25

A week later, they took him to the airport. Prin told the girls he was just off to give another boring professor lecture in some boring place, and then he’d come home, yes, with Tic Tacs for everyone. Molly smiled and stayed quiet. For days now, the two of them had been very quiet. She had wanted him to stay back, and that wasn’t enough.

“I’ll be home soon, girls!” said Prin.

He turned towards the departure gate.

“Daddy, you promise?” Maisie called out.

“Prin! Answer her!” Molly said.

She said this playfully, for the sake of the children. Almost playfully.

“PRIN!”