Page 76 of Broken Destiny

“It’s good for health, sweetheart,” Jiya said patiently.

“Then you eat mine,” Emma replied, looking at her mother with complete seriousness. “Mama, I like shake-shake.”

Jiya nodded, smiling gently at her.

“Mama, I like water too.”

“That’s great, pumpkin.”

“Mama... I got drinky pwoblem,” Emma said.

I looked at her, then at Jiya, and we all burst out laughing at the same time.

Laughter erupted around the table, and it continued long enough that Emma started laughing too, even though she clearly didn't understand why.

I hadn’t expected that to come out of her mouth. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this kind of environment. I loved the atmosphere at the dinner table.

Watching the children talk freely while Jiya fed Emma, as Milo and Oreo wandered beneath the table, hoping for scraps and attention, a wave of nostalgia swept over me. It pulled me back to memories of her small apartment years ago, when it had been just her, Lucas, and me sharing meals around the table and talking about the future as though it were guaranteed.

A lump formed in my throat, making it difficult to swallow.

After dinner, we settled onto the couches in the living room while Geeta handed out bowls of ice cream before joining us.

The Lion Kingplayed quietly in the background as Lucas leaned comfortably against my arm, Milo stretched across the floor near our feet, and Oreo curled up beside Geeta’s chair. Across from me, Jiya sat with Emma curled on her lap, gently stroking her hair as she watched the movie.

By nine o’clock, the children were already fighting sleep, their eyelids growing heavier by the minute.

Jiya and I helped them upstairs while Geeta cleaned the kitchen. Afterwards, I headed back downstairs, with Jiya following behind me.

“It’s about time I leave,” I said. “I think I have overstayed my invitation.”

She smiled, her expression warm but tired.

“This was nice,” she said softly. Then her brows pulled together. “Did you drive here?”

I nodded and reached for my jacket from the couch, draping it over my arm. I walked toward the door, then paused and turned around to face her. “Thank you for dinner.”

She smiled again. “You’re welcome. Message?—”

I knew exactly why she had stopped herself.

Back when we were together, she would always tell me to message or call when I reached home. It had been her way of making sure I was safe, of reminding me that someone was waiting for me on the other side of the journey. Habit had pulled the words from her mouth tonight before she could stop them.

Tatiana had never said anything like that to me. Whether I travelled for work or stayed out late, she had never checked in to make sure I was safe and sound.

Standing there in Jiya’s doorway, the difference between the two women felt sharper than ever.

“Good night,” I said. “I’ll see you at the office.”

I opened the door and stepped outside, walking slowly toward mycar with thoughts crowding my mind and emotions I couldn’t quite name settling heavily inside me.

24

JIYA

Iwatched Caleb walk toward his car and away from me, and a long sigh slipped from my lips.

I did not want the evening to end. Having him stay for dinner and sit together with us as a family brought back memories of the past I had convinced myself I had forgotten and never wanted to return to, yet a part of me ached for that same past to come back to life.