Thanksgiving with Derek and Laura had turned out to be an easy, almost lazy day. Laura was funny and sharp and seemed happy with Jack as long as he listened to her in the kitchen (not hard to do), dinner was delicious, and Derek got distinctly ... lighter, somehow ... around his sister. But after dinner, when the Hales were deep in a movie marathon that seemed to be some kind of tradition, Jack slipped away to make a phone call.

"Happy Thanksgiving, darling."