The smell of roasted turkey and cinnamon filled the bright and warm dining room.
Megan set heavy porcelain plates filled with rich delicious food onto the linen tablecloth.
Mark poured cold sparkling cider into clear crystal glasses for each person at table.
Brenda sat down heavily in her chair and glared across at Megan's quiet smile.
Brenda: This turkey looks a bit dry on the edges if you ask me.
Mark: The food tastes completely delicious, Brenda, so please stop complaining about everything.
Brenda took a small bite and set her silver fork down with a loud clatter.
Brenda: I am just saying that Mom always cooked a much better holiday roast.
Megan felt a sudden sting of sadness but kept her voice gentle and steady.
Megan: I tried my best with Mom's old recipe book from the kitchen cabinet.
Brenda: Well, trying your best obviously does not mean it turned out great.
Mark put his hands flat on the table and looked straight at his sister.
Mark: If you cannot say something polite tonight, Brenda, you can sit in silence.
Brenda crossed her arms tightly over her bright yellow sweater and sneered softly.
Little Lily let out a small happy noise and tapped her red plastic spoon down.
The spoon made a quiet tapping sound against the plastic tray of her chair.
Brenda flinched dramatically as if the tiny noise caused her deep physical pain.
Brenda: Can you please make that infant stop making those annoying irritating sounds?
Megan: She is just a baby, Brenda, and she is playing completely peacefully.
Brenda: Some people prefer to eat their holiday meals without loud baby babble.
Megan picked up a small cloth napkin and wiped sweet potato off Lily's cheek.
She could feel her heart pounding fast against her ribs from the rising stress.
Mark reached over under the table and squeezed Megan's cold hand with deep comfort.
Mark: Ignore her, Megan, because she is just trying to provoke an ugly fight.
Brenda noticed their quiet gesture of love and felt even more bitter inside.
She grabbed her water glass and drank the cold liquid down in one gulp.
Brenda: Must be wonderful having a big house, a baby, and endless disposable cash.
Mark: I worked eighty hours every single week to build this life for us.
Brenda: And Dad always gave you extra help whenever you asked for it.
Mark: That is a complete lie and you know it very well, Brenda.
Brenda leaned back in her high wooden chair and let out a cold laugh.
Her hostile eyes shifted away from Mark and landed directly on little baby Lily.
A cruel and dark look crossed Brenda's face as the quiet hatred flared up.