"Here's your paycheck for the week."
Olivia took the small slip of paper. A glance at the amount made it hard for her to suppress a smile.
"But I only worked three days. Isn't this..."
"Don't worry about it," Carlson said, waving her off casually. "Think of it as my gift to the kids."
Olivia was momentarily speechless.
The past three days had gone extraordinarily well. The students respected her, Carlson was considerate, and now he was even giving her an advance on her paycheck.
As for her own kids, they were adjusting just fine at school and had even made a new friend named Oliver.
Everything seemed to be falling into place, as if a new life were extending its hand to Olivia.
But as she left the office, her expression didn't relax.
She stared at the paycheck in her hand, her gaze
