She turned the phone off and buried it in the bottom of the tote.

I should also be cautious about spoilers if the user hasn't read the series. However, the term "beach incident" is a well-known plot point in the fandom, so maybe that's acceptable. Including analysis of the incident's role in character arcs and the series' larger message about power and responsibility is important.

The specific phrasing you mentioned—"the work" and "family"—is central to why this incident went viral.