a command. Emmas blood boiled. Why should she scrap her plans just so Lucy could get her nails done?

No, Lucy, I cant today. Sorry.

What do you mean cant?

I cant solve all your problems. I have a life of my own.

I understand, but what am I to do? I have no one else. Ive already booked, I cant let anyone down. Youll never forgive me if I bail.

Lucy, you didnt even ask me before booking. Im not a babysitter or a motherhen. Sort it out yourself.

Fine, Lucy said, hurt. You think its easy because you have no children.

She knew the nephew was becoming like a son to her, but Emma stayed silent. She was never confrontational; even this refusal felt like a heroic act.

Lucy didnt give up and called their mother.

How can you, Emma? their mother scolded. Your own sister has a child, and you turn her away! Who will help her if not us?

When she asked me to pick up medicine, I went because it was important. Now she calls every day about trivial things. She even booked a salon appointment! Does she really need it that urgently?

She just wants to look nice, like any woman. Try to see it from her side.

Emma raised an eyebrow. No one could see her predicament.

Mom, if youre so wise, help her.

I? her mother gasped. I can barely get around! Youre young, its easier for you.

Young, childless, still at home I hear that all the time. Im tired of it. That day Emma finally stood her ground and refused to help.

In retaliation, mother and Lucy gave her the silent treatment for a week, acting as if she didnt exist. Others might have taken it calmly, but Emma felt shed lost her place and wondered how to mend things.

A week later Lucy called again, asking Emma to watch the baby while she did a manicure. Emma agreed, even though she loathed herself for it. She was choosing between exile from the family and endurance.

Youre soft one minute, hard the next, Ian said after hearing it. Be careful, or shell never back off.

Emma sighed, nodded, and that night she mulled over how to refuse without creating a scene.

The next afternoon the phone rang, predictably.

Emma, Im at my wits end. Charlie has a fever, hes been screaming since morning, and Im running round like a hamster. No time for a bathroom break. Come over, well manage together.

I cant, Im at work. We have strict monitoring now the software tracks every minute, even lunch breaks. Its like an office on a screen.

Silence fell. Lucy was clearly hunting for a weak spot.

Please, just once, last time! Ask someone to cover for you or take a day off.

Emma had no choice. She pretended to concede.

Fine, Ill figure something out.

She hung up and texted Parker, asking for his mothers number. He didnt refuse, and Emmas motherinlaw agreed to pop over to Lucys flat.

Emma knew exactly when the mother would arrive because the messages kept coming.

Are you completely bonkers? Lucy wrote back. Why did you bring her onto me?

You needed help. I called her, thats all, Emma replied, as if nothing had happened. I cant be there myself, you know that.

Lucy read it, didnt reply. Emma felt a tiny surge of triumph her small victory. Lucy would whine, mother would probably be annoyed again, but now her sister would have to learn to fend for herself or find real help.