Page 1 of The Love Syllabus

Chapter 1

Kerry Kind – Kerry

There’s nothing more beautiful than realizing the beauty around us, in the people we love, the moments that shape us, and the dreams that keep us moving forward. I’ve been shaped and reshaped more times than I can count, with each experience carving away pieces of me until only the core of who I am remains.

At my core, I’m a teacher—a homegrown teacher who never quitegot outof my small Southern Georgia hometown.

But just because I never left doesn’t mean I didn’t want more for myself. I never thought I needed to run away to find fulfillment or success. Sometimes, more is right in front of you. Sometimes, more isn’t about escaping. It’s about believing that something greater is within reach. I just need to keep dreaming and trust that those dreams can still be achieved.

I dream of possibilities, of a life bigger than my existence, where my dreams aren’t tethered to overdue bills or dwindling paychecks. One day, I’ll fulfill every wild hope I’ve ever dared to dream—starting with my bank account. Ineedto dream big because my balance is extremely low, and I’m one misplaced decimal away from financial disaster.

My name is Kerry Kind, and I’m on the brink of beingkind ofbroke.

For twelve years, I’ve been teaching and tutoring kids in Beverly Mills, Georgia. I’ve poured every ounce of myself into shaping their futures, hoping to inspire them, guide them, and empower them. Teaching isn’t just my job; it’s my life. Or at least, itwas.Now, I have to figure out life without it.

I’ve been fired.

Well,not technically.The district calls it “placed on hold.” A neat little euphemism meant to soften the blow of losing the one thing that ever made me feel truly whole. The board claims there’s an overabundance of teachers now that Beverly Mills has merged with its wealthier neighboring city, Greer.

I swear, this town is a paradox. While the rest of the country struggles with teacher shortages, our tiny town is overflowing with resources, or rather, bureaucracy. And teachers like me, the ones from the wrong side of the tracks, without the right last names or deep pockets? Well, we’re left scrambling to survive. Caught in the crossfire of public school closures while state-of-the-art campuses arise, perfectly tailored for the ultra-wealthy parents who get to handpick who educates their children.

In the meantime, I’ve been hustling, tutoring kids here-and-there, and teaching online classes to anyone who clicks ‘Join.’ But here-and-there money isn’t enough. I need the security of a consistent paycheck. I need to stop agonizing over every expense and get back to enjoying the small comforts of life without guilt or anxiety.

Every tutoring session I book feels like a small victory, but I know these gigs aren’t sustainable. I need something reliable, something that offers not just income but a future.

Still, if I’ve learned anything from my misfortune, it’s that being in this tight spot has forced me to become more resourceful and resilient. So, I remain hopeful, trusting that despite my setback, Iwillbounce back.

And it’s easy for me to believe this because I’ve got my girls—my anchors, my sounding boards, and sometimes my brutally honest critics.

Izzy Waylen Hernandez, Serena Ross, and Kiera Hawkins are my best friends, the ones who’ve been there through every twist and turn of my life. We grew up together, leaned on each other, and somehow, despite our wildly different lives, remained close.

Today, we’re all gathered at Izzy’s floral shop, helping her prep for the grand opening of her second location. Izzy meticulously arranges white peonies for the perfect social media post, while Serena, the hotshot journalist, sips an iced coffee like she doesn’t have a care in the world, and Kiera stuffs reminder invitations into envelopes, all the while keeping an eye on her phone, just in case, her nanny calls.

The shop is quiet except for the rustle of paper and the occasional clink of ice against Serena’s cup until Izzy finally snaps the perfect shot, then whirls on me with fiery indignation.

“This is ridiculous, Kerry! Absolutely ridiculous! There’s no way those rich pricks should be allowed to dictate who stays and who goes. They fired the best teachers this town has to offer, you included!”

“It’s straight-up bullshit,” Serena cuts in, leaning against the counter with a freshly manicured hand propping up her head. “You’re the Beyoncé of teachers. It’s a crime to let you go.”

“It’s blasphemy!” Kiera interjects, crossing her arms over her chest. “Complete disrespect for everything you’ve worked for, everything our town stands for—being kind and good. Kerry, you deserve better. So much better.”

I’ve dedicated my entire adult life to teaching. I earned my master’s degree, every certification under the sun,andI was president of the student-teacher social committee. I wasTeacher of the Yearfor three years in a row.Threeyears for crying out loud! Not to mention, I’ve tutored students at the rec nearly every weekend for the past ten years! Teaching is my life! But my criminal record has suddenly emerged as an issue and overshadowed everything I’ve worked so hard for. Nowadays, all people ever do is judge.

“I know!” I let out a defeated sigh, my chest tightening.

Kiera stops stuffing envelopes and levels with me. “You know who’s behind this, right?”

“No,” I reply, but the uncertainty in my voice betrays me.

She crosses her arms, tilting her head with a pointed glare. “Oh, come on, Kerry. There’s no way you believe this has nothing to do withhim.”

“Cory?” I ask, my throat tightening as I say his name. “No. No way. It’s been nearly two years since the divorce. And months since I last heard from him. He won, I lost. Why would he wanna take anything else from me?”

“Your ex-husbandabsolutelydid this to you.” Serena scoffs, her voice rising an octave. “You’restill happy, and Cory Martin is still a cowardly little slimeball who gets off on making you miserable. He’s been on his high horse ever since he was named Superintendent. He wants you to crawl back to him and beg for a job. He tried to steal your joy, but you kept smiling. He tried to make this town hate you, but we loved you even harder. He tried to put you away, but you’re free. And now he’s trying to destroy your career, but it won’t work.

Kiera nods solemnly, her brow furrowed. “He thrives on control. You know that better than anyone. And he’s taken the most cruel and absurd measures to ensure no one would ever hire you. I hate him, Kerry. I hate him so much.”

As much as I hate to admit it, my girls are right. Cory’s still trying to control me, still trying to destroy me. He had to have the final word in every aspect of our marriage. He dang near ran my life, and when he realized he couldn’t break me, it infuriated him.

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