Valentina Was Walking Home Laden With Shopping Bags, Chatting With Her Neighbour Natalie—But When Sh…

Valerie was striding home from the supermarket, arms weighted down with carrier bags and nattering to her neighbour, Natalie. At the sight of a shiny, expensive car parked outside her gate, she straightened her back with pride.

Oh, would you look at that! My future son-in-law has turned up bright and early, she announced.

Natalie glanced at the car, her eyes flashing with just a hint of mischief and skepticism.

So youre already calling him your son-in-law? Dont get ahead of yourself, Val! He hasnt proposed to Lydia, has he? For all you know, he could be a criminal or one of those slippery conmen

Valerie dismissed her with a disdainful wave, lips pursed tightly.

Oh, stop it. Hes a good sort and head over heels for our Liddie. Anyway, no time for chinwag nowIve got a guest to entertain. Just as well I bought some posh chocolates.

She hitched up her overstuffed bags and nearly sprinted to her front door, while Natalie watched her go off with an expression that suggested shed just bitten into a lemon.

So thats it then! I was wondering why shes loaded up on the finest sausages, those expensive chocolates and a lump of cheddar. Welcoming the new boyfriend, of course. Cant wait to offload silly Lydia onto someone at last.

***

At home, Valerie was already beaming with delight. Upon opening her door, she was greeted by the sight of her daughter Lydia perched on a stool, with her guest beside her.

The would-be son-in-law was leaning far too close for Valeries liking, gazing into Lydias eyes. As soon as Valerie banged the door shut, he straightened up and stepped away. Could it be more obvious? They were ogling each other.

The guest behaved impeccably, as usual. Hed brought Lydia a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates and expensive perfume.

He practically bowed to his future mother-in-law. Valerie didnt take her eyes off him for a moment when describing him to Lydia later:

My word, darling, hes dashing! A touch of silver at the temples, but it suits him. Positively aristocratic! she gasped.

Lydia smiled loftily.

He is an aristocrat, Mum.

So, what did he come for? Finally brought gifts and flowers? Valerie pressed.

Lydias face darkened.

No, Mum. He didnt propose. Just asked me to go with him to the theatre in London.

Valeries smile vanished.

So Hes just after a date, eh? We know about these city slickers, dont we? Romancing every tart in London, sowing wild oats, then trolling the countryside for new prey. Wants a date, indeed. Youve lured in a proper Casanova, darling. Been coming here for two months and nary a word about a registry office!

Mum

What? Youre thirty, love! He must be nearly forty! Whats stopping you two from getting married? Hes stringing you along! Better find someone whos not all talk if you ask me.

Well sort this ourselves, Mum!

You just hush and listen to your mother! Valerie snapped, striding over and snatching the sausage from Lydias hands. Put that back. You still need to watch your figure, and besides, this stuff is expensive. Your chap will be back for tea tomorrow, so the sausages stay put.

Lydia fixed her mother with a piercing blue stare and quietly asked, Mum, why are you cross now? Whats wrong this time?

Valerie stashed the sausages in the fridge, then started clattering plates and snatching up the cheese and chocolates as if fortifying a bunker.

Im worried, thats whats wrong! He keeps turning up, and everyone in the village is watching. What if he drops you and you end up a spinster? Youre not twenty anymore, you know! And after him, its not like any other suitors will be queuing up at the door!

Dont fret, Mum, Lydia smiled. Hes not going anywhere, trust me.

***

A week later, Valerie was packing Lydias suitcase, dabbing tears from her cheeks. Shed always thought Lydia was a model of restraint. Apparently not.

Her daughter was expecting. When Valerie spluttered, When did this happen? Lydia just grinned with a glint in her eye.

He used to pick me up at the woods for berry picking, you see. Waited for me just outside the forest. Because he liked me so much. Cant blame himI am gorgeous, after all

Yes, yes, Valerie muttered, still not getting it. But what, in the woods? Is this what youre telling me? Out with it, you sly thing! I need to know where I went wrong as a mother!

Her daughter tucked into sausage and cheese, beaming.

Doesnt matter how, Mum! Hahaha The point is, hes marrying me!

But well have every last cousin at the wedding, just you wait, Valerie huffed. Oh, how can I let you go off to the big city, darling! Youre my only one, you know.

Ill visit all the time, Mum

The neighbours soon came crashing into the house, hollering:

Val, we hear your Lydias off to get married, and you said nothing!

