Heidi jumped at the sound of Leta’s voice when she made her way out to the galley the next morning. “Uh… Hello.” Leta was curled up under a blanket on the couch. She yawned and stretched as she sat up. “Did you end up sleeping here last night?” Duh. Of course she had. Heidi shook her head and stumbled toward the galley. Coffee was an absolute necessity. She and Jake hadn’t slept much the previous night. That thought brought a smile to her face, which she hid by facing into the cupboard. She was glad she’d tossed on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt before she’d come out here for her caffeine fix. “I came aboard just after dawn,” Leta said. “I hope you don’t mind. There was a bit of a…disagreement between me and Niko. This was one place I knew he would not follow me.” Oookay. Moving right along. “Any idea where your mother is this morning?” Heidi moved over to the galley area and began the routine task of making coffee. Leta shook her head. “I think she and Marcos and Aella returned to the settlement last night, shortly after you left the party.”
