Laura was going home for the holidays. As she sat in O’Hare Airport one Christmas morning, she bristled with anticipation. Her vacation would last only two and a half days, but two bags of luggage were stuffed with presents. She had finally gotten the first job that paid any real money, and she was eager to go home and lavish gifts upon people she loved.

Her family met her at the airport and took her back to the familiar neighborhood. The house was bigger than she remembered. They exchanged gifts that evening, and the dutiful daughter kept trying to convince everyone that she hadn’t spent too much money. With a lot of laughter and joy, the family moved to the dining room to enjoy a banquet of rich food and wine.

It wasn’t long, however, before Laura realized the house to which she return…