Page 62 of Perfection

“I see. What stories have you read?”

She listed off books far beyond the reading level of the average Coder child of almost three. He raised his eyebrows, assuming an exaggerated expression of awe. “I’m impressed.”

She giggled.

A few days ago he would have been totally impressed, but now he knew just how intelligent these kids were. It didn’t diminish how cute and enchanting Kindra’s little girl was. And her adorable baby-blue eyes were winning him over big-time.

She hopped from her chair and took him by the hand. She tugged on him. “Let’s go see how Mommy’s sunflower is doing today.”

She led him to the window where the plant they’d purchased occupied the sill along with another. Two days… Is that all it had been since Kindra had bought the sunflower? It seemed far longer.

“Oh, look! The buds on the other flowers are just beginning to open,” Brianna exclaimed. Standing on her tiptoes, she peered at the top of the plant where the petals curled back the slightest bit.

“Yep. By this afternoon they will be as big, bright, and beautiful as your smiling face.”

Her head snapped up, and she lifted her chin with a quizzical stare. The disbelieving way she seemed to be processing the comment confounded him. Didn’t she ever receive compliments, or tease, or play silly games? Certainly, she must…

“Of course I’m beautiful. My mom made me that way.” Her whispered tone on the wordbeautifuland quick glance toward the bedroom made him want to scoop her up into his arms for a reassuring hug.

Instead, he knelt to her level, which also seemed to surprise her. “Sweetie, you’re adorable. And not just because your mom made you that way.”

After a long pause, she smiled, then tentatively wrapped her arms about his neck and squeezed. Given how he’d felt about Kindra at the onset of this case, he was pretty sure he shouldn’t be so taken with her daughter. The case had made their two worlds collide, but that would be over as soon as she found a cure. Meanwhile, he needed to get back to finding the person responsible for all this.

Right now, he couldn’t resist the little girl’s charm. He returned her squeeze. “So, what do you have planned for today?”

“Sally is taking me to a play group, and we’re going to a hologram show.”

Kindra entered the room and picked up a briefcase. “No. I’m sorry, Brianna, but the plan has changed. You may choose something to watch at home. There is a sickness among some other children and we can’t risk you being exposed, okay?”

Her daughter nodded slowly, a puzzled look on her face. “A sickness?”

“I know it sounds strange,” York said. “But your mother knows what’s best.”

Stepping back, he met Kindra’s gaze. He agreed she shouldn’t let the child out among the others. The virus was contagious; the increased number of cases proved that.

* * *

The apartment door clicked shut behind them and they walked to the elevator. He squinted. The light beaming through windows lining the corridor formed a sharp contrast to the mellow apartment he’d just left. It must have been cloudy when he’d entered earlier because he hadn’t paid any attention to the lovely, if bright, atrium in the center of the building.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I guess. This feeling inside me is so…intense. I’m not used to it.”

Their steps echoed out of sync, creating an off rhythm. As they waited for the elevator, York’s gaze fixed on her flawless features. He understood perfectly why she found it hard to leave her child’s side. He’d felt the same when his son had been young. But she seemed to be having a difficult time moving between her intellect and emotions. “That’s parenthood for you.”

“You think other people behave like that?”

“I’m not sure about GEI parents, but Coder ones do.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Instinct. And fear.”

She moistened her lips. “Yes. Part of me is afraid the virus that attacked Isabelle could get to Brianna.” She sighed. “Yet the statistics tell me otherwise. They don’t have the same friends, go to the same school, or have anything in common. Most of the kids we’ve seen so far have had some contact with Isabelle.”

“Most, but notall.”

Her smooth brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”