At 2:47 a.m. on Thanksgiving, I lay awake while my husband Hudson snored beside me. In less than an hour, I was expected to start cooking for 32 people. My mother-in-law Vivien had given me a massive menu: three stuffings, glazed ham, seven sides, homemade rolls, and four desserts — all to be ready by 2 p.m. I had spent three days prepping, spending over $800 on groceries while catering would have cost far more.

Vivien treated our home like her domain because she had contributed $25,000 toward the down payment. She excluded my recently divorced sister Ruby from the guest list and demanded perfection. When I asked Hudson for help, he said he had golf and called me “a machine” in the kitchen.