The Price of Love

Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

Carol's POV:

I got my first role in years back in New York. Even the lead role. I'm looking forward to Rindy coming to see me again at the theater. I guarantee Todd won't mind, the lead director. We've grown up like siblings in Ivanhoe. He's sort of my big quirky brother. Since I've been with Harge, Harge has tried to cut me off from all family members and friends.
I don't know what he did, but it seemed to work. Even my sister moved. I rarely saw her anymore. Hopefully that will change when we at least live in the same city. There was also something positive about immigrating to the US. Tomorrow Rindy and I are reuniting with my childhood friend Abby and her wife for two years. And of course my sister.

Before ringing the doorbell:

"Do you think Rindy will still recognize me Carol? The last time I saw her, she was still in kindergarten. Maybe I should go to my gallery after all? After all, I don't have any new paintings to use for the new show yet. If I don't show something new in the gallery soon, I'm out of business," I hear my sister say. Lilith almost seems to explode with nervousness. I can't watch how my sister is truly consumed by her fears. One would think that a former psychiatrist would know how to deal with such things. But I understand her fear too well.

"Everything will be fine, Sis. Trust me. Rindy misses you like crazy. Please believe me Lilith.", I say and pull her into a warm hug. I can feel tears slowly running down both of our cheeks and she squeezes tighter into my embrace. It's been ages since she's been in my arms. How much I have missed that. Not only I missed Lilith terribly, but also my little pea.

After a while, our shared tears stop as something tugged at my skirt. Thinking that it might be Rindy, we both turn towards the mood killer.

"Mrs Aird. I'm Daisy Button. Rindy and I are friends now. I just wanted to let you know that I have no intention of hurting your daughter. Also, I wanted to ask if maybe I could come visit her sometime. If it's not okay, I understand," a little red-haired girl told me. I see her staring at me with a hopeless look. Before I could say a word, Lilith took the initiative and bent down to Daisy.

"Why would my sister mind? When such a sweet big girl is friends with my niece. Who won't let her down. I believe in that too much Daisy. I think you can certainly visit her sometime when Rindy is with her mama. You don't have to worry. Just the fact that you even asked shows what a sweet and honest girl you are. Don't you think Sis?" Lilith told Daisy and turned her face to mine and looked at me expectantly.

Following her silent request, I also turn to the little girl and begin to speak in a loving voice: "I'm going to talk to Rindy's father. And you ask your parents all right and now run quickly to your parents. You don't want them to think you've disappeared."

She gives us another small smile, nods once and runs towards the exit of the school building. I grab my sister's hand and run with her to Ms. Belivet's classroom.

"Are you ready?", I ask my sister.

She nods once at me and knocks on the gray door.

Lilith's POV:

I'm glad to see that my niece has already made a friend. She seems like a sweet girl. I hope she takes care of Rindy.

I hear a gentle, mild and soft voice say "Come in" and I push the lever and open the door.

The classroom looked almost exactly as I had imagined it.

Rindy was sitting across from a young brunette woman. Carol seemed riveted to her. To the normal onlooker, it would pass for an affectionate look to their own child. But not to me. No matter how many times she tries to hide her feelings, she has never succeeded in front of me and never will. I am sure of that. The woman I didn't know, probably a teacher of my niece, was watching and talking to Rindy with a blue teddy bear. The two of them are like in their own world. My heart breaks as I realize how big my darling is.