I suspect that my SIL is grooming my niece who is not her child (my other brother’s nine year old.)
She has singled her out at family gatherings for years. About a month ago I noticed her pulling this niece outside onto a covered patio at a party. The weather was not great so no one else was out there. She proceeded to seat her on a sofa, stroke her hair and massage her shoulders. The child never resisted but seemed disengaged.
I called my niece to come in and eat. She looked startled but got up immediately and followed me to the dining room, but she was very subdued. My SIL looked “caught“ but that could be my perception. She disappeared somewhere in the house. I mentioned it to my brother and he seemed confused because she’s a woman and didn’t seem to want to do anything about it.