BONDED BY LOVE

Prologue.

"Mum? The ground is shaking again!" Sophie Tyler yelled, coming out of her room.

"Sophie, go get dressed, it's an earthquake!" Ethan yelled back, running across the hall to their mum's room. "Mum? Where are you, it's an earthquake, mum!" he yelled in to her room. No response.

"Do you know where mum is?" Ethan said, walking back to Sophie's room.

"No. Ethan, I'm freaking out."

"Don't, ok? She's probably outside."

"That's not helping!"

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Flora, their mother, came in, loaded down with groceries. "Ethan, Sophie, pack your stuff quick! It's an earthquake."

"Mum! I was so worried," Sophie said, running to the kitchen.

"Don't worry sweetie, I'm fine, ok? Now go pack your things and load them into the car."

"Ok mum."

Minutes later, they were already in the Black Sullivan. As she drove away, Flora let her thoughts take over. It has been 4 years since her husband, Hunter, died and ever since then, they have been on the move. Luckily, she sent most of her savings to her brother in New Jersey. ' I guess we have to move to New Jersey eventually', she said to herself and sighed audibly.

     Later that afternoon, Sophie and Ethan were eating cheese sandwiches while their mother made some calls. They had booked Hotel Vendomé hours before they got into town.

"Kids, we are going to New Jersey to live with my younger brother and his family," Flora announced, dropping her phone on the nightstand.

"With Uncle Ben?" Sophie asked, smiling.

"Yes, and Aunt Jane too," Flora replied, smiling back.

"Where are we going?" Ethan said suddenly, not at all happy about it.

"What's wrong? Don't you wanna go?" Flora asked, going to sit beside him on the bed.

"It's not that, mum. It's just, I'll miss my friends here. And if we're going to another school, how will I cope? I'm almost done with High school. Can't we stay till I'm done?"

"No, baby. I know you'll miss your friends and school, but we have to leave tonight. Besides, I don't have enough money to last us a few more weeks. All the money I have, I sent them to Ben months ago, for safekeeping and in case of emergencies like this. Please forgive me, but I hope you understand. Okay?"

"Okay, mum."

"Good. Now get ready. We are leaving this night," she kissed his cheek and stood up.

                                                                                   ~

"Okay. We are staying here for a while, ok? Let me call Ben to let him know we're in New Jersey," Flora said as the two of them jumped into the bed, tired out from the journey. "Ben? Is that you?........ Oh good. Uh, we're at Passaic 5-star hotel right now. By tomorrow we'll be ready....... Yeah come for us tomorrow..... Okay bye." Sighing deeply, she joined her kids on the king sized bed and soon slept off.

      The next day, while Ben and Flora took care of the bill, both Ethan and Sophie packed all their stuff into the car Ben came with, while talking with his wife, Jane Turner. "So, Aunt Jane, how old is Philip now? Is he old enough to hang out with me?" Ethan asked as they settled in the car.

"Oh Ethan. You could be funny at times. Philip's just 12 years old, while Dora's 9," Aunt Jane replied, chuckling. Just then, Ben and Flora joined the three in the car. "Hey Jane. How are you doing?" Flora asked, clamping on her seat belt.

"I'm okay thank you. So.....how has Sophie really been? No attacks lately?" Jane replied.

"Well, she hasn't had an attack in a while, so she's good. She's doing better than Hunter at least," Flora said as they pulled out of the facility.

        The drive to North Arlington was smooth and fairly silent, save for the sound of the music from the stereo in the car. After about an hour, Ben pulled in to the compound of the Turner residence. Sophie took in the entire building as they alighted from the car. "Wow!" she exclaimed. "This place is beautiful," she said, walking towards the garden.

"Butler, please get all their luggage from the car," Jane called to one of the men in suits. Clapping his hands twice, Butler and two other men bowed and went to the car. "Sophie, don't go too far, breakfast's in 15 minutes, okay?" Flora said as Sophie rounded a corner.

"Okay mum!" Sophie yelled. She walked around for a while, smelling the flowers. There were roses, tulips, daises, lilies, orchids and so many others. Before going back into the house, she picked her favourite flowers; orchids; intending to place them in a vase in her new room.

      Running back to the house, she made for the kitchen. "Ethan? Could you show me my room?" she asked, grabbing a vase.

"Sure. Follow me." 

       After passing through some hallways, they came to this huge oak door. "This is your room," Ethan said, munching on an apple. 

"Thanks, bro.," she replied, pushing the huge door open. As she got a glimpse of the room, she gasped. "Oh my God! It's so beautiful. I love it," she said, setting the vase on a night table. Laughing, she jumped on the bed, spread-eagled as she sighed happily. Smiling to himself, Ethan silently closed the door. 'This is just the beginning of my stay here,' she thought, smiling. Placing her hand behind her head, she surveyed her room once more. 'I wonder what other adventures await me.'