Page 60 of Perfection

Chapter Fourteen

In her living room, the blue-green digits on the clock read 10:00 p.m. Her tired, aching body whispered that it was past time for bed. She shed her jacket as she walked and slipped off her shoes, tossing everything into her room as she passed the door. Brianna’s doorway was dark, which somehow touched on how odd the circumstances were. She didn’t work late—ever. Her job wasn’t like that. Actually, most GEI occupations weren’t like that. So it was strange not to have her vibrant little girl greet her arrival.

She paused in the hallway, aware of the silence in the apartment. A shiver ran through her, and she decided it was just the cool tile. It felt nice on her weary feet.

As she crossed the threshold, dim lights flicked on, creating a softly twinkling flower garden on the wall adjacent to the bed. Brianna slept soundly, surrounded by her favorite toys—a white unicorn with a rainbow-colored mane, a dozen forest animals, and three Global Dolls wrapped up in her arms.

Kindra rested her hip on the edge of the bed, and the mattress adjusted to support her weight so Brianna remained undisturbed. Taking care not to wake her child, she eased two of the dolls to the side but left the third hugged beneath Brianna’s arm. Finally, she smoothed the hair along Brianna’s brow and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

Brianna’s eyes fluttered open. “Mommy… I love you.” She rolled toward Kindra, reaching out a hand.

Kindra took it. “I love you, too. Good night, ladybug.”

A smile touched Brianna’s pink lips, but she had already returned to slumber.

Kindra stood but was disinclined to leave. She clutched her arms about her middle while tuning in to Brianna’s breathing, the rise and fall of her chest. This virus would not touch her child. It wouldnot.

A bubble of frustration lodged in her chest. She should be at Seville doingsomethingto find a cure, yet she was exhausted and only wanted to be with her daughter. She sidled over to a wingback chair of peach silk and collapsed onto its smooth cushion.

She had planned on returning immediately to the lab, but now…she was just so tired. Plus she had agreed to ride with York in the morning. On her Flex, she checked for messages or updates that would be forwarded to her. Nothing.

She released a long sigh and focused on letting go of the negative energy, along with the stale air. She allowed her head to relax on the padded headrest, and as her eyes drifted shut, she listened for any hint of change in Brianna’s sleeping breaths. The chair read her body cues and initiated the footrest mode.

Within minutes, she succumbed to sleep.

Unaware, she thrashed and waved an arm, caught in a nightmare. Embryos called to her and reached tiny hands beyond their tethered sacs. With a gasp, her eyes snapped open.

The first thing she felt was Brianna’s hand rubbing her arm. “Mommy, what’s wrong?”

Kindra comprehended several things as she awakened: She had been making some sort of noise; it was morning, so she’d slept here the entire night; and, most importantly, Brianna looked frazzled by her mother’s odd behavior.

Today was day four since Isabelle’s death.

On an exaggerated stretch, she yawned, then scooped up Brianna, snuggling her into her lap. “Nothing’s wrong, ladybug. I just missed seeing you before I went to bed.”

“But you didn’t go to bed. You slept in the chair.”

“I know. I must have been pretty tired, huh?”

“You groaned.”

“Did I? I must have been thinking of one of your dragon stories.”

Brianna smiled and tilted her head in the crook of Kindra’s arm to make eye contact. “Do dragons scare you, Mommy?”

“No, sweetie.” She tickled the little girl’s neck, inciting a giggle. “Let’s go get breakfast.”

She stood and carried Brianna to the kitchen. When was the last time she carried the child around the house? She couldn’t even remember. It had been a long time.

She set her daughter on a barstool, got her a six-ounce bottle of apple juice, and went about selecting a breakfast of pancakes with syrup.

Minutes later, the updated Nanny Sally—the one she’d made certain came with a medical unite—appeared from the pantry area with a hot plate of delicious cakes. She’d only set them on the table when the home computer announced a guest.

“Lieutenant Richmond has arrived.”

The muscles in Kindra’s back tensed at being caught off guard. God, she was a creature of habit. And this was not her. Where was the routine and order to her life?

She had not switched to work mode yet, had not given a thought to York this morning. It was as if instinct was intentionally keeping everything out of her mind except Brianna.