It happened on a Tuesday.
I was sitting at my desk when my phone rang.
The number belonged to Emma's school.
I answered immediately.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Is this Emma's mother?"
"Yes."
"This is the school office. Could you come here as soon as possible?"
My heart dropped.
"Is Emma okay?"
There was a pause.
"Emma is fine."
The way the woman said it made my stomach tighten.
"Then what's wrong?"
"It's about the man who normally picks her up."
I stood so quickly that my chair rolled backward.
"What happened?"
"I'd rather explain when you arrive."
I was already grabbing my coat.
The entire drive to the school, Ryan's words echoed through my head.
I don't trust him.
You trust people too easily.
Something is wrong with him.
By the time I walked into the school office, my hands were shaking.
Emma was sitting in a chair.
Her face was red.
She looked angry.
And beside her stood Travis.
His arms were crossed.
His jaw was tight.
But the person sitting beside him made my heart sink.
Melissa.
I walked straight to Emma.
"Baby?"
"I'm fine."
I hugged her.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
I looked toward the principal.
"What happened?"
The principal cleared his throat.
"Your sister-in-law arrived claiming she had permission to pick Emma up today."
I looked at Melissa.
"What?"
Melissa immediately raised her hands.
"Ryan told me you and he had decided Travis shouldn't be doing this anymore."
I stared at her.
"Ryan told you that?"
"Yes."
"Did he tell you to pick her up today?"
"Yes."
I looked at Emma.
She was staring at the floor.
The principal continued.
"Then Travis arrived according to the authorization we have on file. Our staff became concerned because the two pickup arrangements conflicted."
I looked at Travis.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
He shook his head.
"I told them to call you."
Then Emma grabbed my sleeve.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"I don't want to go with Aunt Melissa."
"Okay."
"I want Travis."
She looked toward him.
"I trust Travis."
Then she looked at me.
"I don't trust Daddy anymore."
The room went completely silent.
My heart broke.
Not because she trusted Travis.
Because she had learned that adults could make decisions behind her back and force her to choose sides.
I knelt beside her.
"Sweetheart, this isn't your problem."
"But Daddy told me Travis wasn't allowed anymore."
I looked at Travis.
He gave me a small shake of his head.
Not now.
Not here.
We needed to talk at home.
And I knew exactly who I needed to talk to.