When she started rubbing at her stomach, I snorted out a laugh and slipped an arm around her waist.

"I guess it's not Thanksgiving unless you're bloated and in pain."

Even when money was tight, Mom had tried to make the holidays special, but usually it was just me and her. I'd never seen a spread like the one Derek had laid out, and I sure as hell had never been to a Thanksgiving dinner with so many people.