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All is quiet when I enter the inn so I tiptoe down the hallway and slowly open the door to our room, trying not to make a sound. Gathering a pair of clean sweatpants and a tee, I make my way into the adjoining bathroom and shower and dress quickly. Then, I crawl in beside my little girl, tuck her close, and join her in sleep.
When I feel movement at my side, I open an eye to find Cobie staring at me. Her head propped on her tiny fists.
“Are you awake, Daddy?” she whispers.
“I am now,” I croak.
“I have a surprise for you,” she says.
“What’s that?”
She clasps my arm and tugs as hard as she can.
“Get up and see,” she commands.
I sit up and wipe the sleep from my eyes as I take her in fully.
She’s dressed with her coat and mittens on. Both of our suitcases are standing by the door, and the navy bag is protruding from the front pocket of mine.
I raise an eyebrow at her.
“I got up and got us all ready to go to Paris,” she says. “See?” She tilts her head toward the luggage.
I cross my arms over my chest and watch her.
“Come on, Daddy. It’s almost eleven, and we have to go now if we want to catch our plane.”
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from chuckling.
“Cobie, come here,” I say in a stern voice once I have control of myself.
Her lip quivers. “But we have to go to the airport,” she murmurs as she twists her hands nervously.
“We’re not going to the airport today. We don’t have any flights booked for today.”
“But you can call them in the car and tell them we’re on our way,” she says.
I nod. “You’re right. I could do that, but I’m not going to.”
Her eyes fall to the floor. “Are you going to take me home to Mommy?” she asks.
“No, I’m not. Come here,” I demand.
She shuffles her feet until she is standing beside me. Her eyes still trained on the floor.
“Why would I take you home before Christmas?” I ask.
She sniffles. “Because I hid our passports and lied to you,” she mumbles.
“Didn’t you tell me you were sorry for doing that last night?”
She nods.
“I owe you an apology too,” I tell her.
She looks up at me with wide, red-rimmed eyes. “You do?”
“Yes, baby, I do. I was so excited to take you on a trip that I didn’t listen when you tried to tell me you didn’t want to go. I’m sorry. I’ll do better at the listening thing. But you have to promise not to take things that don’t belong to you and not to lie anymore.”
