– No. We’ve decided it’s best not to have your wife and child move into this flat. We can’t tolerate the inconvenience any longer, so we’ll be asking you to move out. – And your wife will later tell everyone we drove you and your little baby onto the street.

No. Weve decided its better if you dont bring your wife and baby into this flat. We cant put up with the inconvenience forever, and well be forced to ask you to move out.
And then your wife will go around telling everyone we threw you out with a child in the street. Thatll ruin our reputation, and I wont have that.

The neighbour in the adjoining flat saw Emily return from the argument with her husband, her face clouded with worry. Both women had become mothers three days earlier and were due to be discharged the day after tomorrow. A joyous occasionthere was no reason for gloom.

Emily, you look pale. Whats happened? asked the neighbour.

Michael said the landlady ordered us to leave, straight away. Shes renting the flat to a couple without children, and now were planning to bring a baby. She fears well be crying at night, the neighbours will complain, and she doesnt want any trouble.

And what, you have nowhere else to go?

Michaels parents own a threebedroom house, but his younger sister lives there too. My parents are in a village about twelve miles from town, Emily answered.

You could stay with his parents for a week or two while you look for a new place, the neighbour suggested.

Michael has already been searching, but as soon as landlords hear theres a little one, they pull the plug.

Thats the problem. Still, you have two days; your husband will think of something.

Michael, however, found no solution. He phoned a handful of letting agents, heard only refusals, and ended up moving their boxes from the rented flat into his parents house.

His parents and sister were far from delighted at the prospect of sharing their home with Michaels new family and a restless newborn.

Son, remember we agreed before your wedding that you and your wife would not live with us, his mother said. You may have the spare room, but we dont want any strangers under our roof.

And Emily is a stranger. To you shes a wife; to us shes an outsider. You chose her, we didnt.

Mum, its only temporary until we find somewhere suitable, Michael pleaded.

You know theres nothing more permanent than a temporary arrangement. One week becomes a month, a month becomes forever.

No. Besides, we both work, your sister is at university. We all need peace. With a baby in the flat you cant talk loudly, you cant watch TV, you have to be ready for midnight wails at any moment.

Well try to find a place faster, Michael promised.

No. Weve decided its better if you dont bring your wife and child into this flat. We cant endure the discomfort, and eventually well ask you to leave.

And your wife will go on telling everyone we kicked you out with a baby, tarnishing our name. So dont even think about bringing Emma and the child here. Sort it out another way.

With that news, Michael rushed to the hospital.

Listen, Emma, could you stay with your parents for a while? he asked.

Isnt your mother interested in seeing her grandchild? Emma replied, surprised.

I dont know, my mother told me not to come, Michael said.

Perfect! Other families roll out the red carpet for women with babiesflowers, gifts, joy. Were treated like unwanted strangers. They dont even want to see us, Emma snapped.

That evening she called her parents. The day she and her son were discharged, her father arrived with Michael.

Pack up, love, were heading home. And you, he said to Michael, bring all Emmas things and whatever you bought for the baby.

The drive to the village took only thirty minutes. Inside the modest cottage, everything was ready for the infant: a tiny cot dressed in bears and bunnies, a low chest of baby clothes, and a comfortable feeding chair.

In the living room a table was set for a celebratory lunch. No strangers were present, just Emmas parents, her grandmother, and her younger sister, Iris.

No one mentioned Michaels side of the family at dinner, but the conversation turned lively as they debated a name for the boy. They settled on Oliver.

Michael left for town after lunch, promising to bring Emmas remaining belongings the next day.

When he returned, good news awaited him.

Emma, Michael, said Emmas father as the whole family gathered around the table. Weve spoken with my wife and decided to sell my motherinlaws house. The proceeds will go to you.

Well transfer it as a gift from our side of the family, but theres one condition: the house were living in now will, by will, pass to Iris. Emma, are you happy with that?

Absolutely, Im fine with it.

Then Ill place the sale advertisement tomorrow, he added.

The house sold within three months. During that time Emma and little Oliver lived in the village, while Michael stayed in town in his parents flat, commuting every weekend to his wife and son.

Another six weeks were spent hunting for a new flat, securing a mortgage, and overseeing renovations.

At last the day came when Emma, Michael and baby Oliver moved into their own home. They spent almost a month settling in, arranging each piece of furniture, and finally held a housewarming.

They invited Emmas parents, her friends, and Michaels mates. Michaels parents, however, were absent; they had only heard by chance that their son had bought a house.

When Michael was collecting his things, his mother thought they were simply moving to another rented flat.

So, son, you invite the countryside folk to your housewarming but never tell us you now own a home? You could have at least invited us! she scolded over the phone.

We havent even seen our grandson yet. Youre being very unfamilylike, Mum, Michael retorted.

And refusing to let my daughterinlaw and her newborn stay with us is familylike? he asked.

I explained everything, Mum. Were elderly, we need quiet. But can we still visit?

Why would we?

Because Oliver is our grandson.

Mum, our boy will be half a year old soon, yet you suddenly want to see him now. Strange, isnt it?

Nothing strange. When he was a newborn there was nothing to look at; all babies look the same, she replied.

I think the real reason is you were afraid Id bring my family into your house and you were guarding your walls like a fortress.

While Emma and Oliver stayed with my parents, you never tried to meet your grandson. Now that we have our own place, youre suddenly eager to drop by. Were not ready for you, Michael said.

So youre offended? his mother asked. I was actually planning to invite your wife and baby to stay at our cottage all summer.

Why the sudden invitation? Michael wondered.

The child needs fresh air. Its already sweltering in May, and summer will be a furnace.

My wife could stay at the cottage alone, no one would mind; my father and I only come on weekends.

Im on holiday in October, he in November. We wont take any money from you; Emma will tend the garden, pick the cucumbers before they overgrow thats all.

Got it, Mum! You need a summer hand for the cottage. No, manage it yourselves. If we ever want to take Oliver for some fresh air, Emma will go with him to her parents, Michael replied.

The first time Michaels mother and sister actually saw Oliver was when he was two and a half, by chance in a shopping centre. They watched from a distance but never approached.

So thats what grandmothers and mothersinlaw can be like!

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