94- Valerie's Name

Marissa giggled when she saw how Rafael was handling kids along with chores. He was stacking all the plates in one arm quite expertly and asked the kids to carry over empty dishes one by one to the kitchen.

"You are supposed to place it by the sink," he ordered, and Marissa observed Alex who was following his dad's commands with a constant frown on his face.

He was still resisting opening up to his father.

Ariel rushed over to Rafael, "Now what else am I supposed to pick, Daddy?"

"Umm. Glasses sweetheart. Take one only. And use both your hands to hold it."

Like an obedient kid, she picked that up though Marissa knew kids could handle multiple glasses as they were simple plastic ones, but she didn't interfere with any of it.

She was there to enjoy the show.

"I'll tuck the kids too. Don't move from that couch," he said over his shoulder and went inside the kitchen. She could see how he was directing them to place the dishes in the washer.