One

ZORA'S POV

As I listened to Katherine over the phone, I looked around, checking to see if I had forgotten anything. It wasn't easy, moving across the country with two kids in tow. I counted the suitcases we had brought with us. They were complete. I relaxed slightly and shifted the phone to my other ear so that I could adjust the strap of my handbag. 

"Hello, Zora? Are you still there?" Katherine asked. 

"Yes, we are fine," I said, answering an earlier question from Katherine, my best friend. "I was just checking that we still have everything we came with."

"Good. So, how are Finn and Freya? I know it's early days yet, but how are they reacting to the move?"

I stared at the twins, both clutching their tiny suitcases, both looking curiously at people moving around the airport. 

"They are okay, I guess. I've prepped them for this day, so they will be fine."

"Yes. I am sure they will be. So, where exactly are you now?"

"We are still at the airport. I called my assistant when we landed a few minutes ago. She is coming to pick us up. She should be here any minute from now."

"Okay. I'll let you put yourself in order. I will call you back later."

I was putting the phone back into my purse when I felt a tug on my sleeve. It was Finn, looking up at me with a questioning expression.

"Mama?"

"Yes, honey. What is it?" I said and squatted so I could hear him clearly. 

"Why didn't Papa come with us?"

His question gave me a jolt. I stared deep into his electric blue eyes which were so like his father's as I wondered what to tell him. I was grateful for the sunglasses that screened my face as Finn was an unusually observant child. He would have spotted that something was wrong at once. 

I opened my mouth to reply when I heard someone call my name. Finn and I both turned toward the sound of the voice. Cheryl, a pretty, plump brunette, walked towards us with her arms spread wide,

"Cheryl!" Freya squealed excitedly as she bounded into Cheryl's arms. Cheryl promptly smothered her with kisses to Freya's delight. 

Finn, the more reserved of the twins, grinned at Cheryl. He offered his hand. Cheryl took and shook it solemnly, then grinned and pulled him into a hug. He giggled. I breathed a sigh of relief and slowly got to my feet. I was more than grateful that for the umpteenth time, I was spared from explaining to my four-year-old son why his father was not with us. 

"Hi, Ms. Zora," Cheryl greeted as she helped me carry some of the suitcases. 

"Hi, Cheryl. It's good to see you."

"Good to see you too. The car is over there." She pointed to a black jeep which was not too far away. 

With Finn by my side and Cheryl carrying Freya and some suitcases, we walked to the car. We got in and I was relieved to relax in the air-conditioned space as the sun was really hot at the time. The driver weaved the car expertly through the traffic. 

When we were well on our way, Cheryl turned to me and said, "I er- had to put some of your TV commercials on hold because you were traveling. Perhaps when you have settled in a bit, you can tell me what time suits you and then I can reschedule your appointments."

I nodded. "That is as it should be. I will leave you to sort everything out with the producers and the others. But there is one thing I want you to do though. Clear my schedule for this week. I want to have some time to myself. Returning to New York has been a big move. I need as much time as my tight schedule will allow me to make everything stable for my kids. Explain this to any...persistent persons."

"Of course, Ms Zora. I understand you perfectly."

We soon got to the house, my new home, which was large with extensive grounds. The spot where the house was located was quiet and serene, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Cheryl carried Freya, who had fallen asleep, inside. Finn walked beside me. He looked and followed me around, his eyes missing nothing. The driver helped us carry our luggage in. 

The house was tastefully furnished and spacious- just what I needed. Before I arrived, I had instructed Cheryl to find and pay for a house that would be suitable for me and two kids who liked a lot of space. The house was better than I expected. I was happy that at least, during this move, something was going my way.

"Do you like it?" Cheryl asked after I had taken some time to look around.

"Like it? I love it. You did a good job picking this one out."

Cheryl flushed with pleasure. "Thanks." Let me show you around-" She placed Freya on another shoulder. "-and put this girl to bed." 

Cheryl showed me around the house and told me where everything was kept. When she was done, we returned to the sitting room. 

"If you have any further questions, please call me," she said as she was leaving. "There are some documents that need your urgent attention. When I get home, I will email them to you."

I thanked her again and she left. It was then that I realized how tired I was. The stress of planning for the move and actually moving here was starting to get to me. I walked to my bedroom, keeping an eye out for Finn. I found him stretched out on my bed, fast asleep. That was good. At least I would be able to get some time for myself. 

I opened all the windows, letting in the fresh air. I took off my sneakers and lay beside Finn, having decided to rest a little before unpacking. I closed my eyes for a bit, trying to imagine how this move would turn out. 

My phone buzzed from somewhere in the room. I had been so busy that I hadn't had time to reply to texts or go online. Katherine and Cheryl and Derek were the only people I had called all day. I found I had kept my purse on my reading table. I dug it out. There were a lot of notifications from my social media accounts. 

As I stared at the screen, more notifications began to pop up. I looked closely at them and found that they were all about me. I clicked on the link to a blog site. Splashed across the screen were the words, TOP MODEL ZORA WALTER ARRIVES IN NEW YORK.

Underneath the headline was a picture of me at the airport with my blue jeans, t-shirt, and large sunglasses. The photographer had taken pains to capture only me. I frowned. 

At the airport, I had not noticed anyone taking pictures, but I supposed my life was constantly under the public's eye whether I liked it or not. I went through the article and read through the comment section. I was curious to know why people thought I had returned to the city which I had left five years ago. 

She needs a change of environment, lol. Welcome to New York City, Zora! One comment read. 

She probably has a better offer here. It's purely business,  another comment read. 

I heard she is going there just for a visit.

I glanced down and saw a comment which had hundreds of likes. It read,

Zora is in NYC to treat her seriously ill daughter, people. Got this from a reliable source. 

I found there were a lot of other blogs and media houses that had also published the story about Freya being ill. The word ill seemed to leap out of the page and come at me. I felt a pang of sadness like a knife twisting through my heart at the reminder of my daughter's illness. 

Freya had a hole in her heart and had been referred by my doctor, who was going on a vacation in Houston, Texas, to a hospital in New York for treatment. Once her treatment started, I was told that her body's defenses would weaken. 

I did not want to have her spend too much time in a hospital or on a flight back home, so I had decided to move us here where we could be in close contact with resources that could help my daughter.

Finn stirred. I put out a hand and gently stroked his dark curls. I went to my personal social media handle. There was already a post made about my move. 

Once again, I went through the comment section. My fingers froze in the act of scrolling and my breath caught in my throat at the sight of a particular comment. 

Pretty obvious why you are here, it read. Everything else is just a sham. You are here to ruin Elliot Garrett's home. That's low, Zora, even for you. SMH.