June 4th, a while after Nalani and Lena's plane flew

Zephyr stood by the airport window, watching the plane carrying Nalani and Lena ascend into the sky until it disappeared from view. He sighed, feeling a mix of pride and wistfulness. He turned back toward the parking lot, pulling out his phone as he walked to his car. Just as he opened the door, his phone rang. He answered without looking at the caller ID.

"Mom, are you here already?" he asked over the phone.

"Slow down, kids!" he heard his mother yell from the other line.

"Are the twins causing trouble again?" he asked, smiling.

"You know kids. Anyways, I just arrived. Did Nalani's plane already take off?" Naomi asked.

"Mhm, it left a while ago," he answered, leaning against the car.

"That's too bad. I hoped to see her after so long," Naomi said. Zephyr chuckled because he knew his mom was pouting right now. 

"You'll get to see her, Mom. She's coming back after the exhibit there," he said.

"Oh, is she going to that exhibit? The mysterious artist's?" Naomi asked, curious.

"How'd you know?" Zephyr asked. He never told her about it yet, so he wondered how she knew about it.

"I run a business in Paris, son. And that artist is famous for his paintings. It's good she's going there," his mother said.

"I'm going in to get you now," Zephyr said as he went out of the car.

"I got to go now too---Harper, Harrison, don't wander off!--okay, we'll just meet you outside," his mother said and hung up. Zephyr laughed when he heard how his mother shouted. 'The twins must be making her head ache again,' he thought to himself.

He started walking back to the airport. When he got near, he could already see his younger siblings, Harper and Harrison, waving at him. He smiled and waved back. He helped his mother carry their luggage and gave her a quick embrace, and they all went to his car. The twins were enthusiastic while they were driving to the house.

While the twins were feeling giddy, Zephyr frequently looked at the rearview mirror to look at his mother, but she seemed deep in thought, looking out the window. She didn't say a word the whole drive. When they arrived, the twins hurriedly got out of the car.

"Harper, Harry, slow down, will you? You'll trip!" Zephyr shouted to his younger siblings when he got out of the car. He went to the trunk to get their luggage. The car door opened, and his mother walked out, still not saying anything. She just walked to the gates and continued down the pavement to the house. Zephyr noticed that she seemed preoccupied. He followed her to the house, carrying their luggage.

"Brother, where's Dada?" Harper ran and asked him when they got in. Zephyr put down the luggage he was carrying and bent down to level with Harper.

"Dada is not here, baby. But he'll come home tonight," he answered.

"Promise?" Little Harper gave him her pinkie.

"I promise," he assured her and gave her his pinkie and sealed the promise. Little Harper ran to his brother, who was sitting on the couch, playing with his toy. Zephyr then gave his mom a tap on the shoulder, and she turned to him.

"You okay, Mom? You've been quiet the whole drive," he asked her. She just gave him a smile and a nod.

"I'm fine, dear," his mother assured him. Zephyr then called out to Mrs. Cortez, who came and embraced his mother as soon as she saw them. They exchanged greetings and spent some time catching up over some tea.

Zephyr watched his mother as she chatted with Mrs. Cortez. He noticed the occasional furrow in her brow and the distant look in her eyes. "Mom, you sure you're alright?" he asked again, more gently this time.

Naomi looked at him, her eyes softening. "I'm just a bit tired from the flight, Zeph. Don't worry about me," she replied, patting his hand reassuringly.

He nodded but remained unconvinced. As they continued their conversation, Zephyr kept an eye on his mother, determined to find out what was troubling her. For now, he decided to focus on making sure the twins were settled and happy, hoping that maybe, in the comfort of their home, his mother would open up about what was on her mind.

At dawn, Zephyr was startled awake by the sound of falling books. Initially, he thought it might be rats, but the noise persisted. Half-asleep, he climbed out of bed, rubbed his eyes, and opened his bedroom door. Mrs. Cortez was coming up the stairs slowly.

"Nana, was it not from downstairs?" Zephyr asked, yawning.

"No. I heard pounding coming from up here, so I came up," she answered, continuing her ascent.

Zephyr walked to the room beside his, his father's, and gently knocked. The door swung open immediately, revealing his father in the dark, wearing his glasses.

"Were you awake?" Zephyr asked.

"What's this loud thumping? What about the children?" his father, Henley, asked back.

Zephyr shrugged. "They're in the other room and sound asleep," Mrs. Cortez replied, having just checked on the twins.

"Mom?" Zephyr asked Henley.

"She's not in bed," Henley answered, concern etched on his face.

The three of them exchanged worried glances. Mrs. Cortez mentioned she hadn't seen anyone downstairs. Suspecting a thief, they suddenly heard a crash. They walked slowly towards the source of the noise, passing Nalani's room. Mrs. Cortez pointed out that Malina's room was a little further down the hall, next to Geovanni's. That part of the house was dimly lit. When they approached Malina's room, Mrs. Cortez reached for the door, whispering that it was open.

Both Henley and Zephyr cautiously moved towards the room, Mrs. Cortez following behind. The thumping grew louder as they entered. Zephyr reached out and felt for the switch on the left wall. When he flipped on the lights, they were all surprised to see a woman in her sleepwear rummaging through a box on the floor—there was no thief in sight.

"M-Mom?" Zephyr stammered, recognizing his mother, Naomi. She continued rummaging frantically. Henley walked over, bending down beside her. He heard her mumbling, "Where is it?" as she searched through the box.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Henley asked gently, but his wife didn't even look at him, continuing her frantic search.

Mrs. Cortez approached, her face etched with concern, and Zephyr followed. Naomi remained unfazed. Henley grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Naomi, stop!" he shouted. This time, Naomi looked at him, recognition dawning in her eyes. She calmed down, allowing Henley to embrace her. Mrs. Cortez stroked her back, trying to soothe her.