Strange Behavior
The woman couldn’t explain why her pitbull, Max, licked her baby every time her mother-in-law came to visit. She found it strange but was not concerned. In fact, she thought it was quite cute.
However, a few weeks later, she realized that her pitbull’s behavior was because of something surprising her mother-in-law had in her purse.
Wonderful Relationship
She had an excellent relationship with her husband’s mother. However, recently she started getting the feeling that the other woman was hiding something from her.
She didn’t have a problem with the fact that her mother-in-law was keeping a secret. Everybody had a right to their secrets, after all. But when her dog started acting strangely around her son, she became concerned.
The Perfect Arrangement
Samantha Keely appreciated her mother-in-law’s involvement in the care of her infant son, Lucas. She and Lucas’ father both worked full-time and they were very grateful to his mother for taking care of Lucas while they were at work.
Lucas’ grandmother, Linda, adored her grandson and Samantha thought that this childcare arrangement was perfect for all of them.
Saying Goodbye
One ordinary sunny morning, Samantha handed Lucas over to a smiling Linda. "Thank you so much for doing this, Mom," Samantha said.
“Of course, dear. You know I love spending time with Lucas," Linda replied as she eagerly took Lucas from Samantha. But Samantha had no idea what Linda would do without her knowledge.
Something Is Wrong
Normally Samantha happily went off to work knowing that Lucas was in Linda’s good hands. However, in the last few days, she noticed that something had changed.
The family’s loyal pitbull, Max, was extremely protective of Lucas and would follow Linda and Lucas everywhere. That was all normal behavior, but Samantha couldn’t understand what happened after Linda left.
Just A Few Kisses
Max was always perfectly behaved around Samantha, her husband Henry and baby Lucas. He was always gentle and never became aggressive.
What was strange was Max’s behavior after Linda left. He would start licking Lucas incessantly and seemed almost desperate to demonstrate his affection for the baby boy.
Innocent Affection
Initially Samantha thought that Max just wanted the attention from Lucas that he missed out on when Linda was around. She thought it was just a cute quirk.
However, this started to become a regular occurrence and Samantha started worrying that there might be more to the dog’s behavior than met the eye.
She Trusts Her
Despite her gut feeling, Samantha still did not take any action. She trusted Linda implicitly and could not believe for a second that her mother-in-law would ever allow any harm to come to Lucas.
Linda was a kind and gentle woman who doted on her grandson. Samantha couldn’t understand why she was feeling so uneasy.
Good Relationship
The relationship between Samantha and her mother-in-law had been excellent ever since they first met five years ago. Their friendship only grew stronger as the years went by.
The two women came from the same country in Massachusetts, and they shared a love for the same food, music and movies. But that wasn’t all they shared …
Close Friendship
Linda and Samantha’s relationship resembled that of a mother and daughter. Samantha lost her mother at a young age and she found in Linda the maternal figure she needed.
Linda never had a daughter and she found in Samantha the daughter she always wanted. They were extremely close and Samantha couldn’t imagine that Linda would ever do anything to harm her or Lucas.
It’s All Love
Samantha worked hard to push the thoughts aside. She'd concluded that all that was happening was because Max really adored Lucas.
But she couldn't deny the fact that the dog only rushed to lick little Lucas after Linda visited. This tiny detail dogged her to no end. She started obsessing over the matter. To put her mind at ease, she decided to investigate.
The Keenness Of A Hawk
Samantha decided to watch with the keenness of a hawk. Although she kept her easy-going demeanor, she studied everything her dog did, ensuring she wasn't reading too deep into this.
She noted that whenever Linda visited to care for Lucas, Max would indeed behave oddly. Usually a calm and obedient dog, he would anxiously pace around, his tail wagging nervously.
What Is Happening?
His energy would remain explosive while Linda was around. As she left, he would bolt to little Lucas and start licking him all over.
An oblivious Lucas would giggle and coo in delight. But a worried Samantha, watching from the side, would stare with furrowed brows. Why was her pit bull acting this way? Was he trying to tell her something?
Is It Something More?
Samantha knew how intelligent dogs were. Perhaps Max had seen something that Linda was doing and was trying to bring it to light. Maybe this was more than mere affection.
A sense of unease ate over Samantha as these thoughts took over her mind. She'd hoped that all this was just her imagination running wild. But to see it happen in real time left her feeling meek and hopeless.
It Only Happens When She Visit
Samantha had confirmed that her dog only acted odd whenever her mother-in-law came to visit. Her mind was already racing with questions as to why this was.
But she didn't want to jump the gun yet, knowing she needed more information before coming to any conclusion. As before, she decided to observe the matter. But this time, she'd do it during the day when Linda was around.
Working From Home
Samantha decided to work from home to observe Max's behavior more closely. She wanted to make sure there was no reason for concern.
