I spent two days cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Before tasting anything, my mother-in-law m0cked my food and homemade rolls. I smiled, packed every dish into my car, and left. Four hours later, their calls wouldn’t stop.

“No,” I replied. “I’m simply respecting Diane’s opinion.”

Eric followed me into the kitchen.

“Claire, stop. Everyone is hungry.”

“Then order food.”

“You can’t take Thanksgiving dinner.”

“I paid for it and cooked it.”

“That isn’t the point.”

Actually, it was only the first point.

The second was something Eric’s family knew nothing about.

For years, they had assumed I was a modest freelance accountant who lived comfortably because Eric earned good money.

They had no idea that a large part of my work involved forensic accounting for private investment firms.