APRIL
April headed back up to the penthouse an hour later, feeling exhausted but light as a feather from good exercise and upbeat company.
She tapped on her comms, hoping to find a message from Vlax D’agryx letting her know he had received her credits and she was officially off the hook.
But there was nothing.
Surely, he was happy with the funds, though. They were far more than any photos or costume could cost. She hoped he would see it as a pay out on what he could have hoped to earn with her dancing.
Besides, April was living in the penthouse of a highly guarded building. She didn’t need to be too concerned. Sending a package was one thing, but D’agryx wouldn’t be able to get upstairs without a bracelet code.
Frightening as it had been, leaving that gift was his only means of contacting her. She was worrying over nothing.
The elevator chimed. and the doors opened into the penthouse.
It was strangely quiet, and the lights were dimmed.
“Captain Rivvor?” she called out.
“Dad left already,” Minerva’s voice came from the sofa.
April walked around to see Minerva sitting back on the sofa with a teary-eyed Bo lying in her lap.
“Oh, Bo,” April said, crouching to look into the little one’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t like when Daddy leaves,” she said loudly.
April’s heart broke a little. Bo was so small. With only one parent, it was especially hard when he went away.
“I can understand that,” April said, nodding. “But he’ll be back soon. What fun thing should we do to keep ourselves busy until he comes?”
Bo closed her eyes and stuck out her lower lip.
“We could bake something,” April suggested.
No response.
Minerva shrugged.
“We could build with your cool blocks,” she tried again. “And your new lighting kit.”
Still nothing.
Minerva’s eyes widened at the lack of response. Bo was usually wild about those bricks.
“Oh, I know,” April said. “I was teaching the ladies in the gym how to do a special dance. Do you want to learn it?”
Bo shook her head.
“Do you want to see it?” April asked.
Bo frowned, but didn’t shake her head.
Good enough for me.
April swiped her bracelet and paired it with the home sound system.
As her music began to play, she moved the coffee table out from between the floating couches to give herself room.