Thanksgiving this year has lost every bit of its charm. My arrival home is adorned with an overtly welcoming mother, who is going mad in a quiet house, and a stuffy father, who will never change his ways. Donovan is either stuck at school or making excuses not to come home, which goes undiscovered until my arrival. Kate makes a mental note to chew out Alex for acting like Donovan.

The quiet of the house holds vigil to the panic felt one year ago when Christopher announced Grace wanted me to be the daughter she never had. Where was the man who was so upset over leaving that he wanted to propose and whisk me away? He spent months confessing his adoration and getting ‘all sentimental’ only to say, “Cheerio, luv. Be seeing you. Or not.”