Hopeful Cora looked at her mother's butler, who came in with the mail. But he had one letter with him and that was for her mother. It was already two weeks since she had sent her letter to Robert. She should have arranged a new sim card already, but she was not sure what provider to get. Her mother had been far from helpful, and Harold had not been around. At the same time, she did not want to arrange a new sim card, it meant she was staying here. When Martha told her that she would have to come with her to New York, she had hoped to be back in London a couple of days later. But it had now been two weeks and there was no sign she would be able to go back anytime soon.

"Oh Cora, this is amazing news." Martha exclaimed while holding the letter up. "They want to do an interview with you for Loose Woman. I knew it would work."

Cora could only sigh, her mother was using her as a trophy.

"Mama, when will I have some time off?"

"What do you mean time off? We need to get you out everywhere we can."

"Why?" Cora was tired of this conversation, every time the outcome was the same.

"Oh, come on, Cora. Do I need to repeat myself again? There is nothing better than being famous. Oh, darling girl, after this you will be a well-known writer, who can earn a lot of money with writing."

"You do realise that I have not written anything for the second book?"

"Why did you not write more?" Martha said a bit angry.

Cora raised her eyebrows. "Are you serious? When do you think I should write? You drag all over the city and even country, from dusk to dawn. When should I do that writing?"

"You need to find that time. That is up to you. I will make sure the world knows about you, but you yourself need to be sure a new book will be there. And preferable not too late. I talked with your publisher, and they say that bringing out the next book within a year will be best."

"I will need to be able to write Mama."

The phone that started ringing made an end to the conversation.

"Harold, thank you for your invitation. It is good to be away."

"Away from Mama?" Harold asked while kissing Cora's cheek.

Cora's cheeks coloured and she looked at the floor. "Yes." She said quietly.

"Why do you think that I do not live at home anymore? Mama can be a bit too much very easily."

"That is quite the understatement." Cora realised that she could be honest with Harold. "Mama wants me to get famous. But I do not want that. I want to write my books, and I love doing meet & greet days. But not in the size Mama would like to see me do. The first evening I had in London was magical. It was a cosy bookstore, where there was time to talk with the people who showed up. With the events Mama has arranged, I hardly have time to sign the book, before they are pushed away so the next person can fly buy. I want to talk with my readers, I want to hear their opinions."

"And you do not want to be here in New York, am I right?"

She nodded. "There is something in London that helps me with my writing."

"A piano player I believe."

Cora chuckled. "That pianist does help indeed, but it is not only that. The vibes are different, and I get inspired by the old streets that I walk through. The buildings tell a story, even the threes do. I have friends in London, friends I never had here in New York."

"You are happy there; I can see it in your eyes. Why do you not tell Mama that you are going back?"

"How? Please do tell me how. You remember how hard it was the first time. She cut me off from everything. Except the allowance Papa made sure we would always get. But Mama have not sent me anything to help. I did everything on my own, I worked a lot of hours in a restaurant. And now I am stuck here again." She felt tears stinging.

Harold got up and wrapped his arms around her. "You are not stuck here in New York. Not if I have anything to say in it." He kissed her temple. "Now let us do something fun and forget about being stuck here at London."

"Anything you had in mind?" Cora was happy that her brother was on her side, it was at least something and if she needed his help, he would be there for her."

"What a beautiful spot this is Harold?"

"You always say how romantic London can be, but we have those places here too."

Cora leaned against his shoulder; she had hooked her arm in his. She enjoyed spending time with her brother. "I know that I maybe over romanticize London, but you have to admit, that it is harder to find places like this here in New York.

From inside the small café, music came flowing out. It was a classical sound, and it surprised Cora that a café would have that kind of music. Although it did fit the vibe. It was very cosy, with books everywhere and filled with comfy chairs and plants. "Who is the artist that we hear?" Cora asked when the waiter brought them their second set of drinks.

"I can never remember the name of any artist; you could walk with me and look for yourself. We have a system where you can see the current artist that is played." The waiter said.

Cora was surprised, what did she mean walk with me? Could she not just look at the screen herself? She decided not to argue, she was enjoying this calm afternoon with Harold too much and she did not want anything to ruin this feeling.

"I will use the bathroom in the meantime." Harold got up and walked to the back of the café.

Cora noticed that the café was empty, besides them two. That was weird, she never had been anywhere in this city, where no people were eating or drinking in a café. The closer they came towards the back of the café the louder the music got. Another thing that was weird, because why would it get louder?