The Night She Disappeared

Kim helps Tallulah with her makeup for the college Christmas party. Kim paints wings over Tallulah’s eyes while Tallulah admires Kim’s tattoos. Zach says nothing when Tallulah goes to the Christmas party alone with her friend Chloe.

Tallulah finds the party dull until Scarlett and her groups of friends walk in, very drunk. When Tallulah heads to the bar, Scarlett recognizes her, calling her “Tallulah from the bus” (62). When a Mariah Carey song comes on, Scarlett grabs Tallulah and they go to the dance floor. Tallulah feels amazing. She pretends there’s no Zach and no fat pregnancy stomach. Scarlett grabs Tallulah’s phone and takes a selfie of the two of them.

Outside, they chat. Tallulah decides not to tell Scarlett about her son Noah. When Scarlett’s friends come out, Mimi is surprised that Scarlett is hanging out with Tallulah, but Scarlett says Tallulah is pretty. Back inside, Chloe angrily tells Tallulah Scarlett’s attention toward her is weird. Tallulah agrees, but with happiness.

Kim picks up Noah from Megs. Kim is surprised at how nonchalant Megs seems about her missing son. She can’t understand how “a mother and a grandmother could have so little engagement” (70).

Kim calls the police. Tallulah and Zach have been missing 24 hours.