Chapter 3

3

C hastity brooded over the unwelcome phone call while she waited for her son to come out of school. She hadn’t been sure if she should tell Thomas about his father after he made contact, but in the end she did. When she asked her ex why he was calling after all this time, her question was met with silence. Then, “I don’t know. When I moved to France it didn’t seem right not to get in touch once I knew you were living here.” He said he thought it was wrong not to be involved with his son. She curled her lip. I can’t say I feel the same way.

She asked if he got her phone number from her parents, but no. Of course not. When Marc told her it was Caroline who spilled all the details about her move to France and her job at Fenley, Chastity rolled her eyes. Didn’t it occur to her to ask me first before she passed on personal details to someone who was such a jerk to me? She wondered why she had bothered to keep in touch with Caroline when they had nothing in common, even if she didn’t have many friends to choose from.

In the end she agreed to a meeting, unable to decide whether it was a good idea or not. Having worked so hard to overcome her anger over the way he had treated her, she didn’t want to dismiss this chance to show forgiveness. Everything about this was unprecedented. Was it better for her son to know his father? Deadbeat though he is ? She reluctantly admitted to herself that part of her ‘yes’ had to do with curiosity over what he looked like after eight years.

The school bell rang, and Thomas spotted her in the crowd. Running up to her, his backpack jostling on his back with each step, he held out a paper. “Mom, we got a ticket at school to go to the circus.” Sunlight glinted off the blond hair that was parted to one side.

Chastity smiled at his enthusiasm. “Honey, that’s not a ticket.” She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. “It’s just a flyer, but—” when she saw his face fall, “we might still be able to go. It’s in two weeks. I’ll have to see what we have planned.”

They started walking down the tree-lined street, and he looked up at her doubtfully. “Maybe we could see if my father wants to go with us.” He spoke the words as if he were trying them out on his tongue.

Eyes ahead, she kept her voice neutral. “Yes, that might be a possibility.”

When she didn’t say anything more, he persisted. “Mom, why does he want to see me now after all this time?”

After a brief hesitation, she answered him honestly. “I think, at the beginning, he was just not interested in being a father. Maybe he thought he was too young. After that, he couldn’t see you because he was in prison.” She had never been one to hide anything from her son if she felt he had the right to know.

“My dad was in jail?” Thomas’s eyes grew wide. “What did he do?”

“I’m not too sure,” she replied. “I think he was selling drugs.”

Thomas kicked a small stone off the sidewalk. “What are drugs?”

Chastity contemplated the clouds, waiting for inspiration. “Um…it’s like a medicine you take. Only instead of making you healthy again, it makes you sick. Drugs also make you act foolish when you take them. And—” she added, “they’re against the law.”

Thomas, who had always been a precocious child, retorted, “You would have to be an idiot to take drugs.”

“Yup.” This was accompanied by a nod.

Her son sighed and shook his head. “My father’s an idiot.”

Chastity let out a peal of laughter that she cut short. “Perhaps you’re right, my dear. But everyone deserves the chance to be recognized for their goodness and not their mistakes.”

Thomas chewed on this information before saying, “He’s not much of a father. He could have written to me while he was in jail. I’m sure they have pens and paper there. I would’ve sent him a drawing back.”

“Yes, he could have,” she answered in perfect seriousness, without any urge to smile. “Anyway, I think before doing something big together, like going to the circus, maybe we’ll meet him for hot chocolate first. What do you say to that?”

“Okay.” Her son slid his hand into hers as they turned towards the entrance to their apartment building.

On Friday, Chastity was no closer to knowing whether she was making the right decision to introduce her son to his father. As she came out of the classroom, she spotted the Math teacher ahead. If there’s anybody I can talk to about this, it’s Maude . She didn’t easily invite people into her life, but Maude had managed to worm her way in, and so far she had proven trustworthy.

Maude was barely taller than her students, even in high heels, and Chastity eased past the teenagers who were lounging in the hallway to catch up to her. Her friend had thin, muscular arms and square shoulders that were visible through the light cardigan, and her hair was pulled back in a large bun. Originally from Martinique, her colleague had lived in France since junior high.

“Hey.” Chastity smiled as soon as she was at her side.

“Ah. Salut, toi .” Hi yourself. Maude could speak English but was more comfortable in French. “I need to stop in my office first.” She veered off to the side, waving for her to follow.

