As she hung up, Suzanne felt a pang of unease. The last thing she needed was her father asking questions. He was always sharp, always able to read her like a book. If she wasn't careful, he might figure out more than she wanted to share.
But her family wasn't the only problem. Andrei had grown used to having her by his side, teaching her, trusting her. If she suddenly left for the evening, would he suspect something?
As she entered the kitchen, Andrei was already there, sipping his coffee and reading the morning paper. He glanced up as she walked in, a faint smile softening his features.
"Morning," he said.
"Morning," Suzanne replied, forcing a smile.
"You look distracted," Andrei observed, folding the paper and setting it aside.
Suzanne hesitated, debating whether to tell him. "My mom called," she said finally. "She wants me to visit them today. My dad... apparently wants to talk to me about something."
