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my cousins Jennifer, David, and Marcus with their families. Uncle Paul and Aunt Linda, my mother’s brother and sister-in-law who had been married for 35 years. Even my grandmother’s sister, great aunt Dorothy, who was 87 and still sharp as attack. Every single one of them said yes. I hired a catering company that specialized in high-end events.
I arranged for a photographer because I wanted to remember this day. I had the house deep cleaned and decorated with elegant fall arrangements. The dining room in my estate could seat 24 people comfortably, and I had rented additional tables for the overflow into the adjacent sitting room. Nobody in my immediate family knew where I lived.
I’d kept that information private deliberately. All my mail went to a PO box, and I’d been careful about social media. My profiles were locked down tight with privacy settings that would make a cyber security expert proud. The morning before Thanksgiving, I was overseeing the delivery of rental chairs when my phone buzzed with a message from Madison.
Madison, hope you have a nice, quiet Thanksgiving alone. Maybe you’ll finally understand that actions have consequences. I almost laughed. The projection was stunning. I’d spent my entire childhood and young adult life trying to figure out what I’d done to deserve their treatment. I was quieter than Madison, more bookish. I like different things.
I chosen a different college, a different career path, a different life. And for that, I was consistently treated as lesser than me. I’m sure I’ll have a memorable Thanksgiving. You too, Madison. We always do. Some of us know how to maintain family bonds. I didn’t respond. There was no point. Thanksgiving morning arrived cold and clear.
I woke early and did a final walkthrough of the house. The caterers would arrive at 8. My guests would start showing up around 11:00. Dinner was scheduled for 2:00 in the afternoon. I was in the kitchen going over the menu with the catering manager when my security system chimed. Someone was at the front gate. I pulled up the camera feed on my tablet and felt my stomach drop.
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