Clara stood near the doorway of the sunny living room with a heavy heart.
The sunlight poured through the wide windows and warmed the pale hardwood floor.
Her mother in law Evelyn sat quietly on the velvet sofa without looking up.
Evelyn was holding Clara's baby boy Jamie while humming a low tune.
Clara felt a strange knot in her stomach that she could not explain.
She had returned early from her shift at the small downtown retail shop.
Her husband Mark had gone out to buy fresh groceries for dinner.
Their young daughter Lily was upstairs sitting quietly in her bedroom area.
Clara took off her coat and walked closer toward the cozy couch.
She noticed that baby Jamie was crying very loudly in Evelyn's arms.
Evelyn did not offer a soft whisper or a warm bottle to soothe him.
She simply stared down at the upset child with a cold look.
Clara stepped forward to take her small boy into her own arms.
Mother Clara: Please give him to me right now, Evelyn.
Evelyn pulled the baby back slightly before setting him down sharply.
The baby landed on the soft carpet and let out a louder scream.
Clara gasped in total terror and dropped straight to her bare knees.
Mother Clara: What did you do to my baby right now?
Grandma Evelyn: Relax, young woman, babies bounce around all the time.
Grandma Evelyn: You act like he is made of glass or gold.
Clara lifted the crying baby quickly and pressed him against her chest.
Her face grew bright red as her heart pounded against her ribs.
She faced Evelyn with pure anger burning deep in her brown eyes.
Mother Clara: Don't ever touch either of my children again, Evelyn!
Evelyn stood up tall and smoothed out her fine maroon dress carefully.
She did not look sorry or worried about what had just happened.
Instead she offered a small smirk that made Clara shake with anger.
The tension inside the quiet room was thicker than heavy smoke now.
Clara held Jamie tightly while trying to calm his quick raspy breaths.
She wondered how many times this had happened when she was away.
The peaceful house felt scary and strange in just one single second.