A Teacher's Heart

Chapter One

"....and Matthew will go with the father, Francis Bonnefoy!" a judge announced before his court, also banging his gavel on his desk to finalize his decision. "Court dismissed!"

There was chatter of all kinds, but Francis had drowned it out. He glanced at his wife, well more like ex-wife now, and the triumphant look on her face made his blood boil.

"See?~" the woman, Olivia, smirked tauntingly at Francis. "I told you they wouldn't give you both of them!~"

Francis wanted to say something rude, and probably call her a witch too, but he didn't. He couldn't fight her, not right now, when there were still people from the jury watching them.

"Just treat Alfred well," he spoke instead. "Please, that's all I'm asking of you now."

"You know I will," Olivia answered firmly. "I'm not a monster, Francis. I'm insulted to hear you think of me like that."

"We have joint custody," Francis reminded her harshly, "so don't act so high and mighty! This isn't the last time you'll see me!"

Oh no, he was doing it! He was fighting back, and he promised himself that he wouldn't do it!

Snap out of it, Francis! he mentally scolded himself. Don't let her gaslight you, or rile you up!

"At least I get five days in between~" Olivia grinned cruelly. "I have no doubt that they will be like heaven!~"

Francis grit his teeth together, seething with anger.

"You're a witch!"

"And you're a monster!"

~~~~

Francis slammed shut the front door to his parents' house in anger, and he could hear one of the hinges break. He promised himself that he would fix it later, but he didn't know exactly when.

"Francis, is that you?" a woman wondered, coming into the foyer to meet him.

Her name was Louisette, and she had long blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes, just like Francis. She was also dressed in expensive clothes, since she had a long history of modeling. That's where Francis got his love for fashion design from, too.

"Oui, maman," Francis nodded, relaxing immediately when he pulled her in for a hug.

"Oh, darling," Louisette sighed softly, putting both of her hands on Francis' cheeks. "Was it really that bad?"

"Oui," Francis repeated, sitting down at the dining room table. "Is Matthieu in bed?"

"Like a baby."

"Good."

Francis chewed on his lower lip, and that's when his held-back tears fell.

"They split the boys up!" he sobbed into his hands. "And I couldn't do anything to stop them!"

"Oh, Francis," Louisette whispered, looking at her son with a deep sadness. "My poor baby."

"We have joint custody of them," Francis went on, "but we'll only get to see each other on the weekends! It's not fair! They can't do that! I was supposed to take care of both of them, maman! Not just Matthieu, and certainly not Olivia!"

"Hush, dear," Louisette spoke softly, gently stroking his hair as well. "Everything is going to be okay."

"Non, it's not!" Francis shook his head, standing up as well. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Oh, I don't know," Louisette replied sarcastically. "Take care of your son?"

Francis' head snapped into her direction, and he was clearly unamused by her response.

"That isn't funny."

"Am I laughing?" Louisette asked seriously.

"You make it sound so easy!" Francis huffed, crossing his arms as well. "But it's not!"

"Then what are you going to do?" Louisette raised a brow, skeptical of her son's words. "Put Matthieu up for adoption?"

"It has been on my mind since I've driven home."

"Honestly, Francis, your dramatic behavior still amazes me," Louisette told him with disapproval. "Are you really going to let Olivia ruin your life?"

When Francis didn't answer her, she shook her head slowly.

"I figured as much," she explained, "so that's why I've already bought you and Matthieu a new house in London. It's near Francine's neighborhood, too, so you two won't be completely isolated."

"WHAT?" Francis cried, shocked beyond belief. "YOU DID WHAT?"

"SSH!" Louisette hissed, also putting her finger over Francis' mouth to keep him from protesting. "You'll wake up your son if you don't be quiet! And oui, you heard me. It's time for you to move on, dear. You can't hide here forever, you know."

"But maman," Francis replied, "I already have a job here! I can't just leave!"

"You can, and you will," Louisette answered firmly. "I've already arranged it."

"Matthieu can just stay with Francine, then," Francis told her stubbornly. "She likes him a lot."

"Oui, dump your son onto your sister," Louisette rolled her eyes. "How considerate."

"Well, what else am I supposed to do with him while I'm at work?" Francis snapped. "Bring him to work with me?"

"Or find a babysitter?" Louisette suggested as if it was obvious.

Francis gasped, appalled by his mother's reply.

"Non!" he declined. "I don't trust them! Do you know how many kids die under a babysitter's watch every year?"

"Do you?"

"Non...."

"My point exactly," Louisette confirmed. "So that leaves you with no more excuses. You two move tomorrow morning, and that's that."

Francis wanted to protest once more, but the finality inside his mother's eyes immediately made him think twice about it.

"Oui, maman...."

~~~~

"....so think of it like a vacation," Francis concluded, carefully guiding Matthew throughout the airport in Paris. "Won't it be fun?"

"But I don't want to go, papa!" Matthew whined, trying once again to escape despite Francis' tight hold on his hand. "I want to stay here! Alfred won't know I'm gone until Saturday, and what if he thinks we've forgotten about him?"

"I already let him know about our move this morning," Francis calmly explained. "He's even excited to visit you there."

"Are you sure?" Matthew wondered, looking up at Francis hopefully. "Aunt Francine said it's okay for him to come?"

"Oui," Francis nodded. "She did, so now you have nothing to worry about."

"Okay...." Matthew replied quietly. "I'll try my best to like it there, then."

"Merci." Francis smiled weakly, gently ruffling Matthew's hair as well. "That's my brave boy."