Sophie felt the heavy weight of the Christmas season settle in as she carried the old, familiar Christmas tree down the narrow attic stairs. Her arms ached from the effort, and each step seemed to echo the sadness that had replaced the warmth of the holidays.
This was their first Christmas without Frank, and the house felt unbearably quiet.
Frank’s absence was everywhere. The laughter that once filled the home, the scent of cinnamon coffee wafting from the kitchen—it was all gone. Sophie fought back tears, focusing instead on the task at hand. Her seven-year-old son, Matthew, deserved a Christmas filled with magic, just as Frank would have wanted.
She set the tree down in the living room with a heavy sigh. Despite everything, she wanted to make this holiday special for Matthew. The sparkle in his eyes as he decorated the tree and waited for Santa—it had always been the highlight of their Christmases together.
Sophie missed those moments more than she cared to admit.
The past few months had been a whirlwind of tension, especially with her mother-in-law, Rachel. After Frank’s passing, Rachel had tried to take Matthew from Sophie, convinced that Sophie wasn’t fit to raise him on her own. After weeks of heated arguments, Sophie had convinced Rachel to back down—but the scars of those battles remained.
Sophie opened a dusty box of Christmas decorations, brushing her fingers over the familiar ornaments. Her breath caught when she picked up the Elf on the Shelf, its mischievous grin staring back at her. The elf had been a staple of their Christmas traditions, a gift from Frank.
They’d always placed it somewhere new each morning, and Matthew would laugh at the elf’s supposed adventures. Sophie couldn’t help but smile at the memory.
Her phone buzzed, breaking her reverie.
@Mom:
How are you and Matthew holding up?
@Sophie:
It’s a bit hard managing everything on my own, but we’re okay.
Sophie set the phone down and turned back to the living room. Just as she did, the doorbell rang. When she opened the door, her heart sank. Standing there, suitcase in hand, was Rachel.
“What… what are you doing here?” Sophie asked, her voice sharp.
Rachel smiled faintly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “I thought I’d keep you company for Christmas. It seemed like you could use the help.”
Sophie’s stomach twisted. “We don’t need company. We’re doing fine on our own.”
Rachel glanced around the house, taking in the holiday decorations. “Are you really? After Frank passed, you’ve looked awful. I can’t imagine Matthew spending Christmas in such a sad house.”
Sophie clenched her fists to keep her composure. “You don’t get to say that. Matthew and I are fine. I’m doing my best.”
Rachel gave a soft sigh and moved into the living room, admiring the tree and decorations. “It’s lovely in here. I wasn’t sure you’d even put a tree up.”
Sophie’s voice was tight as she muttered, “I did it for Matthew.”
Rachel’s eyes landed on the Elf on the Shelf. She picked it up, inspecting it with a small smile. “This elf is so charming. He watches everything, doesn’t he?”
Sophie felt a twinge of unease but pushed the feeling aside, trying to focus on the holiday preparations.
The next day, as Matthew burst through the door after school, his face lighting up at the sight of the Christmas tree, Sophie felt a brief wave of relief. But it didn’t last. Rachel immediately stepped in, offering unsolicited advice on how Matthew should hang his coat, wash his hands, and do his homework.
“Your mom lets you do it this way? No wonder it’s a mess,” Rachel remarked with a sigh.
Sophie clenched her jaw, fighting the urge to snap back. She silently repeated to herself, Just a few more days. But Rachel didn’t stop. She continued to criticize, questioning Sophie’s choices and offering “better” solutions for every little thing.
The following morning, Sophie groggily opened the door to see her mother, Liz, standing there with a small bag.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” Sophie asked, rubbing her eyes.
“I decided to come keep you company,” Liz said, stepping inside.
Sophie sighed heavily. “You’re not the only one.”
Liz raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Rachel showed up yesterday,” Sophie explained, her voice flat.
Liz frowned, her expression hardening. “Rachel? Well, it’s a good thing I came. You’ll need someone on your side.”
Over the next two days, Sophie felt suffocated by Rachel’s constant presence. Every moment was a test of her patience. Rachel was relentless in pointing out her parenting flaws. “Matthew needs more structure. When Frank was alive, things were different,” she said, her tone sharp and critical.
