The Price of Love

Chapter 1

Chapter 1:

Carol's POV:

I have too little time with my daughter as it is, thanks to the oh-so-great Harge. What father makes a mother hardly see her own child with a custody agreement. Then I had to move from my hometown to another country and continent. And then she can't even stay here with me. At least now I can see Abby again. We haven't seen each other in so long since she moved to New York City with her wife Phyllis. These Skype calls are so annoying, something is always not working. So much different.
I quickly pack Rindy's breakfast in her new backpack and her worry eater stuffed animal as a precaution.

"Rindy will you get out of the bathroom already? We're already late."

"I don't want to go to school. I don't like it here. I want to go back home and not stay with Dad. He's always so mean and I have to visit Grandpa and Grandma Aird all the time. I don't want to, I don't want Mom. What am I going to do if they don't like me? I hate change. Everything is so new!" cried Rindy terribly.
I break into a thousand separate pieces every time she cries. I quickly take my daughter in my arms and put her on my hip and hug her to my chest.

"Hey Rindy. Mama's here, isn't she? I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you can stay with me. Or do you think I like seeing you so rarely my little darling. You know, Mom is not an actress and a ballerina for nothing. And your aunt Lilith is not a renowned psychologist for nothing. We'll work it out. Don't cry anymore. I'll talk to your dad about you staying with me for the first week. But now we have to go."

"If you have to Mom. Will you please help me with my shoes and jacket? I'm not getting that good at it yet."

"Of course my darling."

After a few minutes, we both finished and drove to her new school together. Finally arriving at the school, I pull my red Ferrari into the driveway and park directly in one of the parent parking spaces. I pray Rindy several times to finally get out of the car.

"Mom please don't. I want to stay with you. I can go with you to your audition for the play, can't I?"

"No Rindy. You can't go with me to my work until after school and that's only if your daddy says it's okay and you finish your homework. Man do I hate that man."

"But Mommy!"

"No you go now. That's my last word. Now get out of the car."

I know I'm not really helping her, but she has to get to school. I hate being like this to her. I need a permanent job here or I'll never get custody of Rindy. I haven't been here in New York City for a long time. Not since I had my accident.

When Rindy sees the school building, she just looks at me very scared and grabs my hand. I wish I could make all her worries and fears go away. She's just my baby after all. We walk together down the hallways leading to her new classroom. I've never seen her so scared. My poor baby.

Therese's POV:

The school bell rang to go in. Today is my first day at this school. I sat tensely on the surface of my desk. With a sketchbook and pencil in hand, I drew individual structures of the cheap bouquet of flowers that lay beside me. It was a simple housewarming gift from the school administration to welcome me as a new colleague. In itself, the gesture was meant nicely.
In the Catholic orphanage where I grew up after the death of my parents, we were always taught strictly by the nuns. A lot of things like fun were forbidden there. I wanted to change that so I became a teacher to show the children that school is more than just stress, suffering and torture. Growing up in that hellhole, all I had was art and my dad's old Polaroid camera. It was the last thing I ever had given to me again. I literally photographed everything that exuded pure perfection to me. I was certainly not one of them. My body was as slim as a toothpick and my breasts were almost invisible. On my narrow chest you could see every single rib of my body.
After a few seconds, I finally finished my drawing of the ugly and cheap bouquet of flowers and stood up from the hard wood of my desk. Today was the day I get to teach kids for the first time in my life. Principal Edward Jenkins put me in charge of a new first grade class right on my first day. I opened the classroom doors and waited for my students to enter. After only a few seconds, the first children came running in and gave me a cursory greeting. When, in my opinion, all the students were present, I closed the door. Loud shouting and laughter could be heard from all corners of the room that they did not even understand my request to sit down. Determined, I whistled once to get the attention of the little children. This seemed to work. Because after a few seconds of shock rigidity, everyone present sat down on the free seats of the corner tables and all looked at me excitedly.