Back In Town

CHAPTER 10

ZYLIAH'S POV

Greenvylle. 

The place I'd called home until six years ago. The city I had to leave behind to start a whole new life elsewhere. 

Not much had changed, yet it felt like a lot had.

Maybe it was because I was coming back so much different than I used to be.

I breathed in the fresh, crisp city air, a bit tired from being cooped up in the plane for six hours with two handfuls that were...

"Waylen, stop hitting your brother," I said firmly, already shifting my attention to the next issue. "Casper, don't blow raspberries at your brother."

"He started it, Mom." They accused each other in perfect unison, each one pointing at the other. "Did not!"

Despite the exhausting situation, I chuckled. It never failed to amuse me how they always spoke in perfect sync.

I gave an inward eye roll. "Now hug and make up."

"Hugging is for girls, Mommy." Waylen argued, extending his hand.

Casper, the younger twin by eight minutes, accepted his brother's handshake. "Yes, Mommy. Boys shake."

"Who told you that? Boys hug all the time," I said, letting them take the lead while I followed behind closely.

The car that was supposed to pick us up still hadn't arrived... Oh, there it was.

A limousine. I noted with a quietly amused smile. Trust Delia to outdo herself.

"Boys, our ride is here," I said, watching their faces light up.

They let out excited screams, just as I'd expected. They loved riding in limos-so much that I even had to buy one for them, and they enjoyed taking it to school.

Delia knew this, and it was probably why she'd sent one to come pick us up.

When the driver stepped out, I was shocked to see who it was.

Temporarily ignoring my boys, I rushed over in my heels and threw my arms around her in a fierce hug. "Natasha!"

"I've missed you so much, Zee. Wait, let me take a good look at you." She held me at arm's length, eyes shining as she looked me over. "You've improved! Yes!"

"Mommy?" My twins called, clearly unsure who this stranger was. 

They didn't know Natasha, just Delia, and even that was only through one of those once-in-a-blue-moon calls.

"Are these the twins?!" At my nod, she ran forward to pull them into a hug. "It's so nice to finally meet my godchildren."

"Who are you?" Casper asked first, his tone curious but cautious.

"What's your name?" Waylen followed with his.

"Oh, you didn't tell them about me?" Natasha teased, narrowing her eyes playfully.

"I... I'm sorry." I said quietly, meaning it.

When I left, I stayed away from everyone for a year-even Delia and Natasha. When I was finally ready to face the world again, my best friends were the first I reached out to, but Natasha was unreachable-and not even Delia knew why.

We'd talk about that later. 

"I'm your mother's best friend, Natasha." She beamed warmly at them.

"Hi, Aunt Natasha," Casper greeted politely.

"Hi, Aunt Natasha," Waylen waved, studying her. 

"Let's go. Delia is waiting for us at the hospital." She ushered us into the back seat of the limo. 

"So she asked you to be our chauffeur, or you offered?" I asked as I buckled my sons in.

"What do you think?" 

I caught her grin in the rearview mirror. "Knowing you, I'm sure you offered."

"Then you know me too well, madam." She tipped her black chauffeur hat at me. 

That drew a chuckle from me. "I missed you girls."

"We missed you too." 

"Aunt Delia!"

"Hey babies. Come give Aunt Delia a huge hug." Delia opened her arms, a wide smile on her face.

Her eyes looked tired. A thick bandage was wrapped around her head. Her left leg too had a heavy-looking cast on it. Wow-must be some accident.

"Be careful so you don't hurt her," I gently warned the boys as they ran to the bed, jumped on it, and wrapped her in a hug. 

This was the second hug today, and neither of them complained about hugging being for girls. They usually hugged me. Maybe it was just each other they didn't like hugging.

At least they had listened. They were doing their best not to let any part of their bodies touch her injured areas.

"Mommy said you invited us," Waylen began. 

Casper nodded agreeably. "Yes. She said you were in an accident."

"That I was, my babies."

"Will you die?" Waylen asked bluntly.

"Oh my goodness! Waylen!" I was stunned-that was unexpected. How had he come up with something like that?

Delia merely laughed. "Do I look like I'm going to die?"

Waylen took his time examining her through childlike eyes before shaking his head. "No. I hear people die in accidents. Right, Casper? Tell Mommy."

Casper, yet again, nodded his support. "It's true, Mom." He seemed more interested in the cast on Delia's leg than the conversation.

"How are you feeling, Delia?" I inquired. 

"I'm fine, now that you're here." Delia smiled, while Natasha frowned beside her. "I'm happy you're here too, Nat. And thanks for picking them up."

Natasha beamed. 

I smiled and shook my head, amused. She hadn't changed a bit from years ago.

"Have you told him?" Natasha asked.

And from the expression on her face, I knew exactly what she meant, and so did Delia. 

To this day, I hadn't told my best friends I'd had a one-night stand-and that it was that one night that gave me Waylen and Casper.

They thought it was Fynn, which, given the circumstances, was a reasonable guess, but a wrong one. Fynn wasn't responsible, and now Natasha was asking if he knew. 

"I haven't spoken to him since... well, it's been years since I heard from him." It was the safest response to give. 

Another thing I never told my friends was about the call I answered the day I was humiliated in public. I couldn't bring myself to share it because I was ashamed-ashamed they'd know just how stupid I'd been back then.

Natasha's phone rang just then. "I need to get going. I'll call you girls later." She rose to leave, but not before hugging me tightly and giving Delia the same gesture. 

She kissed the boys' foreheads and bade them goodbye.

"What's up with her?" I wondered.

Delia shrugged. "Hell if I know."

Delia and I delved into small talk while the boys played beside her on the bed, still careful not to bump her injuries.

The doctor walked in a while later. "Visitation time is over, everyone." Her smile was polite and friendly, especially towards my boys. "It's time for Miss Rozford to take a nap."

"But we came to see her," Casper whined. 

"She's not dying, she's fine," Waylen added, his little brows furrowed in a frown.

Delia chuckled. "You guys go get ice cream cake. I'll see you later, I promise." 

"Okay." At the mention of their favorite dessert, they needed no other urging to climb down from the bed. 

"I'll see you later, Delia." I waved goodbye and left with my boys in tow. 

I would be staying in a hotel nearby until she was better. She was my reason for returning, and when she asked, I couldn't turn her down. She'd been there for me years ago.

Without her, I wouldn't have been able to leave Greenvylle to make something out of myself. I owed her that much, and I wasn't going to abandon her now that she needed me.

"Watch where you're going!" 

"I'm sorry. He didn't see you, ma'am." 

I pulled myself out of my thoughts to see who had used such an unwelcome tone on my babies and who Casper was apologizing to on his brother's behalf.

My eyes widened in shock.