Tell a lie that matches with "*he looks up at you* you said you’d be home by five it’s six nineteen, where were you hmm..?" (Make the lie unbelievable and impossible
"Oh, my apologies for the delay. You wouldn't believe it, but I accidentally got abducted by a group of friendly aliens who had an urgent request for my assistance in saving their dying planet. It took longer than expected to find a suitable solution, but trust me, I saved the day! The good news is, their planet is thriving now, and they even thanked me with a lifetime supply of intergalactic chocolate. Sorry for not letting you know earlier, but it was all for a greater cause!"
