Mark stepped into the kitchen with his leather briefcase still in hand.
He had just returned early from a long business meeting downtown.
His dark sweater was damp from the light rain falling outside.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the tense scene before him.
His eyes swept from Sarah’s pale face to the crying baby in her arms.
Then his gaze locked onto his cousin standing aggressively near the counter.
Mark: What is going on in my house right now?
Sarah: Mark, look at how terrified our son is because of her!
Mark: Victoria, why are you standing so close to my wife?
Victoria instantly shifted her posture and dropped her defensive stance.
She wiped a fake tear from her cheek and put on a pouty expression.
Victoria: Mark, I was just trying to help feed Toby his lunch!
Victoria: Sarah rushed in here and started screaming at me for no reason!
Sarah: That is a complete lie and you know it!
Sarah: She slammed the high chair tray and screamed in his face!
Mark set his heavy briefcase down on the edge of the marble table.
He walked over to Sarah and gently put his arm around her waist.
He touched his baby son’s soft head to calm the small child down.
Toby’s heavy sobbing slowly began to quiet down in his mother’s arms.
Mark turned back toward Victoria with an extremely stern look on his face.
Mark: We have security cameras installed in every main room of this house.
Victoria’s face suddenly lost all of its artificial color.
She glanced up at the small black dome mounted in the corner ceiling.
She had completely forgotten about the advanced home security system.
Mark: I can review the high definition footage on my phone right now.
Victoria: That won't be necessary at all, Mark.
Victoria: I might have lost my patience for just one small second.
Victoria: It has been very stressful sitting in this house all day long.
Mark: Stress is no excuse for scaring an innocent infant.
Mark: Victoria, pack your things and leave this home immediately!
Victoria gasped as if she had been physically struck by his words.
She crossed her arms tightly across her purple long sleeve top.
Victoria: You cannot fire me after everything I have done for this family!
Victoria: I am your blood relative, Mark!
Mark: My duty is to protect my wife and my son first.
Mark: You broke our trust the moment you yelled at our child.
Victoria: Your father promised my mother that you would take care of me!
Mark: My father gave you a job, not a license to intimidate my family.
Victoria: You are turning against your own flesh and blood for her!
Victoria pointed an angry finger directly at Sarah’s calm face.
Mark stepped forward and placed himself squarely in front of Victoria.
Mark: Step away from my wife and son before I call the police!