How Dare She! — the Mother-in-Law Fumed. — So, your wife has turned you against your own mother, has she? Well, now I see everything clearly.

Honestly! my motherinlaw snapped. So your wife has turned you against your own mum? Well, I see how it is now.

Emily, we need to have a serious chat, Daniel said, perching on the edge of the kitchen table while his wife was stirring a sauce for pasta.

About what? Emily asked, keeping the sauce on a low heat so it wouldnt scorch.

About mum and about money, Daniel muttered. Shes asked for another loan this month.

Emily let out a heavy sigh. In the past six months those conversations had become all too familiar. First Margaret had begged for a little extra to cover medicines and groceries, then more and more. She always promised to pay back, but the arrears just kept swelling.

How much this time? Emily turned the stove off.

Thirtythousand pounds, Daniel lowered his gaze. She says the fridge has broken down.

What? Emily snapped, turning sharply toward him. Weve been scrimping for two months to fix the bathroom, and now youre?

Emily, you know its my mum, Daniel started, as if that should soften it.

My mum, who already owes us over a hundred thousand pounds! Emily slammed her spoon onto the table. Shes never repaid a penny!

There was a knock at the door. Margaret stood on the doorstep, impeccably dressed, pearl earrings glinting.

Emily, thank goodness youre home! she chirped, stepping into the kitchen. Whats that wonderful smell?

Just pasta with mushroom sauce, Emily replied, dryly.

How sweet of you to cook for my boy. You know hes always preferred simple food since he was a lad, Margaret cooed.

Mom! Daniel interjected, a little too loudly. I love what Emily makes.

Right then, Margaret settled into a chair. Do I owe you anything?

The fridge is dead, foods spoiling, and my pension doesnt arrive until two weeks from now she began.

No, Emily said firmly.

Whats that no about? Margaret asked, surprised.

Weve no money left. We cant keep helping you, Emily said.

Margarets hands flew up. How can you not? You both work, you earn decent wages It cant be hard to help your own mother when youve got the cash.

Between the mortgage, the council tax, the repairs, and the loan we took to help you last time, theres nothing left, Emily shot back. And were still paying back a credit line we opened just for you.

Youre accusing me? tears welled in Margarets voice. Ive devoted my whole life to Daniel! Ive given him everything!

And you keep giving now its our money youre taking.

Emily! Daniel tried to intervene.

No, love, let your wife finish, Margaret cut in. I want to hear how she blames me for asking her own son for help.

Help? Emily smiled wryly. You call this help? You borrow money, promise to pay it back, and never do! Yet I see you splurging on new handbags and spa retreats.

How dare you! Margaret flared. Im an older lady; I need to look after my health!

We need to live, build our own family, fix our flat. But we cant because were constantly bailing you out!

Daniel! Margaret turned to her son. Do you hear how shes speaking to me? Are you going to let this happen?

Mom, Emilys right, Daniel said softly. We truly cant keep handing over cash.

Ah, so your wife has turned you against your own mother? Margaret huffed. Dont expect me to be there when she squanders every penny on her fancy restaurants and clothes.

I barely have time for restaurants, Emily replied, exhausted. Im pulling overtime just to cover your pension loans.

You ungrateful child! Margaret shrieked. I

What do you want from me? Emily interrupted. You know what? Im not a cashmachine to satisfy every whim you have.

Margaret fell silent, stunned by her daughterinlaws defiance.

You already owe us over a hundred thousand pounds, Emily continued. Ive written down every amount and date. Either you start repaying, or you stop asking for more.

Daniel! Are you really going to let her speak to your mum like that? Margarets voice trembled with tears.

Mom, stop, Daniel said firmly. We really cant give you any more money. Were in debt ourselves.

Margaret sank into a chair, her face buried in her hands. I thought you were like a daughter to me, Emily. I thought we were one family Yet youre counting every penny like an accountant.

Because you never repay, Emily replied calmly. And you keep asking for more.

You cant be serious! Margaret sobbed. Ive given my son everything my whole life. I was never welloff, but I bought him the best I could. Now Im old, frail, and apparently a burden.

Daniel glanced helplessly at Emily, who recognized the familiar guilttrip starting again.

Margaret, your pension is above average, and you still rent out the flat you inherited from your mother. Where does all that money go?

You dare question me? Margaret snapped. Do you know how much my medication costs? The bills? The groceries?

