Home Alone

Kira was swamped with work today. She woke up in the morning with a pounding pain in her forehead. Last night, she was caught up in an endless loop of dreams—Gideon, her father, middle school, high school, Austyn… Staring at a computer screen for hours on end made her eyes water, but took her mind off things. She begged off when Lexi invited her to an outing after work. Kira called Giana on the bus ride home. The two had a long chat and made a date to go shopping when both would be free. It was half past seven when she returned to the villa. The house was just as empty as last night. Elsie was at the hospital. Austyn was nowhere to be seen. Kira cooked dinner for herself. She gave the housekeeper a call. Elsie’s nephew had caught a severe case of stomach flu and she probably had to stay with him for the next two days. ‘Don’t worry about me,’ Kira said. ‘Just take care of yourself.’ Elsie thanked her, then asked, ‘Where is Young Master? He must not be very happy when I went on leave wit