Page 98 of Broken Destiny

As I gazed into his blue-green eyes, I noticed the faint lines at the corners of his eyes and the sharper angles of his face. Time had changed him, but not enough to erase the man I once loved.

“Mama!” Lucas called from upstairs, breaking the moment.

I stepped back quickly. “I need to check on him.”

I headed upstairs before I could think too much about how close we had just been, with Milo quietly following behind me.

Inside Lucas’s room, I found him changed and sitting quietly on the bed.

“Supper should be here soon, sweetheart,” I said gently. “Do you want to keep Caleb company while I shower?”

“Okay.” He hesitated. “You guys are okay now?”

“Yes, baby. We’re okay.”

I exited his room and walked into Emma’s.

Geeta was there watching her.

“Can you follow up on the order?” I asked softly. “I’ll shower and change, and then wake Emma.”

Geeta nodded and slipped quietly out of the room.

I looked at my daughter again.

She was sleeping peacefully in her bed, her small chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

The doctor had given her pain medication, which she needed to take for another two days.

I had hovered over her when we had returned from the hospital, rocking gently in place and biting my lips, unable to pull myself away.

Geeta had finally insisted that I step out of the room because she could see how terrified I was.

I placed my hand over the center of my chest and let out a long, heavy breath.

Accidents like this happened to children all the time, but my mind kept replaying the image of blood pouring down her face.

Eventually, I forced myself to move.

I showered quickly, letting the warm water wash away the fear and exhaustion clinging to my skin.

Then I returned to Emma’s room, gently woke her, bathed her carefully, and got her ready for supper.

30

CALEB

Small footsteps descended the stairs as I waited in the living room.

Turning, I saw Lucas, followed closely by Oreo.

I immediately walked toward him and dropped to my knees.

“I’m sorry about before,” I said, meeting his gaze directly. “I didn’t mean to yell at your Mom. I was stressed, and I took it out on her.”

Lucas squinted at me, studying my face carefully before letting out a small sigh.

“Okay,” he replied. “But before you yell next time, remember to ask. Mama always says, don’t assume before you ask,” he said in a firm voice.