Matthew looked on as we left together.

In just two days, I completed all the paperwork and enrolled Ava in Sunnydale Kindergarten. Initially, I assumed it was a given since we lived in the neighborhood.

However, as I checked out Ava's classroom, I overheard two teachers chatting. "Wasn't the kindergarten full? How did she manage to get in?"

"Do you know who made the request?"

"Who?" The plump Ms. Marigold asked her colleague. The colleague whispered her reply, and Ms. Marigold dropped her jaw.

Her response puzzled me. Was there something unusual about Atlas's arrangement? I didn't dwell on it because what mattered was that Ava got in.

That night, Ava told me, "Mommy, the teacher at school was nice to me. She gave me extra food and didn't let the other kids take my toys. She even said I was the prettiest girl in the class!"

"Really? What did she teach you?" Seeing her enthusiasm relieved me.

After all, who wouldn't enjoy some special treatment? Nonetheless, I wondered who had