Chapter 2 - THE BLOOD ON HIS LIP
Rebecca’s fear became anger before she understood it.
She feared Madison would call the police.
She feared the Collins family would complain to the neighborhood association.
She feared one careless accident could threaten their place on Seabreeze Lane.
So she acted before she listened.
Her hand struck Ethan’s face.
The sound traveled across the garden.
Ethan stumbled sideways.
His soccer ball rolled beneath the white fence.
He raised one hand to his mouth.
A small line of blood appeared at the corner of his lip.
His brown eyes filled with tears.
He did not look angry.
He looked confused.
Rebecca pointed toward Ava.
“You hurt her. Apologize!”
Ethan stared at his mother.
The physical pain was not the worst part.
She had believed Madison immediately.
She had punished him in front of his friends.
And she had not asked a single question.
“I’m sorry the ball hit you,” Ethan whispered.
Madison stepped forward.
“That is not enough.”
Rebecca lowered her hand.
She had begun to notice the blood.
“Ethan…”
Madison moved between them.
“Children like him only understand consequences.”
Ethan stepped backward.
Ava stood beside her mother.
Her arrogant expression had returned.
Madison raised her hand toward Ethan.
The boy flinched before she touched him.
That movement stopped Rebecca.
“What are you doing?”
“Teaching him the lesson you clearly cannot.”
Madison reached again.
Ethan backed into the white fence.
There was nowhere else to go.
A police cruiser turned onto Seabreeze Lane.
Its tires slowed beside the garden.
Michael Parker had been returning from patrol when he noticed the gathering outside his home.
Then he saw his son.
Ethan’s lip was bleeding.
A red mark covered one side of his face.
Madison’s hand was raised above him.
Michael stopped the cruiser.
The driver’s door opened.
“Stop!”
His voice cut across the street.
Madison froze.
Rebecca turned.
Michael stepped from the vehicle in his dark navy police uniform.
His expression moved from confusion to shock.
Then protective anger.
“Don’t touch my son.”
Madison lowered her hand slowly.
“This is not what it looks like.”
Michael walked through the gate.
He did not approach Madison first.
He knelt in front of Ethan.
“Who hit you?”
Ethan looked at Rebecca.
That single glance gave Michael the answer.
Rebecca’s face collapsed.
Michael saw the blood again.
Then he stood.
His eyes moved toward Madison.
Then Ava.
His voice became cold.
“You were about to hit a ten-year-old boy?”
No one answered.
Michael placed himself between Ethan and the two women.
May you like
A police cruiser remained behind him.
Its dashboard camera was still recording.
