Chase

"Mommy, where's Daddy? Is he coming here with us?"

That's the very first question Ariah asked me as we arrived in San Rafael. We hadn't even rested yet, and she had just woken up.

I avoided her gaze and started arranging our things in the cupboard there.

"He's uh… He needs to work, baby. Maybe he'll come another day." I bit my lower lip. This was the first time I had lied to her.

"Really? I thought he's not, huh. Should we wait for him here?" She asked again.

I looked at Ariah, sitting on the bed while hugging that unicorn. She was still rubbing her eyes, seeming a bit sleepy.

"We'll wait for him here, sweetheart. Are you still sleepy?"

"Yes, Mommy."

"Then sleep. I'll wake you up when it's time to eat, okay?"

I waited for Ariah to fall asleep again in our room before I went out. Benj and Sarah were in the adjacent room.