Page 196 of Broken Destiny

The ferry ridehome felt endless.

Talking to the children helped a little. Their endless chatter about the ferry and the dogs pulled me back into the present whenever my thoughts drifted back to the church.

Seagulls screeched overhead, their cries sharp against the wind, while the rugged coastlines, jagged mountains, and moss-covered rainforest stretched endlessly around us beneath the fading light.

The beauty of it all should have soothed me.

But that evening, it felt distant.

The children spent nearly half an hour racing up and down the deck while Geeta watched Lucas, and I stayed close to Emma. Eventually, exhaustion caught up with them. After buying food, we sat quietly together near the window, sharing tired smiles between bites.

Later, we returned to the deck.

I sat on one of the benches with Emma curled asleep against my chest while Lucas rested his head on Geeta’s lap nearby. The four ofus watched the vast waters stretch endlessly into the distance beneath the darkening sky.

The world felt still for a while.

But my mind wouldn’t rest.

It drifted back to the church… to Caleb standing at the altar in his suit, looking heartbreakingly handsome and impossibly far away.

My chest ached.

My phone was still switched off.

I borrowed Geeta’s phone and messaged Elle, telling her I had left and would talk to her later. I could not bear to hear anyone’s voice right then—not when my heart felt like it had been split clean down the middle.

Caleb and Tatiana were probably cutting their wedding cake right now while cameras flashed around them.

Would it be chocolate? Or something elegant… something sophisticated… like a cannoli layer cake with cinnamon sponge and mascarpone filling?

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to stop.

The ferry finally reached the port.

Reality returned with a quiet jolt.

We loaded the children back into the car and began the drive to Jack’s house to pick up the dogs.

The familiar roads, winding through the small town, brought a strange sense of comfort. This place had become my refuge—my safe harbour when everything else in my life had fallen apart.

When we pulled into the driveway, Maureen stepped outside immediately, her warm smile lighting up the evening.

“You’re home early,” she said gently, wrapping me in a hug. “Jack’s still at the restaurant.”

“That’s all right,” I replied softly. “We came to pick up the dogs.”

Maureen pulled back slightly and studied my face, her expression softening almost instantly.

“Sweetheart... did everything go okay?” she asked quietly.

My throat tightened.

I shook my head once. “No,” I admitted softly. “It didn’t go well.”

Concern filled her eyes immediately. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I swallowed hard and forced a small shake of my head. “Not right now.”