I do, Emily nodded. And I also saw the receipt for a new mink coat you bought last month.

You think Im a ATM? Margaret clenched her fists. You take my money and give it back with no thanks, no gratitude.

No, Margaret, were the ones acting like an endless, freeofcharge ATM for you, Emily said, deadpan.

Margarets face went pale and she slumped back into the chair.

Theyre ungrateful I could have given that flat to another son or the grandkids. Yet I kept giving everything to you, Daniel

Enough, Mum! Daniel knocked his fist on the table. If you keep this up, Ill cut off contact completely.

Margaret pressed a hand to her chest. Son, you didnt mean that, did you? I am your mother

Im tired of the constant manipulation and guilttripping, Daniel finished. Emilys right; this cant go on.

After Margaret left, Emily and Daniel sat in the kitchen for a long while.

You know, Daniel finally said, Ive just realised how long shes been pulling us around.

I wanted to tell you ages ago, Emily wrapped her hands around a cooling mug of tea. I was scared you wouldnt get it. Im sorry I didnt speak up sooner.

A few days later Margaret called Daniel.

Daniel, I was thinking maybe you and Emily could drop by for tea? Ive baked some scones.

Mom, have you apologised to Emily? Daniel asked.

For what? For asking for help? Margarets voice trembled with a familiar hysteria.

For the manipulation, for the pressure. Daniel replied.

Youve become so hardhearted, son. Youve truly turned your wife against your own mum

Fine. Until you apologise, we wont come, Emily said.

Please, please! Margaret pleaded, hanging up.

Two weeks passed without a word from Margaret. Emily noticed Daniel checking his phone often, worried about his mum.

Should we call? she suggested.

No. Let her think about her own behaviour, Daniel said.

Then Margaret turned up at the door, unusually quiet and a bit embarrassed.

Ive been thinking maybe I was wrong. Emily, Im sorry, she said.

Emily nodded. Come in, Margaret. Tea?

Thank you, Margaret sat down carefully. Ive also been considering a parttime job. My pension really doesnt stretch any further.

Emily and Daniel exchanged a glance. It felt like the first step toward change.

After that uneasy conversation, the visits from Margaret became less frequent, the demands for cash faded, and the atmosphere grew calmer.

That evening the couple set some firm rules for their household budget.

Anything about money, especially helping relatives, has to be decided together, Emily said, pouring tea. Im not going to be caught between two fires.

I agree, Daniel took her hand. I finally see how long I let mum push my buttons, reminding me of all the things shes done for me

Youre not to blame, Emily replied gently. Its just time to put things in order.

A week later Margaret arrived with a tray of scones, looking unusually flustered.

Ive baked these fancy a cuppa? she offered.

Over tea she avoided the subject of money altogether, instead reminiscing about her youth, how she met Daniels father, and the early days of their marriage.

Actually, she said, stirring sugar, Ive signed up for computer classes at the local seniors centre. They teach us how to work online for free.

Why? Daniel asked, puzzled.

I want to pick up a bit of freelance work. Lots of retirees are doing data entry, translation, all that, she explained.

At Daniels birthday the whole family gathered. It was the first big celebration since the feud. Margaret behaved impeccably, not complaining about anything.

Im now doing Excel spreadsheets! she announced proudly. I even know a few formulas.

My mums gotten a parttime gig, Daniel said. She helps a small firm with paperwork.

After the party Emily confided in Daniel, I cant believe how much shes changed.

She finally realised she can sort her own problems, he replied. Admitting that wasnt easy for her.

Six months later Margaret handed Emily an envelope.

This is the first instalment of what I owe you, she said. Its not much, but Ill keep paying back.

Do you think we should even accept it? Emily wondered.

Yes, Margaret answered firmly. You were right back then. I shouldnt have behaved that way.

Recently Margaret landed a permanent position with a firm that needed extra help.

Now Ive got my pension and a salary! she beamed on the phone. I even signed up for an English class. At my age, you just cant stop moving forward.

Emily and Daniel bumped into her at the supermarket. She looked younger, dressed in a sharp business coat, hair neatly styled.

Just stopped by for groceries after work, she smiled. It feels nice to spend my own money!

Seeing all that, Emily realised that sometimes the only thing you need to do is say no. And when you do, even the toughest relationships can turn around. Their chats with Margaret are now calmer and more honest, free of guilttripping and endless loan requests. Margaret has shown that at any age you can start a new chapter you just have to want it.