The snow fell heavily outside the big windows of our suburban home. The festive tree stood decorated in the corner of the dining room with bright warm lights glowing soft across the hardwood floors. It was supposed to be our first proper Christmas in our new house. My husband Mark and I had saved money for years to buy this place. We wanted a safe place to raise our eight-month-old daughter Lily. We invited Mark's sister Megan because she had nowhere else to go after her recent bitter divorce. Megan had always been competitive and bitter toward our family happiness. She constantly made passive-aggressive comments about our mortgage payments and Mark's success as a software designer.
Mark stood in the kitchen pouring punch while I set the holiday table with our best holiday dishes. Lily sat happily in her high chair nearby babbling softly and grabbing at her plastic chew toy. Megan walked into the room wearing a bright mustard yellow sweater. Her eyes scanned the decorated room with obvious envy while she chewed on her lip. She sat down next to the high chair without saying a pleasant greeting to anyone. I smiled at her politely trying to keep the holiday peace for Mark's sake.
Laura: Dinner will be ready in ten minutes, Megan.
Megan: I see you bought another expensive tablecloth while Mark works sixty hours a week.
Laura: We both earned this holiday, Megan. Please just enjoy the night.
Megan snorted softly and pulled out her phone to scroll through her feed ignoring my response. She complained about the temperature in the house and the choice of music playing in the background. I took a deep breath and turned back toward the stove to check the roast turkey. I wanted so badly for this gathering to be calm for Mark because he loved his sister despite her cruel nature. Mark came over and kissed my cheek softly trying to reassure me with his warm brown eyes.
Mark: Thanks for being patient with her today, Laura. She is having a rough time after the court settlement.
Laura: I know, Mark. I am trying my best for you and Lily.
Suddenly Lily dropped her toy onto the floor and started crying loudly as babies naturally do when they get tired. The noise echoed across the open floor plan of the dining space. I wiped my hands on an apron preparing to pick her up from the chair. But Megan snapped up from her chair with an ugly look of annoyance on her pale face. Before I could step across the floor Megan reached out her right hand with total coldness.
A sharp slapping sound cracked through the room like thunder. Megan hit little Lily right across her delicate baby cheek with full force. The baby shrieked in sudden shock and intense physical pain. My heart completely stopped in my chest as horror rushed through my veins.