Chapter 2 - THE BANDAGES
Daniel ended the party.
Not politely.
“Everyone out.”
Rebecca snapped:
“This is my dinner.”
“It’s my house.”
She stared at him.
The distinction had apparently become unfamiliar.
The guests left slowly.
One woman, Helen Price, touched Hannah’s shoulder on the way out.
“I’m sorry.”
Hannah did not answer.
Daniel noticed.
Sorry for tonight?
Or more?
After the door closed, Rebecca said:
“You’ve embarrassed me in front of people I’ve known thirty years.”
Daniel looked at Noah.
“He was polishing your shoes.”
“It was discipline.”
“He’s six.”
“He threw food under the table.”
Noah shook his head violently.
“I dropped bread.”
Rebecca said:
“See? Excuses.”
Daniel turned toward Hannah’s hands.
“Hospital?”
“Urgent care.”
“When?”
“Four days ago.”
“I called you four days ago.”
Hannah’s eyes filled.
“I know.”
“You told me you burned your hands cooking.”
Rebecca interrupted:
“That is basically what happened.”
Hannah stared at her.
“No.”
Daniel looked back at Hannah.
“What happened?”
Three nights earlier, Rebecca hosted another dinner.
Hannah had been serving dessert.
Rebecca complained that the crystal glasses were cloudy.
She ordered Hannah to wash them again.
Hannah was exhausted.
A tray slipped.
Several glasses shattered in the sink and on the floor.
Noah ran in when he heard the crash.
Hannah immediately tried to move him away.
Rebecca shouted:
“Clean it before someone gets hurt.”
Hannah said she needed gloves.
Rebecca accused her of being dramatic.
Hannah began clearing the pieces with a towel.
A cleaning solution spilled.
She cut both hands in several small places and developed chemical irritation.
Nothing graphic.
But enough for thick dressings and instructions:
keep wounds clean,
limit wet work,
avoid household chemicals,
return if swelling worsens.
Daniel stared.
“And she made you scrub the floor today?”
Hannah nodded.
Rebecca said:
“She is capable of doing basic chores.”
Daniel’s face changed.
Then Noah whispered:
“Grandma took the doctor paper.”
Daniel looked down.
“What paper?”
Noah pointed toward Rebecca’s red handbag.
Rebecca moved for it.
Daniel got there first.
Inside was Hannah’s urgent-care discharge sheet.
Folded in half.
May you like
At the bottom, underlined:
AVOID CLEANING CHEMICALS AND REPETITIVE HAND STRAIN UNTIL RECHECK.
