My mother-in-law told me to get up at 4 a.m. to cook Thanksgiving dinner for her 30 guests. My husband added, “This time, remember to make everything really perfect!” I smiled and replied, “Of course.” At 3 a.m., I took my suitcase to the airport. – usnews 0/2

Now she acknowledged it was a lot. Now, when it was too late to change anything, when I’d already spent two days in preparation hell.

“If you were so worried about the numbers, why didn’t you mention that when you invited everyone?” Hudson’s voice carried an edge of irritation, but it was directed at his mother for waking him up, not for the impossible situation she’d created.

“Well, I suppose I could call a few people and uninvite them.”

“At 3:00 a.m. the night before, Mom?”

“Just let Isabella handle it. She’s probably already up cooking anyway.”

I looked toward the kitchen, where I should indeed be cooking, where I should be starting the impossible marathon that would consume the next twelve hours of my life. Instead, I zipped my suitcase closed and carried it quietly downstairs.

I left a note on the kitchen counter next to Vivien’s guest list. I kept it simple.