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“I’m not sure, I’ll have to check.”
Fear gripped my heart as I thought of all the things that could’ve gone wrong. Who had taken Ethan and where was he now?
The teacher came back after checking with the office.
“I’m not sure who fetched him. We had an incident with another child, and I think that is why procedure wasn’t followed.”
The teacher frowned. “I’m sure everything is all right.”
I could only nod.
Sam would be livid and rightly so. I had somehow lost his son. I turned around and walked back to the car in a daze. I dialed Sam’s number.
“Yes?”
“I’m just checking, is Ethan with you?”
“What? What are you talking about?”
I told him about being at the school and hearing that someone else had fetched Ethan.
“Who fetched him? What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know,” I started crying as I explained about the staff meeting and not remembering about the changed times.
“You forgot? What do you mean you forgot?” His voice shook with rage.
“You have one job, Natalie! One job!”
“I know! I know!”
“Find him!” he shouted at me. “I’m calling the police!” and slammed down the phone.
I drove home, calling every number I could think of. All the other kids from school’s mothers, even Ethan’s swimming coach. But nobody had seen him. When I arrived home, I hardly knew what to do. I rushed into the house, where I found the housekeeper Mina wiping the counters, and Ethan having a sandwich at the kitchen table.
“Ethan!” I ran towards him, hugging him.
“Nattie,” he smiled at me, happily munching away.
Only then did I notice Dana, sitting at the kitchen table, glaring at me.
“The school called the office, looking for his father. Where were you?”
I started spluttering about the changed times and not knowing.
“How could you not know?”
I had never liked Dana, but I’d kept this opinion to myself. I thought she was arrogant and self-important, and I suspected she had a thing for Sam. The moment she’d heard Sam and I were together, she had become very unfriendly towards me, making bitchy comments whenever he was out of ear shot. It didn’t help that she was always dressed in tight-fitting clothes and high heels, looking smart and elegant. Not a hair out of place. And now she had saved the day.
“Have you told Sam he’s safe?” I asked tearfully.
“I have,” she said, a smug smile on her face. “I think he’s finally seen the light. I’d pack my bags if I were you. This sweet little deal of yours is over. Better find a new job but don’t ask for a reference here, I’d say.”
I felt my chest tighten and I struggled to breathe.
Dana was wearing an awful smile. “Now I’ll get back to the office if you don’t mind. Do you need helping packing or can you manage that at least?” she asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
I had no words. Dana had made me feel impossibly small and useless.