Meanwhile, Liz sat in the corner, shaking her head with pity. “Oh, honey, it must be so hard doing this all on your own.”
Sophie felt trapped. Their words swirled around her, making her head spin. She needed peace, but all she felt was pressure.
One evening, desperate for a moment to breathe, Sophie began tidying the living room. As she picked up the Elf on the Shelf from the mantel, something caught her eye. Its eyes—unnatural, almost too bright. Her stomach churned as she noticed a small slit on its back. Trembling, she opened it and pulled out a tiny flash drive.
Heart racing, Sophie rushed to her room, locked the door, and plugged the drive into her computer. The screen flickered to life, revealing clips—of Sophie crying, of her messy home, of moments with Matthew. Even Rachel and Liz were captured in the footage.
Fear and anger surged through Sophie. There was only one person who would have done this—someone who wanted evidence to prove she wasn’t fit to be a mother.
Without a second thought, Sophie stormed into Rachel’s room, holding the flash drive tightly. Her voice trembled with fury. “What is this?”
Rachel looked up, feigning innocence. “I don’t know. What are you talking about?”
Sophie stepped closer, her voice rising. “I found a hidden camera inside the elf. Don’t pretend you don’t know about it.”
Rachel’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “A hidden camera? That’s horrible. We should call the police.”
Sophie’s glare hardened. “Stop pretending! I know it was you. You’ve been trying to prove I’m a bad mother so you can take Matthew away from me!”
Rachel’s face turned pale. “That’s not true! I’ve thought about Matthew living with me, but I never went that far. He belongs here with you.”
“Don’t act innocent. I don’t believe you,” Sophie snapped. “I want you out of my house. Now.”
Rachel crossed her arms defiantly. “I’m not going anywhere. I came here to see my grandson. If you want me gone, go ahead and call the police.”
Sophie spun on her heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Her heart raced with frustration. Even after everything, Rachel still refused to respect her boundaries.
Sophie sank onto her bed, her face buried in her hands as tears flowed freely. The weight of it all—the judgment, the invasion of privacy, the pressure—it felt unbearable.
She didn’t hear Liz come in until she spoke softly, “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
Sophie looked up, her eyes red from crying. “It’s Rachel,” she choked out. “She’s trying to set me up.”
Liz frowned, sitting beside her on the bed. “I knew that witch couldn’t be trusted. But tell me what happened.”
Sophie hesitated before revealing the truth. She reached for the receipt that had slipped out of Liz’s bag. Her stomach dropped as she read the words.
It was for a surveillance camera.
Sophie’s hands trembled as she held it up. “What is this?!” she demanded.
Liz’s face went pale. “Sweetheart, let me explain.”
Sophie jerked the receipt away, fury rising in her chest. “So it was you? You put a camera in the elf? Why would you do that?!”
Liz sighed heavily, her voice defensive. “Because you’re not managing, Sophie! You’re still grieving Frank. You don’t visit me. I barely get to see Matthew anymore. I thought he’d be better off with me, but I needed proof.”
Sophie’s voice shook with anger. “Better off? Did you even ask me how Matthew felt? We’re fine! I’m doing everything I can to give him a good life.”
Liz shook her head. “I just wanted to help. When you’re stronger, we can talk about him coming back to you.”
Sophie’s eyes blazed with fury. “Get out.”
Liz froze. “What?”
“Get out of my house!” Sophie shouted, her voice filled with determination.
Liz didn’t argue. She packed her things quickly and left without a word. Sophie watched her mother climb into a taxi, her chest tight with a mixture of relief and disbelief.
As Sophie turned to Matthew, he looked up at her, his small face full of confusion. “Where’s Grandma Liz going?”
“She had to leave,” Sophie said softly.
Matthew wrapped his arms around her. “Good. She wanted me to go with her, but I want to live with you.”
Sophie hugged him tight, tears once again welling up in her eyes. “No one’s ever taking you away, kiddo. I promise.”
From the kitchen, Rachel’s eyes met Sophie’s. Sophie mouthed, “I’m sorry.” Rachel gave her a small nod, her expression unreadable.
Sophie held Matthew close, her resolve hardening. This was their life now, and no one—no one—was going to take it away from her.
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