Chapter 2 - The Call Bethany Missed
At four seventeen, Bethany’s phone rang while she was buying groceries.
Dustin’s name appeared on the screen.
She answered immediately, but there was no voice on the other end. She heard movement, a door closing, and a child crying.
“Dustin?”
The call ended.
Bethany called back three times. There was no answer.
She sent a message asking whether Meadow was safe.
Dustin replied ten minutes later.
Everything is fine. She is being dramatic.
Bethany abandoned her cart and drove toward Evelyn’s house.
Halfway there, Dustin called.
“Don’t come here,” he said.
“What happened?”
“Meadow was disrespectful.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“My mother handled it.”
Bethany gripped the steering wheel.
“What does that mean?”
Dustin sighed as though Bethany were inconveniencing him.
“It means Meadow needed a consequence.”
In the background, Bethany heard Meadow sobbing.
“Put her on the phone.”
“She needs to calm down.”
“Put my daughter on the phone right now.”
The line went silent for several seconds.
Then Meadow whispered, “Mommy?”
Bethany nearly missed the next turn.
“I’m coming, sweetheart.”
“Grandma cut it.”
Bethany’s heart pounded.
“Cut what?”
“My hair.”
Dustin took the phone back.
“It will grow.”
Bethany reached Evelyn’s house twelve minutes later. The front door was locked. She rang the bell repeatedly until one of Dustin’s cousins opened it.
Inside, the lunch guests had gathered awkwardly in the living room.
No one looked at Bethany.
She found Meadow in a downstairs bathroom with Evelyn standing behind her. Golden hair covered the tiled floor. A pair of household scissors rested beside the sink.
Meadow’s hair had been cut to her jaw in rough, uneven sections.
Her ribbon was lying near the trash bin.
Bethany dropped to her knees and opened her arms.
Meadow ran into them.
“I said no,” the child cried. “I said no lots of times.”
Bethany looked over Meadow’s head at Evelyn.
“What did you do?”
Evelyn folded her arms.
“I corrected behavior you have encouraged.”
Dustin stood in the doorway.
“It’s hair, Bethany. Stop making this bigger than it is.”
Bethany stared at him.
“Did you know she was going to do this?”
May you like
He looked away.
That was the first answer.
