Chapter 4

• "The most important thing in the world is family and love." – John Wooden.
• Rita spent three whole years in an orphanage. It was quite a sad time for her, full of desperate prayers for happiness. She wanted to take her own life a few times, but somehow someone has always found out, and no matter how much time passed, the doctors saved her easily every time. Just like back then, after the clinical death, Rita's body was regenerating at a much faster rate than that of a normal human being, however, she had never heard of other people having the same condition after their clinical death. Rita began to wonder what could have happened then that she had received such a "gift". However, this interest didn't last long, and she soon forgot that there was anything unusual about her. Also Rita did not try to commit suicide anymore.
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• After those dark three years, a family from New York came to adopt her. They were Spencer's, George and Ruth. He was a tall, well-built, dark-eyed brunette, and she was a slim woman with brown hair that faded slightly to a rusty shade, and her eyes were brown. When Rita saw them walking into the office belonging to the head of an orphanage, she was a little scared at first, however, after a short conversation, they managed to establish a thread of understanding between themselves. After completing all the formalities, she went with her new parents to New York, officially becoming Rita Spencer.
• The Spencers lived on the outskirts of the city, in a very good neighborhood, in a beautiful, two-story single-family house that resembled a manor house. It was surrounded by trees, and at the back there was a large garden, full of various plants, also exotic, mainly tall palm trees. The ground floor was occupied by a spacious living room, kitchen and dining room. Upstairs there were two bedrooms with separate bathrooms - one for Ruth and George and the other for their daughter, 11-year-old Madeline, two years younger than Rita, also Mr Spencer's office, next to it a combined library and multimedia room. The attic, the guest room, and the laundry room occupied the vast majority of the second floor. In the basement of the house there was a cellar full of wines of various vintages, from almost every country and kind. There was also a pantry. This mansion was cleaned by a Japanese maid named Shinya who came every three days.
• The Spencers could afford such luxuries because they belonged to New York City's elite. George Spencer, a successful lawyer, made a tremendous amount of money working for actors, musicians, and other wealthy people. His wife, Ruth, wrote widely read books, usually romances, but also detective stories which were filmed many times. Madeline was their princess. She had her mother's eyes and dad's hair, but she had dyed it blonde since being 10 years old. Madeline attended private school, like most of the children in the estate. However, the parents did not wanted her stay in the boarding school because, as they said it, they would die of longing for their daughter. The mother drove Madeline to school in her Porsche every day, because father was going out much earlier, driving a Chevrolet that he had bought for his first big money. It was not the newest car, but George had an extraordinary fondness for it. It reminded him of the best moments of his youth - he met Ruth after buying it. George was then a freshly graduated law student. Thanks to the help of his father, who was a judge, he did a paid internship in the best law firm in New York.
• Ruth Spencer studied art photography at the Academy of Fine Arts, but when one of the publishing houses accepted her story and she met Georg, Ruth dropped out. She came from a slightly poorer family than her husband, living in California, specifically in the city of Los Angeles. Her mother was a stylist who dealt with the makeup and clothes of actors appearing in the movies, her father had a computer company, but it went bankrupt soon after he and his wife were killed in a plane crash. Ruth was then 18 years old. She paid for her studies from parents' inheritance, but when George entered her life, she left Los Angeles without hesitation, selling the family home, and then moved to New York.
• Rita learned the history of each member of the Spencer family on the same day she arrived at their home. For now, she was supposed to sleep in the same room with Madeline. It was a spacious bedroom with one single bed, but now there was another added. The room's walls and ceiling were painted pink and decorated with pretty floral ornaments. Above the beds was a window overlooking the garden, to the left of the window, beside Madeline's bed there was a huge pink wardrobe and a dressing table with a large mirror. Opposite the bed was a door leading to a bathroom similar in style to the room itself. Near the bed intended for Rita, there was a wooden desk, with a pink laptop on top of it, a swivel chair by the desk and a bookshelf above it. At the foot of Madeline's bed was a box full of dolls, teddy bears and other toys.
• George wanted to send Rita to the same private school as his daughter, but she asked to be sent to a public school. Rita also refused to be driven away by car, because she was still afraid to get in any vehicle - the trauma related to the accident prevented her from doing so. The situation Rita found herself in now was strange to her. So far, she has lived very modestly, because her biological parents achieved rather average earnings. So the material leap from a small block on the outskirts of San Diego in California, to a mansion in one of New York's best neighborhoods filled Rita with something similar to fear.
• Ruth left to pick up Madeline from school around 3 p.m. and returned about half an hour later. Rita got up from the couch, seeing her step-sister. She expected her to be a self-righteous princess who would treat Rita badly and was ready to do everything to get rid of her. Madeline, however, made a very nice impression on Rita from the very beginning.
• - Hi!- the girl threw herself on her neck and hugged tightly.- I couldn't wait for you. I almost thought that my parents gave up on adoption.- she added with a smile.
• - Seriously?- Rita asked incredulously, but the girl's words seemed really sincere.- I'm very happy about that. I'm Rita.- she introduced herself, shaking her hand in greeting.
• - Madeline.- she replied, shaking her hand back lightly,.- Welcome to the Spencer family.- she added in an official tone.
• Rita smiled radiantly, finally felling that she had a family again.
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• When Rita found herself in the room with Madeline, new sister surprised her once again. She helped with unpacking by giving Rita half of the place in the wardrobe. However, seeing her clothes, Madeline grimaced a little.
• - We must go shopping tomorrow.- she spoke up.- I'll choose you some amazing clothes, believe me, I know quite a lot about fashion.- Madeline added, seeing that Rita wanted to say something. So they had a plan for the next day.
• While they were both going to sleep, Rita looked at her sister again.
• - Are you really glad that I'm here?- she asked suddenly.
• - Sure.- said Madeline with a smile.- I've always wanted an older sister or brother, but honestly having a big sister is so much better.- she added. There was so much honesty in her face that Rita no longer doubted.
• - You can't lie, am I right?- Rita said, smiling broadly.
• - Well, unfortunately I can't, you're completely right.- Madeline answered, laughing.- Mom says that my eyes betray me right away. That's why I avoid lying like fire.- she added, looking at her sister.
• Suddenly Ruth appeared in the doorway.
• - Why are my princesses still awake?- she asked, giving each of them a smile.
• - You know mom, we wanted to get to know each other better.- Madeline replied with her sweet smile.- By the way, mom... Tomorrow is Saturday, so I plan to go shopping with Rita. I was supposed to go there just with my friend but since Rita is here, I want to take her too... Can we go?- she asked.
• - Of course, that's a great idea.- Ruth agreed.- Well, since you two have tomorrow planned, it would be better to get some sleep, so...- she looked at them meaningfully, turned off the light, then disappeared behind the door.
• Rita and Madeline looked at each other one last time, whispering to each other "Good night", then covered themselves better with the duvets, closing their eyes. Soon they both fell asleep, looking forward to the morning.