Eleanor turned to look at him. She couldn''t be sure if he was really sick, but she definitely didn''t want to pick up their daughter with him.
"I''m sure. You should go home," she said dismissively.
A shadow crossedn''s deep-set eyes, but he didn''t leave immediately. He simply took a few steps back to lean against his car, his gaze still fixed on Eleanor''s profile.
Eleanor could feel him watching her. After a few seconds, she turned and shot him a re.
At her re, a hint of a resigned smile touchedn''s eyes. He finally opened his car door, got in, and drove away.
Eleanor smoothed her hair, annoyed that he had managed to get under her skin. Just then, the school gates opened, and she joined the other parents heading toward the entrance.
When Evelyn came out, her little head was hanging low, as if she''d suffered a terrible blow. Eleanor quickly knelt down. "Evelyn, what''s wrong?"
"Mommy, Vivian is moving away!" Evelyn''s lower lip began to tremble, and her big eyes instantly filled with tears.
Eleanor was taken aback. "Vivian is moving? Where is she going?"
"She''s going to live in another country." The thought made Evelyn even more
upset, and the sorrow of parting with her best friend overwhelmed her.
Eleanor was even more surprised. Was Xavier Vaughn sending Vivian abroad? Or was he nning to move himself?
"Mommy, can you take me to see Vivian? I want to see her," Evelyn pleaded, wrapping her arms around Eleanor''s neck. "She hasn''t been to school in three days."
Eleanor figured her daughter must have asked her teacher, who then told her about Vivian moving.
"Okay, sweetie. Let me ask Mr. Vaughn, alright?" Eleanor said, patting her daughter''s back soothingly.
Evelyn sniffled and nodded against her shoulder.
As Eleanor buckled her daughter into the car, she noticedn''s car was still there, parked a little further down the road.
She drove back to theirplex. Ian''s car didn''t follow; it turned in another direction.
Seeing her daughter''s sad mood, Eleanor decided to text Xavier to ask about Vivian.
In the elevator, she sent a message: *Xavier, is Vivian really transferring schools?
*
Xavier replied almost immediately: *Vivian''s grandparents want to take her with them. She might be going abroad for a while.*
A bad feeling crept over Eleanor. Were Vivian''s grandparents trying to fight for custody?
*Is Vivian home? Could Evelyne over to say goodbye?* Eleanor typed.
*Yes. I''m on my way home now. You can go ahead. My mother is there,* Xavier replied.
Eleanor took her daughter''s hand and walked across theplex to Xavier''s building.
A maid opened the door, and Mrs. Vaughn, hearing their arrival, came to greet them. She was delighted to see them. "Eleanor, you''re here! Please,e in." "Vivian!"
"Evelyn!"
The two little girls squealed with delight, grabbing hands and spinning in a circle. "Let''s go y!" Vivian said to Evelyn.
"Okay! I want to see your kitten."
After Mrs. Vaughn had Eleanor seated, Eleanor noticed that she seemed to be in
low spirits. "Mrs. Vaughn, is everything alright?" she asked gently.
A flicker of anger crossed Mrs. Vaughn''s face. "Vivian''s
grandparents are demanding custody We''ve been fighting it You she
know my daughter when you
fought back against the abuse... it''s just heartbreaking." Mrs. Vaughn''s eyes welled up with tears?
Eleanor quickly grabbed a tissue and moved closer tofort her, unsure of what to say. But it was clear her guess had been right. Vivian wasn''t just transferring schools, she was being forced to leave the country.
Mrs. Vaughn sighed. "Xavier has been negotiating with them, but they''re adamant that Vivian has to go live with them."
"Are they good to Vivian?"
"They seem to be, but Vivian hasn''t spent much time with them. I''m worried she won''t be able to adjust." The pain in Mrs. Vaughn''s voice was palpable.
Just then, the front door opened, and Xavier walked in.
Though they lived in the sameplex, Eleanor hadn''t seen him in over a week. The exhaustion on his
& gras obvious he was clearly worn out from worrying about Vivian.