Everyone must have thought that Nora was another mom because none of the last few people left at after-school pickup paid much attention to us.

When we got inside the school building, Jed ran ahead, peering around hallway corners, hand waving to say it was safe to keep going.

And then we got to the Skeleton room, and Jed pushed the door open and held it for me to walk through, followed by Nora.

Mr. Khouri got up from his desk quickly, looked between the three of us and sighed, then rushed to her side.

Jed and I went to stand by Aidan and Sam, watching as Mr. Khouri and Nora spoke quietly until she lifted her arm to wipe her eyes on her sleeve. Then Mr. Khouri sort of leaped into action again and steered her toward his desk—where he offered her his box of tissues.

“I can’t go back,” Nora finally said, blowing her nose and then taking a deep breath. “I cannot, Ferman—you understand? They will keep us locked away somewhere and when the time comes, they will send us back with no one knowing.” Mr. Khouri nodded.

It was quiet in the classroom then, with just the sound of Nora breathing deeply and trying to stop crying, and Mr. Khouri saying soft, soothing words to her under his breath.

“What’s going to happen now?” Aidan asked.

Mr. Khouri looked up at us, blinked a few times, and then frowned. “You are all going home, immediately.”

“We can’t do that,” Sam protested.

I felt the needle of my compass spinning again, and figured Sam’s must have been too.

“That is admirable, Mr. Murray, but you’ve all done more than enough.”

I shook my head. “What about the baby?”

Nora’s head snapped up and she looked right at me.

“That’s what this is about, right? The baby’s nearly due, and you don’t want to have it there—and you’re afraid they’ll send you both away when we’re not looking. . . .”

Nora closed her eyes.

Mr. Khouri said, “Ms. Ramusa is applying for permanent asylum and is afraid she’ll be rejected—not right away, but a few months after the baby is born. You’re right, Winifred, she’s afraid that they’ll both be sent back.” Then, a little more quietly, he added, “I’m not sure this situation is going to help your case either.”

“Can’t she just go back now, to the haven? Say it was all a mistake, she got lost, and she wasn’t really running away?” Jed asked, but Nora shook her head violently and Mr. Khouri put a hand on her arm to settle her.