As she watched from her office, she saw Linda playing with Lucas in the living room. Max, as usual, seemed restless. Then, as Linda prepared to leave and Samantha came downstairs to say goodbye, something happened that had her lips parting.
It Happens Again
As Linda placed Lucas down, ready to leave, Max rushed over and began to lick the baby's face vigorously. Samantha was taken aback. The intensity at which Max was licking the baby's face was like nothing she'd seen before.
Linda laughed it off, saying, "Oh, Max must just love Lucas. He's such a sweet dog." But Samantha didn't share in her amusement. That feeling that had convinced her something was wrong had returned with a vengeance.
Something’s Happening Behind Her Back
After Linda left, Samantha sat down with Max and tried to calm him, wondering why he only behaved this way when her mother-in-law was around. But Max simply wagged his tail and seemed perfectly content.
None of what was happening here made any sense. "Perhaps I'm reading too much into this," Samantha said to the pit bull, and it barked happily before blessing her face with kisses. She should have known that something was indeed happening behind her back.
Talking To Her Husband
Samantha decided to put everything aside. But Max's odd behavior continued as the week went by. But after two weeks of the same, she decided to put it to an end finally.
Sitting down with her husband, Henry, she told him everything. Henry listened attentively before offering counsel. He'd also noticed Max's behavior whenever his mom left the house. It was time to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Enough Is Enough
The following day, Samantha pretended to leave for work as usual but hid in a nearby room, watching through a crack in the door as Linda took care of Lucas.
Max, as expected, followed them closely. Samantha's heart pounded in her chest as she observed her mother-in-law's every move. Today, she'd uncover everything.
Everything Is In Order
As the morning went on, Samantha grew increasingly perplexed. Linda was a loving and attentive caregiver, and she didn't do anything out of the ordinary.
Lucas seemed happy and content in her arms, and Max remained calm and composed. That afternoon, as Linda was making a quick run to her house, Samantha followed her outside to see if she could uncover any clues. She'd lose her mind if she didn't get to the bottom of this mystery.
She’s Gone
Samantha watched as Linda got into her car and drove away. Then, she quietly re-entered the house, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to find out what was happening when she wasn't around.
Samantha searched the living room, the kitchen, and even Lucas's nursery but found nothing out of the ordinary. Finally, she decided to check Linda's purse, which she had left on the kitchen counter.
Her Bag
She knew it was an invasion of privacy, but she was desperate to get to the bottom of this mystery. Carefully, she unzipped the purse and began to rummage through its contents.
Amidst the usual items like a wallet and a set of keys, Samantha discovered a small container with a label that read "Baby Formula." Confused, she opened it and found it filled with a creamy substance. It wasn't baby formula at all.
A Peculiar Concoction
What Samantha found was a peculiar homemade concoction. Its color bordered that of peanut butter, although lighter. It was slimy to the touch and, although somewhat sweet, had undertones of sourness.
Samantha's mind raced as she tried to make sense of what she had found. She knew she needed answers, so she called Henry and asked him to come home early from work.
Coming To An Understanding
When he arrived, Samantha explained everything she had witnessed and what she had found in Linda's purse. Henry's expression turned serious as he listened to his wife's account.
Together, they decided to confront Linda about the strange behavior and the mysterious substance they had discovered. That evening, Linda came over as usual to spend time with Lucas, unaware that Samantha was onto her.
A Needed Confrontation
Samantha and Henry sat Linda down and asked her about Max's behavior and the contents of her purse. Linda hesitated for a moment before finally confessing.
"I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to worry you," Linda began, her voice trembling. "I've been mixing a special cream with Lucas's baby lotion. It's a traditional family recipe that's supposed to protect her from any harm." But she didn't stop there.
The Truth
"My mother passed it down to me, and I've been using it on all my grandchildren." Samantha and Henry were beyond speechless.
Linda, who had long been a spiritual person, explained that she believed Lucas needed extra protection when her parents weren't around, and that's why she had been applying the cream. She assured them it was harmless and had been used for generations in their family.
No Ill Intent
Relieved that there was no ill intent, Samantha and Henry decided to do some research on the cream Linda had been using.
After consulting with a pediatrician, they discovered that the cream contained ingredients that could cause dogs to become unusually affectionate when applied to a baby's skin. Max's behavior had resulted from the cream, not any harmful intentions on Linda's part.
Please Stop
While Samantha and Henry appreciated Linda's concern for their daughter, they asked her to stop using the cream on Lucas, as they trusted Max and believed he would protect their baby in his own way.
Linda reluctantly agreed, and the family moved forward, grateful that their beloved pit bull had not acted strangely due to malicious intent.
Moving Forward
From that day on, Max continued to be a loyal and loving companion to Lucas, with no unusual behavior whenever Linda came over to watch over him.
Samantha and Henry had learned a valuable lesson about communication and trust, and they were grateful for the love and protection their pit bull provided for their precious son.