Shes going! Valerie ran about, waving her arms.

What, no warning? We havent got a present or anything!

No need for gifts, shes just running off to London with her fiancé.

Oh, what a joy!

***

And off she went, Valeries only darling, whisked away by her beloved chap to the city.

Lydia called her mother often, describing her soon-to-be son-in-laws stunning house.

Valerie waited and waited for news of a wedding that never came.

A month passed, then another, then six And then Natalie came running with news shed seen Lydia in townpushing a pram. Valerie nearly fainted.

With a pram?! How could she keep this from me?

She barely registered how shed rushed to pack, threw on her coat and dashed for the bus. All she remembered was outrage.

Her granddaughter was born and Lydia hadnt even told her! What a shocker.

Valerie rang her daughter right from the station. Thankfully, there was mobile reception in London, unlike her village where signal was as rare as hens teeth.

Lydia didnt answer at firstjust rejected the call, stoking Valeries fury further.

So where the devil are you?! Valerie shouted, drawing stares. Im at the station, come and fetch me! And kindly explain how on earth youve had a baby and didnt bother telling your own mother?!

Lydia turned up alone in a cab, eyes lowered.

Mum, Im sorry. There wasnt time to explain. Ive had a daughternamed her Sophie. She looks just like you

And whose house are you living in?

Were at Paulswell, you know, my boyfriend. Its his house. Gorgeous, really.

Well?

Valerie glared as if Lydia were a traitor.

You ashamed of me, are you? Tell me the truth!

Lydia looked shaken.

No, no, Mum! Not at all. Its just how can I say this Paul lives with his mother.

Turns out, the house and car belong to the fearsome matriarch. And she wont let him marry Lydia.

***

Valerie marched across the threshold determined to lay down the law.

What sort of mother keeps her sons pregnant girlfriend under her roof and wont allow them to marry?

Ignoring both Paul and the baby Lydia pushed into her arms, Valerie stormed through the house looking for the legendary mother, who was discovered on the grand piano, clinking away upstairs.

Clearing her throat with Oscar-worthy aplomb, Valerie demanded attention. Getting none, she simply slammed the piano lid shut.

The regal woman perched at the keys threw a frosty glare her way.

What is the meaning of this? she snapped. Who are you?

Im Lydias mother! barked Valerie. And isnt it shameful to tinkle the ivories when a little baby in the house needs her sleep?

You mean Sophie? Shes perfectly well rested, the pianist retorted coldly. And frankly, one might ask whos disturbing whose peace here!

Oh, I see. Well, theres a simple solution: how about you move out and let the young ones have some peace!

Why should I leave my own house? she said, haughtily.

Because youre in the way of a young family!

Im in the way? Theyre welcome to leave if it bothers themyoull find the front door just where it always was.

So you dont care a jot about your own granddaughter? Valerie gasped.

The woman gave a chilly smile. Valerie, was it? Lovely. So do enlighten mewhy should I fret about your daughter and grandchild? Theyve got you, havent they, and Paul? I have already given your daughter the most precious thing I possessmy son! My driver and right-hand man. But you want more, apparently? If you try to kick me out of my own house, dont test me. Ill make a call and youll be turfed out as a trespasser. You keep riling me and the lot of you will be headed back to your villagedaughter, granddaughter, and your precious Paul too!

At the sound of raised voices, Paul came dashing in, wringing his hands. You must be worn out from your journey, Mum. Liddies got tea on in the dining room!

***

They say tea heals all woundsor at least papers over them. Valerie glared daggers at the old witch, who just sipped her Earl Grey, eyes narrowed in sly amusement.

Ill outlive you, see if I dont, Valerie sulked inwardly.

Paul, sensing his mother-in-laws fighting spirit, kept shooting nervous glances. He nudged Lydia beneath the table, pleading in silence, Your mums a loose cannon. Youd better have a word.

Lydia knew a summit was coming. Her mother bulldozed through life like a tank.

Mum, Lydia said, cornering Valerie in Pauls study while the old witch bashed out Rachmaninoff upstairs. We need to talk!

About what? huffed Valerie. You two are hopeless! That mother-in-law has you wrapped round her little finger!

Shes not my mother-in-law, Mum. Shes Pauls wife.

Valerie was momentarily knocked speechless.

Hows that? she finally blurted.

Lydia gazed at her with mournful resignation.

