Page 17 of He Doesn't Deserve You

Emily gave him a reassuring smile, “I’ll be right back.”

Roman watched Emily stride down the street, her figure growing smaller until she rounded the corner and disappeared from view. His stomach was in knots – his instincts told him not to be overconfident like last time.

Emily approached the building and reached for the door handle, exhaling deeply to steady her nerves. Quickly adjusting her posture, she squared her shoulders and walked into the preschool, exuding confidence. Making her way directly to Ms. Kathy’s class, she opened the door to find every head turning in her direction. Ava’s face lit up with a radiant smile as she sprang up from the carpet.

“Mommy!” she exclaimed, running to Emily with open arms. She hugged her mother’s legs, her excitement bubbling over as she clung to her.

“Hi, sweetie. Mommy missed you,” Emily said, picking up her daughter.

The classroom aide approached Emily with a polite smile. “Did you bring Ava’s lunch?” she asked.

“No, I decided to pick her up instead,” Emily said, not missing a beat.

“Oh, okay,” the aid went over to the desk and grabbed a clipboard.

Emily put Ava down and said, “Go get your jacket, honey.”

“Okay, Mommy,” Ava ran over to her cubby.

The assistant handed Emily the clipboard, and she quickly signed Ava out. Ava returned to her mother, holding out her coat. Emily helped her daughter put it on, then took her by the hand, smiling warmly.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked.

Looking up at her mother, Ava nodded.

“Bye, Ava,” the assistant said as they left the classroom.

They had only taken a few steps down the hall when Emily suddenly halted. She saw something that made her heart skip a beat through the glass door. Gabriel was walking down the pathway, approaching the school.

Quickly, she scooped Ava into her arms and glanced left and right, searching for a place to hide. Spotting the ladies’ room, she hurried inside. “Mommy has to go potty,” she whispered to Ava.

Once inside, she leaned against the door, her heart racing as she struggled to figure out her next move. After a few tense seconds, giving Gabriel enough time to reach the classroom, she put a finger to her lips, signaling Ava to stay quiet. Carefully, she inched open the door and peeked through the crack. She glimpsed Gabriel’s back as he entered Ava’s classroom.

Realizing she had only seconds to escape, she whispered urgently to Ava, “We’ve got to go!” With a burst of speed, she sprinted out of the preschool, carrying her daughter in her arms, and dashed down the sidewalk.

Meanwhile, Gabriel stepped into Ava’s classroom, locked eyeswith her teacher, smiled, and held up Ava’s lunchbox. The assistant approached him with a puzzled expression.

“I brought Ava’s lunch,” Gabriel said, handing over the lunchbox.

The assistant frowned. “Ava’s not here,” she replied.

“What do you mean? I dropped her off this morning,” he said, a note of panic creeping into his voice. His eyes frantically scanned the classroom, searching for any sign of Ava.

“Mrs. Anderson just picked her up. She didn’t tell you?” the assistant said surprised.

“Mrs. Anderson? Are you sure?” Gabriel’s voice trembled, his face reflecting a mix of confusion and rising dread.

“Yes, she just left. I’m surprised you didn’t see her.”

Gabriel bolted from the classroom, racing through the school with desperate urgency, hoping to catch sight of her.

Roman sat in the car, his eyes fixed on the corner, watching and waiting for Emily to appear. After about fifteen minutes, Emily finally came into view, and his heart sank. She was carrying Ava, running toward him with a look of sheer desperation on her face. Instantly, he turned the engine on, put the car into drive, and floored it, reaching her in seconds.

Throwing open the car door, Emily glanced over her shoulder, panic in her eyes. “Gabriel’s here,” she said breathlessly.

“Get in!” Roman barked.

Emily scrambled into the passenger seat, clutching a crying Ava tightly. Roman floored the accelerator as she pulled the door shut, their tires screeching as they sped away.

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