When my mother-in-law, Melissa, came over to help with my colicky baby while my husband was away, I thought I’d finally get a much-needed break. But what happened during those few hours left me questioning her intentions, my instincts as a mother, and even my marriage.

I sank into the couch while Emily’s faint cries echoed from the nursery. I didn’t even have the energy to respond right away.

Three months in, and I still wasn’t sure how people did this. How did they care for a colicky baby, sleep two hours at a time, and still look like they had it all together?

My hair hadn’t seen a brush in two days, and my shirt was a patchwork of spit-up stains.

Peter had called earlier.

“How are my girls?” He’d asked.

“We’re surviving,” I said with a weak laugh, bouncing Emily on my shoulder. “You’re lucky you’re on the road and not stuck here with this little tyrant.”

He chuckled. “You’re doing great, babe. You just need to rest. Mom said she could come over tomorrow. Let her help, okay? You need a break.”

That’s Peter. Always quick with solutions, even if they weren’t exactly what I wanted to hear.

Melissa and I didn’t have the warmest relationship. It wasn’t that she was mean or anything, but she had this way of making me feel like I was constantly on trial.

Still, the thought of an uninterrupted, glorious nap was too tempting.

“Fine,” I relented. “But she can’t stay too long.”

“Thanks, babe,” he said. “I’ll let her know. She’s making dinner too, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about.”

The next day, Melissa showed up promptly at noon, as she always did. She breezed through the door carrying a casserole dish and a tote bag.

“Hi, Melissa,” I greeted her, shifting Emily in my arms.

“Oh, Alicia,” she said, drawing out my name like she was chastising a child. “You look pale. Are you eating enough? You can’t pour from an empty cup, you know.”

“I’m trying,” I forced a smile. “It’s just been a lot.”

Melissa reached out to take Emily from me, her bracelets jingling.

“Of course it has. But that’s motherhood,” she said. “You should’ve seen Peter as a baby. He cried for hours on end. I never let myself get so worn out, though.”

I wanted to snap back, but I didn’t have the energy to do that.

“Well, I appreciate you being here,” I said instead, handing her Emily.

“Of course. That’s what family is for,” she said, bouncing Emily gently. “Now, go lie down. You look like you could fall over any second.”

“She just ate, so she might fuss a little,” I warned her. “The baby monitor is in the nursery, and my phone is charging in the bedroom if you need me.”

“Don’t you worry about a thing,” she smiled. “I raised three kids. I think I can handle my granddaughter for a couple of hours.”

I nodded, even though something about her tone made my stomach twist.

As I walked to the bedroom, I heard her muttering, “Babies today are so coddled. I never worried so much for my kids.”

***

I jolted awake to the sound of Emily’s piercing cry. My heart raced as I scrambled for my phone to check the time, but it wasn’t on the nightstand where I’d left it. The baby monitor’s screen was black, too.

I immediately threw off the covers and bolted to her room.

Emily was in her crib, crying because she’d been left unattended.

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry,” I whispered, scooping her up.

Her cries broke my heart as I tried to soothe her. At that point, I realized Melissa hadn’t even changed Emily’s diaper.

I immediately grabbed the diaper bag from the corner, fumbling with the wipes and a fresh diaper. As I changed her, I couldn’t stop the questions racing through my mind.

Why hadn’t Melissa come to check on her? And where was my phone?

Once Emily was settled, I carried her with me as I searched the house. The kitchen was empty. The living room was, too.