Zoe’s Thanksgiving was poised to be a perfectly orchestrated event: a cozy, intimate meal with her family. But when her husband, Dan, waltzed through the door with 15 unexpected coworkers in tow, her plans unraveled faster than a dropped pumpkin pie. Armed with her determination and a smile sharper than the carving knife, Zoe turned the chaos into an unforgettable holiday that left everyone, especially Dan, rethinking their life choices.

The day started with the usual chaos of parenting. Between rescuing her walls from Emma’s crayon attacks and prying Jake off the counter before he devoured a plate of cookies, Zoe had barely managed to get the turkey in the oven. She was mid-potato-mash when Dan burst through the door, exuding the kind of excitement that spelled disaster.

Zoe turned, potato masher in hand, to see a stream of unfamiliar faces pouring into her house. Each carried wine bottles, snacks, and varying degrees of awkwardness.

For a fleeting moment, Zoe envisioned launching her potato masher at her husband. But instead, she took a deep breath and summoned a smile that rivaled the sun in brightness—and subtle menace.