A well-earned feast was served to start this Thanksgiving, but my son refused to eat and wouldn’t explain why. He later made a devastating confession about how one family member had betrayed both our and his trust.

Even though things are difficult right now, everyone tries their hardest to make things work. My spouse, Mark, and I make an effort to concentrate on what is most important: making our 8-year-old son, Ethan, happy in our home.

Despite the tight budget this year, we were determined to give him a Thanksgiving to remember. I wanted it to be pleasant because we were also hosting our mother. Fortunately, we were able to plan a feast while staying within our budget.

Ethan’s favorite pumpkin pie was in the refrigerator, the mashed potatoes were fluffy, and the turkey was juicy and golden. Despite growing costs, I was pleased with what we had managed to achieve.

Up until dinner, everything appeared to be OK. Ethan sat at the table and stared at his plate, unusually silent. When Thanksgiving comes around, that child usually jumps with joy.

“You’re not eating, sweetie,” I said softly, attempting to sound unconcerned. Is everything in order?

He hardly looked up as he shrugged. “I don’t feel hungry,” he muttered. Across the table, Mark gave me a curious glance. I shrugged, not sure what was happening. Perhaps he didn’t feel like talking because my mom was at the table, but our son wasn’t the type of child to keep things to himself when they were upsetting.