Unfamilar sounds distract me once more

I returned to my work for a few more minutes until a soft thump and unsteady tread of footsteps distracted me. My first instinct was to ignore it, probably one of the kids, I thought to myself. Still, I welcomed any excuse to take back my Saturday morning.

Pushing my laptop aside, I ventured out into the hall just in time to have a slim female form plough right into me.

"Oof" I grunted as Kelly bounced off me, stumbling backward to land on her butt with a surprised squeak.

"Sorry Princess," I tried to keep the amusement from me face as helped her back to her feet, "Is everything alright? You look a little flushed there."

She gave me the strangest look. Searching my face for something, I couldn't say what.

"I, I'm fine, uh, dad," she stammered, seeming inexplicably nervous. "I just needed to use the bathroom."

She dashed off again, darting into the bathroom before I could get a proper answer from her.

I shook my head, wondering what had got into her now and thinking that I'd probably never understand the strange young woman that had somehow replaced my sweet little girl.

Still, now I was up, I figured I may as well check in with Tina...