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“You need to be in your classroom.” Nicole wrapped her palm around her coffee cup.

“I know. Thad is watching my class.” Please, let there be an explanation that didn’t involve my relationship with my student’s father. “I went to take attendance this morning. Lili isn’t in class.” I inhaled a steading breath. “She’s also not on my roster anymore.”

“I know,” Cindee said on a sigh. “I’m going to miss her.”

Jane stopped typing on her computer. “But what an opportunity.”

“Where is she going?” I asked, the tendril of anxiety unraveling around my chest. This didn’t seem to be about me.

“Her stepfather has family in France.” Nicole rested her left butt cheek on Jane’s desk. “I hate to see Lili go, but her mom has to be relieved to finally be away from her father. Such a scary and tragic situation. To think about having to protect your child from their father.” She sighed. “Sadly, it’s not the first time we’ve seen it.”

I wanted to take the lies about Brett as she spewed them and cram them back down her throat, but I was stuck on stepfather and France. “Wait? What do you mean?” I asked. Lili didn’t have a stepfather. Not yet.

“Friday was Lili’s last day.” Jane sipped her coffee.

My mind scrambled for an explanation of the words coming out of their mouth. Were they traveling to France? Why pull her out of school? Unless…maybe they were moving her to a private school. But then, why wouldn’t Natalie have spoken to Brett about it? They had joint custody. That would be a decision they’d make together.

“I would love to travel,” Jane said. “Can you imagine the education she’ll receive? And the culture.”

“The food,” Cindee said. “There’s a French bakery down on Washington Street. Best eclairs I’ve ever tasted.” She glanced at Nicole. “We should have them at our next staff meeting.”

“Living in France, she’ll be able to travel all around Europe.”

Living in France? What? Oh god. Jane, Cindee, and Nicole kept talking about the opportunities of living abroad.

Natalie and Henri are taking her to France. They were taking her from us. In that moment, I realized I’d already committed to both her and Brett. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it throughout my body. “I need to go.” I turned to Jane. “Can you find someone to take my class?”

“Sure.” Her gaze shifted from me to Nicole. “Ah. It might take me a few minutes to get someone here.”

“What’s wrong?” Nicole asked.

“I thought I was ready to come back, but I’m not. I’m sorry. Can you sit with my class?” I asked Cindee. If I left them unattended, it would be considered job abandonment. And I was leaving. Now.

She glanced at Jane. “Second grade is scheduled for library this morning. Can you let them know? We can do late morning instead.”

“Thanks,” I said to all of them as I rushed out of the office.

“Jaymi.” Cindee followed me. “Are you okay?”

“No,” I said, lengthening my stride.

“Jaymi, is this about Lili?”

“No,” I lied. “I just need to go.”

Cindee put her hand on my arm. “I know you’re attached to her, but you wouldn’t have been able to say goodbye on Friday. Her mom came in and asked us not to say anything to Lili. She knew it was going to be hard for her, too. We all saw how much she loved being in your class.”

“Thank you. Don’t ask me questions. I just need to go.”

“Okay. Think of a good excuse. Nicole is going to want an explanation.”

“I’ll come up with something.” This was personal and private. I wasn’t going to say anything else.

I rushed down the hallway and into my classroom.

“I need to go,” I said to the kids, relieved that they remained at their tables doing their bell work. “Mrs. Payne is going to stay with you. I need you to please be good for her.” I grabbed my purse from the drawer as Nicole burst through the door.

“Mrs. Bardot, can I speak to you in the hall?”