Chapter 9 - THE FAMILY BARBECUE VIDEO
Daniel’s brother, Scott, had recorded part of the barbecue accidentally.
He had been filming burgers for some ridiculous family group chat.
The clip captured my collision with Ava in the background.
Not perfectly.
Enough.
I moved around the chair.
Ava turned.
Pitcher bumped her elbow.
She spun.
No shove.
No grabbing.
Daniel entered frame almost immediately.
“Apologize to her or leave.”
Before asking anything.
Natalie preserved the video.
Then Scott called me.
“I don’t want to be in the middle.”
“You already are.”
“I know.”
He sighed.
“Daniel told Mom before the party that things were bad between you and Ava.”
“What exactly?”
“That Ava didn’t want you touching her.”
My skin prickled.
“Before the lemonade?”
“Yes.”
So Daniel had primed them.
“Did Ava say that?”
“I don’t know.”
“What else?”
“He said you were getting obsessive about Elise.”
There.
Family narrative established before the incident.
Not necessarily conspiracy.
But context.
“Scott.”
“What?”
“Do you think I’m dangerous to Ava?”
Long silence.
“No.”
“Do you think Daniel does?”
Another silence.
“I think Daniel believes if he says something enough times, eventually it becomes the only version anyone remembers.”
May you like
His brother.
That mattered.