Chastity imitated her abrupt turn and entered the office, which was decorated with candles, picture frames, and fresh flowers. She made a mental note to work on personalizing her own office space more. “You said you needed to come here ‘first’? Where are you going after that?”

“Oh, you’re coming with me.” Maude grabbed her purse and hooked her arm through Chastity’s. “Unless you need to get Thomas.”

“No, no. He’s in the after-school program today.”

“Good. We’re going to save Anne’s job.”

“Wait. Anne…Anne Meurier? The art teacher? What’s up with her job? She’s been here for years. And doesn’t she volunteer at the museum as well?”

“No, she works there,” Maude responded, emphasizing the word. “It’s only part-time, but still. I’ve heard she’s been let go in both places. I suspect the same person is responsible for both.”

“Who? It must be a personal vendetta,” Chastity cried out. “She’s so sweet, and she seems really good at what she does. There’s no way she deserves this.”

“I know. That’s why we’re going. A bunch of parents are here to support her, and about half the teachers as well.” Maude added, “Some don’t like to go against the board and they’re staying out of it.”

Chastity shrugged, ever the idealist. “I don’t care about that. Let’s go.”

When they reached the door to the community room, there was already a handful of people waiting on the landing and stairwell. Maude tapped the person in front of her and whispered, “What are we waiting for? Why don’t we just go in?”

Chastity didn’t recognize the woman and assumed it must be a parent. “We don’t have the right to interrupt the board meeting, so we’re waiting until it’s finished,” the woman answered. “We’ll have to ask them to reopen the issue and hear us out.”

Maude nodded her approval and turned back to Chastity. “You heard that?”

Chastity nodded back with a glimmer of a smile. “This hints at revolt. I hope they don’t meet us with boiling oil.”

Maude flashed her white teeth as she laughed noiselessly. “So what’s new? You’ve been distracted lately.”

Chastity sighed deeply and leaned on the railing. “Thomas’s father is in France, and he asked to meet us.”

“Oh. You’ve never mentioned him before. When’s the last time Tommy saw him?”

“Never.” Chastity’s smile was rueful, and Maude waited for her to continue. “He’s been in prison. But even before that he told me he wanted nothing to do with the baby. I was just a teenager, you know.” She darted a glance at Maude’s face and was relieved to see no judgment there. “He said he’d pay for an abortion. So nice of him,” she added.

Maude wrinkled her brows. “I’m afraid to ask how he was supposed to pay for the abortion. What did he go to prison for?”

“Selling drugs. But that wasn’t how he would have paid for it. In fact, I still can’t get over the fact that he would do something like sell drugs. He comes from a wealthy French family, and his dad is—or was—in New York on diplomatic business. I mean, tons of money and lots of snobbery to go with it.”

“In my years of teaching, I’ve seen a few privileged kids fall off the straight path like that. Sometimes the parents were too busy to give the attention and affection a kid needs. But sometimes it’s just bad luck. A good kid from a good, affectionate family will fall in with a bad crowd and make stupid choices. What were his parents like?”

“I think they were all right. His mom was maybe a bit cold, but it was clear they loved him. He was all they had, and they gave him all their attention.”

“Hm. Maybe too much. But let me stop analyzing. The truth is, you just never know. So when are you going to meet him? Or are you going to meet him?”

“Tomorrow. Do you think I’m doing the right thing, or should I run the other direction?”

“I can’t answer that for you.” Maude pursed her lips. “He left you to raise Thomas on your own. Then again, he was—what—seventeen? Eighteen? We are all stupid at that age.” Chastity laughed, and Maude continued in a more serious tone. “But then, what he did afterwards was not just stupid; it had serious consequences. I just don’t know. I suppose everyone deserves at least one second chance, right?”

Chastity stole a glance at the others who were all involved in conversation. She answered quietly. “That’s exactly what I told Thomas, but it doesn’t bring me any closer to knowing what to do.” She gave a small shrug. “The truth is, I’m lonely. It’s not that I think he’s going to be the answer to that, but it makes it harder for me to think clearly.”

“How many men have you dated seriously since Thomas’s father.”

Chastity brought her thumb and forefinger together to make a zero.

“What? How is that possible? How are they not beating down your door?”

Chastity chewed her lip. “I don’t know. A few tried, but there was always something missing. I suspected they didn’t like kids—usually that was it. Sometimes there was no spark. Or I’m busy.”

