Big Little Lies
by Liane Moriarty
Contents
Chapter 24: Two Months Before the Trivia Night
Overview
Abigail tells Madeline that she wants to live full-time with Nathan and Bonnie, confirming one of Madeline’s deepest fears and shifting the family conflict from resentment to real loss. At the school athletics carnival, Madeline’s encounter with Nathan exposes old wounds over his absence during Abigail’s childhood and his new identity as an involved father. The chapter deepens Madeline’s jealousy, grief, and public humiliation while the police-frame reminders keep the coming trivia-night death in view.
Summary
Two months before trivia night, Madeline prepares Chloe for the school athletics carnival by spraying her hair green for the Dolphins house. Abigail criticizes the aerosol spray and continues to display the influence of Nathan and Bonnie’s healthier, more conscientious household, arriving home with special food and speaking with teenage contempt.
Chloe tells Madeline that the twins think Celeste will win the mothers race, while Abigail says Bonnie is fast and much younger than Madeline. The teasing exposes Madeline’s insecurity about Bonnie, and when Ed lightly intervenes, Abigail becomes furious. Abigail accuses Madeline of being competitive with Bonnie and says she cannot relax or be herself at home.
Amid Fred shouting for a missing shoe and Chloe watching anxiously, Abigail announces that she wants to live full-time with Nathan and Bonnie. Madeline is devastated because she has feared this moment for months, but she answers calmly that Abigail may do so if that is truly what Abigail wants. Chloe breaks down crying, and Madeline tries to hold Abigail’s gaze in a silent appeal to their long bond, but Abigail turns away.
At the athletics carnival, witness-style comments describe the mothers race as comic but intensely competitive. Madeline then runs into Nathan, who is attending with Skye and volunteering at the event. His presence wounds Madeline because he missed Abigail’s childhood school life but is now performing the role of involved father.
Nathan awkwardly confirms that Abigail has spoken to Madeline about living with him. Madeline says it is fine, refusing to reveal her hurt. Their conversation turns to money, and Nathan admits things are tight while also acknowledging that he failed to support Abigail properly when she was young. Madeline snaps that he should sell his sports car, then regrets shaming him in front of Skye.
Madeline reflects bitterly that ex-spouses should not live in the same suburb or share school communities because public encounters force private pain into the open. Before the conversation can continue, Miss Barnes calls Madeline to the kindergarten mothers race. Madeline accepts the challenge, while later police-related comments suggest investigators are examining the trivia-night victim’s relationships with all attending parents.
Who Appears
- Madeline MackenzieDevastated mother who hides hurt after Abigail chooses Nathan and Bonnie’s home.
- AbigailMadeline’s teenage daughter; announces she wants to live full-time with Nathan and Bonnie.
- NathanMadeline’s ex-husband; attends the carnival and awkwardly discusses Abigail and money.
- EdMadeline’s husband; tries to manage Abigail’s tone during the tense breakfast.
- ChloeMadeline’s young daughter; prepares for the carnival and cries over Abigail’s decision.
- FredMadeline’s son; repeatedly interrupts the tense morning while looking for a shoe.
- SkyeNathan’s young daughter; stands beside him during Madeline’s painful confrontation.
- Miss BarnesKindergarten teacher who calls Madeline to the mothers race at the carnival.
- BonnieNathan’s wife; absent but central to Abigail’s decision and Madeline’s jealousy.