"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.