Thanksgiving was supposed to be idyllic. The room was filled with the strong aroma of turkey, the table was arranged with exquisite china, and laughing erupted from all directions.

I made sure everyone was comfortable while my husband, Peter, finished preparing the turkey. I had no idea that there would be more surprises than I had expected during the holiday.

Though she kept looking out the window as if anticipating someone, our daughter Emma, an expressive eight-year-old with boundless curiosity, had been abnormally quiet all evening. She was also fussing with the hem of her dress. She also had trouble staying still.

Emma has a habit of becoming lost in her thoughts. I thought she was either anticipating the Thanksgiving lunch or waiting for her cousins to arrive. She didn’t return Peter’s smile across the table, though, and her uneasiness started to draw my attention.