Page 83 of The Game Is Afoot

Bethany clears her throat and continues. “He asked me where I was when it happened, and I told him Dakota and I went to the health food store to get some green juice and nutritional yeast popcorn—it’s her favorite. Yes, I admit, I was trying to avoid Cole, but I just didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to deal with any awkwardness.” Uh, yeah, awkwardness because he found out you werefaking cancer to scam vulnerable women? “I showed the detectives the drive logs and dash cam footage on my Tesla. Also, Xena at the store has footage of us, I’m sure of it. She installed security cameras last year after a bad break-in—they took all her krill oil and goldenseal root. It was devastating!”

Drive logs, dash cam footage, security cameras…that all sounds pretty ironclad. She could still be lying—she is about herfeelings, for sure. If she isn’t, though, that means I was all wrong here…again.

But: “You sent him threatening texts. You sentmeone, too.”

“Yes, Detective What’s-His-Name asked about that. He wasveryaccusatory, and it made meveryuncomfortable. But I’ll tell you what I told him: I was practicing radical empathy. Even with all the pain Cole caused me, I was trying to give him a chance to move on from this negative dynamic he had created.” She smiles beatifically, a firm believer of her own bullshit. “And you—youjust wouldn’t let it go. Even when it didn’t affect you at all, you couldn’t travel your own path and focus on your own journey.” She shakes her head in smug disapproval. “I was trying to encourage you to move on, too, for your own good. Because you were making very destructive choices.”

“Is that why you texted me at the coffee shop? Did you know I was there making ‘destructive choices’?”

“No.” Realization dawns across her face and then her brow furrows in indignation. “Mypurse. That wasyou. How dare you?” She looks around at Mackenzie and Ms. Joyce for validation, but when it’s clear she’s not getting it, she doesn’t even bother to continue the performance. “I didn’t know you were there. I just had a break in my meetings. I was multitasking.”

Mackenzie gasps. “But you told us to give ourselves the gift of presence! And reject hustle culture!” As ifthat’sthe biggest reveal today.

“I know, Mackenzie, but it’s hard running this business. Sometimes I have to break the rules a little bit and…hustle.” She lets out a whimper. “It’s why I’ve been so—sosick!”

Ms. Joyce sucks her teeth. “Oh, cut the crap!”

“Why did you bring a weapon then?” I can feel myself grasping at straws as my certainty drains away, but I can’t give up yet. “You were threatening Mackenzie!”

“This?” Bethany picks the orange thing up off the ground and waves it around…and, okay, it looks a lot less dangerous now that I’m not busting into this house high on adrenaline. “This isn’t a weapon. This is carnelian to support my emotional well-being in courageous conversations. Because”—her voice breaks into a whine—“because this is reallyhard.”

She doesn’t look so dangerous now, either, with her fake tears and emotional support crystal and dried up Spirit Halloween store blood. She looks…pathetic. And that’s where all of her power lies: in her perpetual victimhood, in the sympathy she manipulates, in the underdog narratives she creates just so she can bravely, inspirationally rise above it—and cash in.

It’s some realwe are the witches you could not burnshit. Like, girl, you’re the only one calling yourself a witch, and why do you keep going live on Instagram from that aesthetic stake you made yourself?

My gut is telling me she didn’t do this. It would just be too hard for her to do the mental gymnastics, to keep being the victim, if shemurderedsomeone. It would honestly bebetterfor her brand to be accused by Cole—a bitter man, jealous of everything she’s built—and then to rise above that. I want it to be her. I want to have beenright. But…I don’t think it’s her.

Ms. Joyce lets out a long exhale and then swats the air in Bethany’s direction. “Now you better stop with all those alligator tears and walk your little booty right on out of Ms. Mackenzie’s house. We’ll send you the bill for the cleaners.” Bethany is slow to get up. She looks a little dazed that her usual MO isn’t working, but Ms. Joyce turns her back on her like she’s already gone.

“Baby, you want some tea?” she coos in her sweet-honey voice, smiling at Mackenzie. “Where’s your kettle? We’ve sure had us some excitement today.”

“Are you gonna tell anyone?” Bethany asks. The fake emotion is long gone, and all that’s left is naked calculation.

“I already did. You might want to check my Instagram,” Mackenzie says with a shrug. And then she turns her back, too, on Bethany’s gaping mouth and wet eyes that might just be real this time. As Bethany silently shuffles to the door, blinking in disbelief, Mackenzie squeezes Ms. Joyce’s arm and beams back at her. “It’s in that cabinet next to the sink, but please sit down, Ms. Joyce. I’ll make it for you. How does some Relaxing Chamomile sound? Mavis, I’ll make you a cup, too.”

Knoll Elementary Parents Facebook Group

Leslie Banner

I tried to sign Julian up for the next session of Chess All-Stars, and Ms. Lilliam said enrollment for after-school programs is paused until further notice. Does anyone know what’s going on? Julian is going to be so disappointed!

Della Lively

I heard that Principal Smith is planning to cancel all after-school classes for the remainder of the school year after some bad behavior from a few parents.

Trisha Holbrook

This is UNACCEPTABLE! Our kids already have to make do with so much less going to a regular public school, and now he wants to take away their limited enrichment opportunities?? What will the repercussions be for their futures? I encourage everyone to think about how much our school community has suffered since Mr. Smith became principal. Our children deserve better! Knoll deserves better! WE CANNOT LET THIS STAND.

Angela Hart

I agree, Trisha! This is not okay. What can we do? Organize? My cousin runs the Beachwood Breeze, and he’ll definitely let us write an op-ed. Parents need to know what’s happening!

Charlie Lee

Unrelated, but are there any lawyer mamas in this group? I need some advice on getting out of an MLM contract that I don’t want to do anymore, and all these terms and conditions are really making my head spin.

Ruth Gentry

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