Chapter 4: Whitney's Offer

By Monday morning, the whole school had seen the video.

I had also opened the banking app four times before breakfast.

The joint account still said $0.00, and Travis's phone still went to voicemail.

The secretary at the front desk had it open on her monitor when I walked in.

She minimized it fast and then hugged me over the counter.

"You're all right?" she said into my shoulder. "You're really all right?"

"I'm at work, aren't I?"

"Honey, nobody would have blamed you for staying in bed till Christmas."

The principal called me in at eight.

She was a tall woman with reading glasses on her head and two cups of tea on the desk.

"The parents' group chat is on fire," she said.

She pushed a cup toward me.

"I told them it's a private matter, and that you're the best nurse this building has ever had."

"Thank you."

"I also told them that if anyone says something unkind to you, I'll put their kid on the lice-check list."

I laughed so hard I had to put the tea down.

It was the first time in two days that I had laughed and not felt sick afterward.

I spent the morning with an ice pack on a first grader's knee.

A kindergartner came in next with a bean in her ear.

The bean came out.

At twelve fifteen the secretary buzzed my office.

"Leah, there's a woman here to see you. Blonde. She brought coffee."

I didn't have to ask who.

Whitney stood at the front desk in a camel coat that looked new.

She held a tray of two cups and a small leather purse.

She smiled when she saw me. It was a gentle, hopeful smile.

"Leah. Thank you for seeing me."

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