KHALL
Khall watched as the photographer got back in the elevator.
Jealous fury surged in his veins, but at least he had managed to stay civil, and hide his anger from April and Bo.
After the calendar incident, Khall was none too fond of photographers. But that pretty-boy, Toxfylt, was the worst kind. He was a semi-celebrity who managed to keep the spotlight on himself instead of his subjects with a silly social media feed.
“I didn’t let him take any pictures of Bo,” April said quickly. “Mrs. Ginger introduced him while we were leaving, and he asked to tag along.”
Her eyes were wide and frightened, as if she could taste his rage in spite of his efforts to hide it.
“It’s fine,” he said gruffly. “Want some pizza?”
“Sure,” she said. “I’ll go get Minerva.”
He watched her dart off like a frightened deer.
“You scared April,” Bo said accusingly.
“That man didn’t take your picture, did he?” Khall asked her.
She shook her head.
“Good girl,” he told her. “Guess what’s on the pizza?”
“Ice cream,” she yelled and then laughed her head off.
He kissed her pillowy soft cheek, inwardly wishing she never had to grow up.
Though he didn’t appreciate her hanging out with Toxfylt, April must have done a good job with Bo today. Normally, after a long day out she was exhausted and prone to tears and temper tantrums.
He placed her down and they got the table set together.
It was hard to think of Bo as old enough to really help with something, but she took obvious pride in being able to get the table ready for dinner.
A moment later, April returned with Minerva, and they all dug in.
He had put bread and jam on the table, but April showed Bo how the pizza was really just bread with tomato “jam,” like she had made with her lasagna yesterday.
Though he didn’t love watching Bo peel the cheese and meat off her pizza, it was rewarding to see her eat what was left.
When April gave her a fist bump under the table, Bo’s little cheeks dimpled.
“How was school, Minerva?” April asked.
“Fine,” Minerva replied in her usual monotone.
“And how’s your book?” April asked, waggling her eyebrows. “You’re around the halfway point now, aren’t you?”
That launched Minerva into a rapid-fire recounting of where she was in her book and where she thought the story was going.
Khall smiled at his older daughter’s passion. He had felt the same way about books as a kid, though he hadn’t really had anyone to talk with about them.
He made a note to himself to download a copy of the one they were talking about to read on his next overnight trip.
“Am I right?” Minerva asked. “Is that what’s going on?”
“Wild ice horses couldn’t drag it out of me,” April said with a wink. “No spoilers.”