Reading log! Sonia

Ouestion 9: A few lines that grabbed my attention:

"I needed a walk to clear my head before we arrived", Mum replies.

 I want to know why she wants to clear her head. What is she thinking about?! Where are they going to arrive and what are they going to do at that place?

"It's just that I've been so nervous about seeing them again after all this time."

Nervous about seeing who? After how long? I want to continue reading to find out the answers to my questions.

Question 31: I have one unanswered question: I wonder where the main character, Mariel's father, is. The author only writes about the mother, cousins and other relatives.  Where is the father?
Anyway in the beginning he doesn't write about it. He just writes a little bit about the mother's boyfriend. Maybe he will write about the father in the end but I still wonder where he is.