La Familià (Lim X Vergara Family) Au

XXXVII

Ariah settled into a cozy chair beside Mairwen, a nostalgic smile on her face. "Let me tell you about the first time I saw your mom, Mac," she began, her eyes twinkling with memories.

"It was on a beach in Paris, and the sun was setting beautifully. I spotted her sitting alone in the sand, visibly upset. She was crying, and her friends were nearby, trying to console her."

Mairwen's eyes widened. "Was she okay?"

Ariah nodded. "She looked so vulnerable. I approached her and asked if she was alright. Through her tears, she kept repeating one name: 'Loisa.' It turned out she had just lost someone close to her."

"That must have been tough," Mairwen said softly.

"It was. But instead of walking away, I sat down next to her. We talked for hours, and I learned so much about her. I could see how much love she had in her heart, even through the sadness."

Mairwen smiled, imagining the scene. "So that's how it all began?"

Ariah nodded, her heart full. "Yes. That moment showed me that love can grow even in the hardest times. And I knew I wanted to be there for her."

Ariah continued, her smile widening as she recalled the memories. "That was a pivotal moment for both of us. But it wasn't until three years later that we met again."

Mairwen leaned in, intrigued. "Three years? What happened then?"

Ariah chuckled softly. "I was at a café in Paris, lost in thought, when I heard laughter nearby. I turned around and there she was Mac, looking just as radiant as I remembered, surrounded by friends. It felt like fate."

"Did you talk to her right away?" Mairwen asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I hesitated at first, but then I gathered my courage. When I approached her, she looked surprised, then thrilled. We fell right back into conversation like no time had passed."

Mairwen grinned. "That must have been amazing!"

"It was," Ariah said, her eyes sparkling. "We shared everything that had happened in those three years, and I knew then that I didn't want to lose her again. That day changed the course of my life."

Mairwen smiled, feeling the warmth of her mother's love story. "It's beautiful how love can find its way back."

beach was just as beautiful, the sunset painting the sky in those familiar colors. We walked along the shore, reminiscing about our past. Then, out of nowhere, Mac turned to me, her eyes serious yet full of love."

Mairwen's eyes widened. "What did she say?"

Ariah took a deep breath, remembering. "She told me how much I meant to her, how our first meeting had changed everything for her. Then she knelt down in the sand and proposed, holding out a ring. She said she couldn't imagine her life without me."

Mairwen gasped, a smile spreading across her face. "That's so sweet! What did you say?"

"I was overwhelmed with joy and said yes, of course! We embraced as the waves crashed around us, and it felt like the world was celebrating our love."

Mairwen sighed, filled with emotion. "What a beautiful moment, Mom. It's like a fairy tale."

Ariah nodded, her heart warm. "It truly was, and it showed me that love has a way of coming back when you least expect it."

Ariah continued, her voice softening with emotion. "After Mac proposed, we were both so excited about building a life together. We traveled, experienced new things, and shared our dreams. It felt like everything was falling into place."

Mairwen leaned in, eager to hear more. "When did you decide to have us?"

Ariah chuckled lightly. "It was a natural progression. We both wanted a family, and we talked about it often. When we were ready, it felt like the perfect time to bring you and Iyah into our world."

"Was it hard?" Mairwen asked, curious about the journey.

"There were challenges, of course, but we faced them together. Every sleepless night and every worry brought us closer," Ariah explained. "And when each of you were born, it felt like our hearts expanded. You both filled our lives with so much joy

It was early morning, and Mac was hurrying through the bedroom, slipping on her blazer and glancing at her phone with a frown. Ariah, still half-asleep, blinked as she noticed the rush of movement. Confused, she sat up in bed, her brows knitting together as she watched her wife dart around the room.

"bab? What's going on?" Ariah asked, her voice groggy but concerned.

Mac barely paused, grabbing her bag and tossing her phone inside before turning to the mirror to adjust her hair. "I'm late for an important meeting. I completely lost track of time," she said hurriedly, her tone tense.

Ariah, still sitting on the bed, tilted her head. "You didn't say anything about an early meeting last night. Are you okay?"

Mac hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Ariah. "It's just work, bab. Nothing to worry about. It's one of those hectic days, and I need to get in early."

Ariah stood up, wrapping her robe around herself as she walked toward Mac. "You've been rushing out like this a lot lately. Is something going on that you're not telling me?"

Mac looked at her, softening slightly at the concern in Ariah's voice, but the urgency in her movements didn't fade. "I promise, it's fine. There's just a lot on my plate right now. Once I get through this week, things should calm down."

Ariah crossed her arms, watching her closely. "Mac, you're running yourself into the ground. You haven't been yourself lately. Can we talk about this when you get back?"

Mac sighed, stepping closer to give her a quick kiss on the forehead. "I promise, we'll talk later. But right now, I've got to go. I'll make it up to you soon, okay?"

Ariah didn't feel entirely reassured, but she nodded, understanding that there wasn't much she could do in that moment. "Alright. Just... take care of yourself, Mac. You're not invincible."

Mac smiled, though it was brief. "I'll try," she said before grabbing her keys and rushing out the door, leaving Ariah standing in the quiet room, still feeling that something was off.

As the door closed behind Mac, Ariah stared at the empty space, her worry deepening. There was more going on than Mac was letting on, and she could only hope her wife would open up about it soon.