"I told him you were on your period and had a headache but he was gonna stomp up here anyway!" Ellie blurts out, just in case Tess had no idea, and it's easy enough to play off as her tattling on Joel.

Ellie can see the fucking bucket right there and it makes her stomach lurch.

Joel knows when so much as a tool has been put back in the wrong place in his shop. He'll definitely notice a random bucket.