Sophie struggled to steady herself as she maneuvered the Christmas tree down the narrow attic stairs. Her arms ached, and every step reminded her of how different this holiday season would be.

This was their first Christmas without Frank. The house, once filled with his warm laugh and the scent of his cinnamon-scented coffee, now felt far too quiet.

As she set the tree down in the living room, Sophie wiped her forehead and let out a small sigh. Matthew, her seven-year-old son, deserved a magical Christmas, even if she didn’t feel like celebrating.

The twinkle of excitement in his eyes every December had always been contagious. Frank would have wanted her to keep that alive for him.

The past few months had been tough for Sophie, especially with her mother-in-law, Rachel, trying to take Matthew away.

After weeks of tense arguments, Sophie had convinced Rachel to back down, but the conflict had left scars.

Sophie opened a dusty box of decorations, her hands brushing over familiar ornaments. Her breath caught when she picked up the Elf on the Shelf, its cheeky grin staring back at her.

Memories of Frank came flooding in—setting up the elf with tiny marshmallows in the kitchen or balancing it precariously on the bookshelf.

Matthew’s laughter, believing the elf was up to no good, echoed in her mind. A bittersweet smile tugged at her lips.

The buzz of her phone startled her. She glanced at the screen.

@Mom:

How are you two holding up?

@Sophie:

It’s a bit hard to manage everything on my own, but overall, we’re okay.

Just as Sophie set the phone down, the doorbell rang. As 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 with surprise.

“I thought I’d keep you company for Christmas,” Rachel said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “It seemed like you could use the help.”

Sophie crossed her arms. “We don’t need company. We’re doing fine on our own.”

Rachel set her suitcase by the door and glanced around. “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. “You don’t get to say that. Matthew and I are fine. I’m doing my best.”

“I’m sure you are,” Rachel said. “I’m not here to judge. I just thought you’d want some support.”

Rachel wandered into the living room, admiring the decorations. “It’s lovely in here. You’ve done a nice job. I wasn’t sure you’d even put a tree up.”

“I did it for Matthew,” Sophie muttered.

Rachel’s eyes landed on the Elf on the Shelf. She picked it up, examining its face. “This elf is so charming. I’ve always liked it. He watches everything, doesn’t he?”

Sophie felt a twinge of unease as Rachel’s words lingered in her mind, but she brushed it aside, forcing herself to focus on the holiday preparations.

When Matthew bounded through the door after school, his face lighting up at the sight of the decorations, Sophie felt a brief moment of relief.

But it didn’t last long. Rachel immediately stepped in, correcting how Matthew hung his coat and telling him how to wash his hands properly.

“Your mom lets you do it this way? No wonder it’s a mess,” Rachel said with a sigh.

Sophie clenched her jaw, biting back a response. She watched as Rachel continued, offering advice on everything from homework to snack choices.

She held on to her patience, repeating silently to herself, “Just a few more days.”

The next morning, Sophie heard a knock at the door and groggily got out of bed.

She shuffled downstairs and 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. “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. “Rachel? Well, it’s a good thing I came. You’ll need someone on your side.”

The next two days were unbearable for Sophie. Every moment felt like a test of her patience.

Rachel hovered over her, pointing out flaws in her parenting. “Matthew needs more structure. When Frank was alive, things were different,” Rachel said, her tone sharp.

Meanwhile, Liz sat in the corner, shaking her head. “Oh, honey, it must be so hard doing this all on your own,” she said, her voice filled with pity that only deepened Sophie’s frustration.

Sophie felt trapped, their words swirling in her mind like an endless storm.

One evening, desperate for a moment of peace, she began tidying the living room.

Her eyes landed on the Elf on the Shelf sitting innocently on the mantel. Something about its eyes caught her attention.

They looked unusual, almost unnatural. She picked it up, turning it over in her hands. Her stomach twisted as she spotted a small slit on its back.

With trembling fingers, Sophie opened it and pulled out a flash drive. Heart pounding, she rushed to her room, locked the door, and plugged it into her computer.

The screen filled with clips—her crying, her messy home, her moments with Matthew. Even Rachel and Liz were captured on the footage.

A wave of fear and anger washed over her. There was only one person who wanted evidence to prove she wasn’t a good mother.

Sophie burst into Rachel’s room, gripping the flash drive tightly in her hand, and her face red with anger. “What is this?” she demanded, holding up the drive.

Rachel looked up from where she sat on the bed, her expression blank. “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 act like you don’t know anything about it.”

Rachel’s eyebrows lifted 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!”

Rachel stood, her own voice growing louder. “That’s not true! I haven’t done anything like that. Yes, I’ve thought about Matthew living with me. But I decided against it because I knew it would hurt him. 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. “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 around, slamming the door as she left. Her chest heaved with frustration. Rachel was still trying to control her life, even after everything Sophie had already lost.

She sat on the edge of her bed, her face buried in her hands as tears rolled down her cheeks.

The weight of everything—the judgment, the invasion of her privacy, the constant pressure—felt unbearable. She didn’t hear Liz come in until her mother spoke.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Liz asked, her voice soft.

Sophie looked up, her face streaked with tears. “It’s Rachel,” she said through a shaky breath. “She’s trying to set me up.”

Liz frowned and sat down beside her. “I knew that witch couldn’t be trusted. But tell me what happened.”

“I found a…,” Sophie began. She paused, glancing at Liz’s bag lying on the bed. A piece of paper had slipped out, catching her eye.

She leaned over and picked it up. Her stomach dropped as she read the receipt. It was for a surveillance camera.

Her hands shook as she held it up. “What is this?!” she yelled.

Liz reached for the receipt, her face pale. “Sweetheart, let me explain.”

Sophie jerked it away. “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.”

“Better off?” Sophie’s voice rose. “Did you ever ask me? Did you even think about how Matthew feels? We’re doing 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 stared at her, stunned. “Do you even hear yourself?”

Liz threw up her hands. “You told me you were struggling. That’s why I came. That’s why I did this. You needed help!”

Sophie’s voice hardened. “I needed support from my mom, not for her to take my child away!”

“It’s for the best,” Liz snapped, her tone firm.

Sophie stood, her eyes blazing. “Get out.”

Liz froze. “What?”

“Get out of my house!” Sophie shouted, pointing to the door.

Liz packed quickly, her movements stiff. She didn’t look back as she left. Sophie watched her mother climb into a taxi, her chest tight.

“Where is Grandma Liz going?” Matthew asked, stepping into the room.

“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 tightly, tears welling up again. “No one’s ever taking you away, kiddo. I promise.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Rachel walk into the kitchen. Their eyes met. Sophie mouthed, “I’m sorry.” Rachel gave her a small nod, her expression unreadable.

Sophie held Matthew close, her resolve strengthening. This was their life, and she would protect it at all costs.