Maude grabbed her hand, which rested on the railing, and held it tightly. “Of course you’re busy. You’re a single mom. But I suspect with the right one, the obstacles would fade away. Don’t you think?”

“The right one. Ha. If only I knew what I wanted. That’s the problem. I don’t know what I want.” She tucked a curl behind her ear. “No, I do know, but I don’t like to say the words because I’m afraid it will never come true.”

Maude prodded her. “Now you have to tell me. You can’t leave me hanging.”

Chastity took a deep breath. “I want someone who loves both me and Thomas. Someone who’s not afraid to commit and actually wants to marry me.” She stretched out the word, then laughed and hid her face in her hands. “You know—what you and Michel have, and I’m afraid that just doesn’t exist anymore. At least not for me.”

“Oh, you want matching names?” Maude teased. “Let’s see…what matches with Chastity?”

Just then the door to the community room opened, signaling the end of the board meeting. Maude was still staring at her and chuckling quietly, so Chastity whispered, “Nothing. Nothing matches with my name.”

“Christophe.” Maude whispered back. “Chandler.” Then, as an afterthought, “Charles.”

Chastity suppressed a smile and rolled her eyes. “Look ahead. The line’s moving.”

Chastity had no idea what to expect from this impromptu meeting with the board. She just knew it wasn’t fair that they could get rid of someone for no apparent reason. This small group of supporters, about fifteen in all, would at least take a stand against the injustice. Someone has to , she huffed.

She was the last one to position herself on one end of the oval table that usually held student backpacks and cans of coke, but which now held espresso cups and a plate with nothing but crumbs. She studied the board members who were talking with one another and ignoring the crowd that had assembled the minute the meeting was over.

Chastity drew in a quick breath. Monsieur de Brase was here. Right in the center of the group of board members, talking and smiling as he shook the hand of someone she didn’t know. Her eyes darted to the right and caught those of her principal, Elizabeth, who was sitting at the table, a stack of papers and notes in front of her.

Of course her principal would have to attend the board meeting. Chastity wondered if she would learn more details later but dismissed the idea immediately. Elizabeth was her boss and would never gossip. As if she knew what Chastity was thinking, Elizabeth smiled at her. Mr. de Brase, finishing his conversation, caught the silent exchange and glanced at Chastity. She thought she saw a flicker of recognition and was suddenly conscious of what she was wearing. Yet another bohemian skirt. She mentally shook herself.

Maude was looking around to see who was going to begin the dialogue. When no one stepped forward, she broke through the murmur. “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen.” The board members stopped talking and turned to face her.

“Thank you for your attention.” Gesturing at the people around her, she said, “We’ve come to talk to you about your decision to replace Anne Meurier.” She addressed Mr. de Brase who, Chastity was starting to suspect, had a principal role in the firing.

Mr. de Brase met her challenge with silence, which might have discomfited someone made of lesser stuff, but Maude just waited. Finally Mr. de Brase sighed. “You’ve come to talk. What is it you want to say?”

A couple of people in the crowd muttered under their breath, but Maude spoke over them. “Mademoiselle Meurier is good at what she does, and she adds value to the school and community. We represent staff and parents on this issue, and none of us are in agreement with her being let go. We would like to ask you to reconsider.”

Mr. de Brase eyed her unflinchingly. “Madame…?”

“Madame Rosier,” Maude answered.

“Madame Rosier. I appreciate your support of your colleague, and your interest in the board’s decision. But that’s just it. This isn’t a democracy, and the decisions are the board’s to make. We’ve made a ruling that we feel is best for Fenley, and that is to end Mademoiselle Meurier’s contract early. We’re not required to justify our decision to anyone.”

Mr. de Brase turned to gather his coat and briefcase. The grumbling around them grew louder, and Maude attempted to speak once again. “Monsieur de Brase, we’re just asking out of common courtesy to provide us with a reason…”

Mr. de Brase cut her off. “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, this meeting is adjourned. Christian, will you accompany me to my car?” The gentleman in question pulled on his coat and squeezed past the group of protesters that parted in the viscount’s wake.

Elizabeth Mercer stood as well, looking self-conscious, if not embarrassed. Chastity decided she would see if an opportunity presented itself to approach her when some of the tension had died down. The crowd was now speaking more openly as the rest of the board filed out. Chastity glanced at Maude, who was staring at the doorframe where Mr. de Brase had just exited.

Maude looked back at Chastity. “Wow,” she mouthed.

“I know.” Chastity nodded, her eyes wide.