---- Chapter 11: Kindergarten Clara didn't have time to drown in feelings when Sierra called, "Where are you guys? We've been standing here forever!" Clara had to snap out of it and hustle over to the kindergarten with Leo. Luckily, the registration desk was still open. They finally finished the paperwork, grabbed the school uniforms, backpacks, and all the other gear. Then a teacher kindly showed them around the classroom so the kids could get comfy fast. Leo and Elsie held hands, following the teacher like two excited puppies. Everything felt brand new-the teacher's soft voice, her warm smile, the classroom overflowing with toys, and shelves packed with storybooks. The teacher even picked out nap beds for them, assigned their own cubbies and seats. The kids were over the moon, squealing like they wanted ---- school to start tomorrow. Separation anxiety? Not a trace. Clara and Sierra exchanged smiles and sighed, "Wow, our kids are already in kindergarten. How did time fly so fast?" Sierra nodded, "Seriously! I still remember carrying you into the delivery room with my seven-month pregnant belly like it was yesterday. You really went through a lot!" Clara smiled, "Yeah, I owe you big time. And Austin too." Austin Reid was Sierra's ex-he'd built his own ad company from scratch and was doing pretty well. They'd met in a bar, fallen hard and fast, and married before anyone blinked. She was a stunning bombshell, he was a young, successful hottie-love on fire. Clara watched their whirlwind romance with envy. "I never thought Austin was the kind of guy ---- who'd do what he did," Clara said. She felt sad about their messy breakup. Having known him a while, she believed he was a man with strong principles. "Why bring him up now? Ten me's and ten Elsies combined wouldn't matter compared to his first love!" Sierra snapped. Four years of marriage wasn't something you could just erase. "Enough about that. Let's go eat something big! Here's to the kids' first day!" Then Clara dropped the bomb, "Sierra, I might be getting married!" "OMG! With Aaron? Congrats!" Sierra's eyes nearly popped. "You guys are moving at warp speed!" "It's not like that. He wants Leo. You know I never wanted to get married," Clara said, feeling completely lost. Her parents' marriage ended in tragedy, Sierra's too. What was marriage even about? Thinking about her mom, a wave of sadness crashed over her. ---- Her parents had been the perfect couple-madly in love, totally in sync. Clara was the fruit of that love, raised in a bubble of affection. But when her dad got seriously sick, she found out he had an eight-year-old secret son! When that mom and kid showed up at the hospital, her mom broke down. Clara did too. She didn't know what love really meant anymore. Was it something that made people reckless? That tore apart morals? And what did that make her? What about her mom's twenty years of "happy marriage"? Her dad died as if trying to atone for his mistakes. But the pain he left behind for her and her mom was raw and endless. Her mom drifted through life in a haze, often standing by the window, suddenly climbing up like she was about to jump. She would stab herself with a fork mid-meal. ---- Clara took a long leave and never left her mom's side. Just remembering those dark, hopeless days made Clara's chest tighten with pain. "Clara, it'll get better. It always does," Sierra hugged her tight. She knew all too well how family wounds could run deep. They ended up ditching the big dinner plan, grabbed some quick food, and Clara took Leo home. She knew she needed time to think and clear her head.