“That’s great,” he told her. “Is that what you’re excited about?”
“April has good news too,” Minerva said, deflecting the conversation from herself, as usual.
“You do?” he asked, turning to the kitchen.
Horrible scenarios ran through his mind. Her good news was a boyfriend, her good news was a new job, her good news was that she’d won the sector lotto and was leaving forever…
“It’s nothing,” April said, looking alarmed. “Really. It was more of a compliment, that’s all.”
“What kind of compliment?” Khall asked, feeling a jealous rage begin to boil in his belly.
You can’t get jealous. She isn’t yours.
But he couldn’t seem to help himself.
“Dad, are you okay?” Minerva asked.
“I’m fine,” he lied.
“You look kind of pale,” she said softly.
“Sorry, honey,” he told her. “I’m just a little tired and hungry. But I’m really excited to hear April’s news.”
“Well, before you left, I went to work out in the gym,” April said. “And I decided to dance a little. A couple of people saw me and liked it. Long and short of it is that someone is going to ask the board if I can teach a dance fitness class.”
Her cheeks were pink with what he knew now was excitement.
“Wow, April,” he said, smiling.
“I would never do it if it interfered with the children’s schedule in any way,” she said quickly. “And it probably won’t happen, I know there are probably a lot of requirements to work in this building. But it was so nice that people were interested.”
“I think it’s great,” he said. “You have to do it. If Bo’s schedule interferes, we’ll get another sitter to step in for an hour or two.”
“I can watch Bo,” Minerva offered immediately.
“There you go,” Khall said, winking at his older daughter. She was a good kid.
“That’s so kind of both of you.” April’s face was very pink now. “If it actually happens it’s really good to know it wouldn’t bother you for me to do it.”
“Not at all, April,” he said. “I’m happy for you.”
He hadn’t known she was a dancer, but it explained a lot about her easy grace and strong body.
Don’t think about that…
“Here’s your dinner,” April said.
She carried a bowl of something fragrant and steaming, and a glass of cold brew.
“Thank you so much,” he said, taking it.
He set the bowl down to cool and took a swig of his brew. It felt good to relax.
“I heard about a possible job too,” he said, without thinking too much about it. “The new leader had his people reach out again about me being his personal pilot.”
“Wow,” April breathed. “What an incredible honor.”
He glanced over at her and saw she was being serious, her sweet face looked absolutely awestruck.