You must see how rich Paul is, Mum Its thanks to being married, see He married her decades agoshe was nearly fifty at the time. Never wanted kids, went on endlessly about being childfree

Valerie gawked around the librarygold-flaked wallpaper, velvet curtains, books everywhere. The place screamed money.

All this is hers, Lydia went on. I didnt get it at first. I thought, like you, she was Pauls mum. But when I started, um, pushing back, Paul finally told me the truth.

Well, hes a pig! Valerie huffed. What do you want him for, anyway?

Its obvious, Mum! Paul wants a proper family, children She refused to have kids. After all these years, she finally agreed he could have an affair. With me. And for ages theyve lived as only housemates. He just drives her around and does whatever she wants.

Ive heard enough! Valerie leapt up. Pack your bags, grab the baby, and were going back to the village, now!

But Lydia raised her chin defiantly.

No, Mum. Im not going anywhere. Im happy here! Ill stay with Paul. One day hell be a widower, and then well get married.

And until then, shell make your life hell!

So be it. Its my life, I chose it.

Well, stay here, then! Living on sufferance, like an old doormat, while I go back to my own life. And dont expect any sympathy! Valerie huffed, storming off.

***

Time stretched on tediously for Valerie. Life seemed empty, except for gossip from next door.

So-and-sos daughter got married; so-and-sos other daughter just had a son. Valerie dropped by Natalies, played with her grandson, sighed, and thought of her own Lydiaand that granddaughter she hardly knew.

In the end, she could stand it no longerlocked up her house and took the train to London.

She lurked by the grand house gates, peering in to observe.

She saw how her now toddling granddaughter, Sophie, played fetch in the garden with two fluffy poodles, hollering Granny! Granny! at Pauls wife.

Oh, that takes the biscuit, Valerie fumed, burning with jealousy. Shes not even her real grannyI am!

Stepping from the shadows, Valerie stormed up to the gates and knocked, hard.

***

No one tried to chuck Granny Valerie out. Even the Lady of the Manor just shrugged: The house is enormous, theres room for everyone.

The two matriarchs didnt argue nowjust tossed barbed jokes across the flowerbeds as they weeded together, or sometimes playing hide and seek with Sophie.

So, youre here then? the lady would say. Worried Im mistreating your daughter? Fair enough, shes a bit of a doormat. Needs someone to protect her.

If I want, I could throw her out any time, you know. Or I might not. Shes not much like youmust take after her father. Youve got a bit of spine, albeit rather a wobbly one.

Youll get a whack with a tea towel in a minute, Valerie muttered darkly. And who says my backbones wobbly?

Well, you came here, didnt youyour daughter didnt go running home to you. Weak.

Stronger than you, for sure! The only reason Ive come is youre looking peaky these days. Bound to be bedridden soon, no doubt, and Ill have to look after you. Not that I mind, unless poor Liddie gets lumped with your bedpan duty.

Haha, youre killing me! Im in cracking health, eating well, seeing only the best doctors. I never had the stress of childbirth, you knowso for all you know, Valerie dear, Ill outlast you yet!But even as they snapped at each other, Valerie found herself lingering longer in London each visit. Sophie started calling her Granny Val, tugging impatiently at her hand to pull her to the swings or pile crayons in her lap. Lydia, tired but content, smiled more easily with both grandmothers bustling around. Paul wormed his way into Valeries good books too, quietly fixing her morning tea just so, and listening to her tales with patient amusement.

One autumn morning, after a shared victory in ousting a particularly stubborn mole from the rose garden, Valerie and the formidable lady paused for breath on the terrace. Crimson leaves drifted across the flagstones; Sophie toddled after them, shrieking with laughter.

The elder woman eyed Valerie across her teacup, an unfamiliar softness touching her voice. You know, its rather handy having you about. The quiet was getting dreary. I suppose there are stranger fates than sharing a house with you lot.

Valerie snorted, her eyes unexpectedly stinging with tears. Dont go soft on me now, madam.

They shared a rare, companionable silence, broken only by Lydias happy chatter as she joined them, baby on her hip and Paul at her side.

That afternoon, as church bells rang far off through the city, Valerie understood: family was never simple, love always a tangle, and happiness might look nothing like she planned. Still, as Sophie flung herself across both grandmothers knees, giggling, Valerie realized shed found her homebickering, blended, and utterly unpredictable.

And oh, she wouldnt swap it for all the posh chocolates and sausages in the world.