35. Jiya
JIYA
The drive back from the farm was peaceful and scenic. Golden sunlight stretched across the open fields while rows of trees swayed gently in the afternoon breeze. Small roadside stands selling fresh fruit and flowers passed by as the distant mountains rose against the clear blue sky.
Lucas and Emma chatted excitedly in the back seat about the animals they had fed while Caleb laughed along with them.
I still could not believe how natural it felt being around him again, as though the years and distance between us had quietly disappeared. Lucas had opened up to him so easily, Emma already adored him, and even Geeta had taken a liking to him.
She had said as much that morning before we left the house.
“He’s a good man,” Geeta had told me while helping the children get ready to meet Caleb for breakfast.
And that was the problem.
A good man who had once been mine. A good man who was going to marry someone else. A good man who would soon walk away from my life again, perhaps forever, except for work. Maybe not even that.
I needed to be honest and tell him about our daughter.
He deserved to know the truth, no matter what his reaction would be afterward.
Even if he walked away again, he still had the right to know his daughter.
He might want to see his daughter, to hold her, to be part of her life.
I could not deny him that simply because I was afraid of losing him all over again.
“Joining us tonight?” I asked. “If you’re not too busy?”
“You sure?” he asked, glancing briefly in my direction.
Of course, I wanted him there. I wished he could be there all the time—every day, every minute, every second—but I could not say that out loud. I no longer had the right to make those claims on his life.
“The children would be happy,” I replied, turning my face away from his sparkling blue-green eyes.
“You guys want me there?” Caleb asked, looking back at the children.
“Yes! Yes!” Emma squeaked. “Tea party and chicka nugs.”
“You’ve got to try the lobster at Mama’s restaurant,” Lucas added. “I love it!”
Caleb laughed. “All right then, I’ll be there.”
We reached my house, and Caleb parked the car in the driveway.
We all stepped out and entered the house to the sound of barking dogs. Lucas immediately took Milo and Oreo outside with Caleb and Emma while I filled their bowls with food and water.
By the time they came back inside, the children had noticeably quieted, exhaustion finally catching up with them.
Caleb’s phone rang shortly after, and he answered it while leaning casually against the kitchen counter, his expression shifting into the focused, businesslike look I remembered so well from years ago.
I took the children upstairs, changed them into their pyjamas, and tucked them into bed for their naps.
Lucas curled beneath the blanket without protest while Emma rubbed her sleepy eyes as I kissed her forehead. Within minutes, both of them drifted into peaceful sleep. Oreo curled protectively beside Lucas’s bed while Milo stretched out near Emma’s crib.
Only then did I realize how exhausted I truly was.
My arm throbbed steadily, reminding me of the accident and everything that had followed.
I walked into my bedroom, swallowed a painkiller with water from the bottle resting on my nightstand, and sat carefully on the edge of the bed for a moment, letting out a slow breath.
Caleb was still downstairs on the phone, his muffled voice carrying faintly through the quiet house.
Too drained to think clearly, I headed back downstairs and lowered myself carefully onto the couch, intending to close my eyes for only a minute while he finished his call.
But exhaustion pulled me under almost instantly.
Within seconds, I slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When I woke up an hour and a half later, I realized I was in my bedroom with a blanket draped over me. My sling rested neatly on the side table beside the bed.
How had I ended up upstairs?
The house felt alive with movement somewhere below.
I knew the children would need to get ready for dinner soon. Pushing myself up carefully, I splashed cold water on my face and brushed my teeth before heading downstairs.
The familiar aroma of Geeta’s cardamom and cinnamon chai drifted through the kitchen.
“How was your catch-up with your friends?” I asked, leaning lightly against the counter as she poured steaming chai into two cups.
Geeta’s eyes crinkled warmly. “It was good, Didi. We talked, laughed, and had a nice lunch together.”
“I’m glad you had a great time,” I said, accepting the cup and breathing in the warm, spiced scent.
“And you, Didi?” she asked. “Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes,” I replied softly, my gaze drifting toward the backyard where Caleb’s voice carried faintly through the open door. “Much better.”
“You passed out on the couch when I got back. I was going to cover you with a blanket, but Bhaiya carried you upstairs and put you in your bedroom instead.”
“Oh.”
Butterflies fluttered inside me at the thought of him carrying me upstairs and taking care of me without being asked.
“I’ll go get Emma and start getting them ready,” I said finally, clearing my throat. “You finished your work already?”
“Yes, Didi. I picked up some groceries. Bhaiya took me to the store.”
“Okay, thanks. Where’s Lucas?”
“Outside in the front, playing basketball with his friends.”
“Can you bring him in and tell him to shower, please?”
“Of course, Didi.”
I walked toward the backyard, and the sight that greeted me made my heart pause.
The dogs were sprawled lazily beside Caleb and Emma, their tails wagging contentedly as they watched the two of them play.
Emma sat cross-legged on the grass with her tiny teacups and plastic plates arranged neatly in front of her, fully immersed in her imaginary world.
Caleb sat beside her, patient and completely engaged, holding one of the toy cups carefully between his fingers as if it were made of fine china.
“Our tea is ready,” Emma announced.
“Thank you,” he replied solemnly, lifting the tiny cup to his lips and pretending to sip.
The tenderness in that moment pierced straight through my heart.
Our daughter.
“Hi,” I said softly.
He turned toward me immediately, his gaze warm, as though he had been waiting for me to appear.
In that instant, I knew what I had to do.
Caleb deserved to know Emma was his daughter.
I could not carry the secret alone any longer. I needed to be honest with him about Emma… and about my feelings.
“Emma, time for your bathy and then dinner,” I called out, walking toward them.
“But it’s teatime, Mama,” Emma pouted, clutching her doll tightly.
“It’s almost dinner time, sweetheart,” I said, taking her small hand in mine. “We don’t want to keep Pappy Jack waiting now, do we?”
Emma shook her head obediently, and Caleb rose to his feet, following us inside.
After giving Emma her bath and dressing her, I checked on Lucas.
He had already showered and was now keeping Caleb company. Geeta was getting ready, so I decided to take a shower and get dressed as well.
The warm water eased some of the stiffness in my shoulder, but once I stepped out and began dressing, I realized how difficult even simple movements had become without Geeta’s help while my arm remained trapped in a sling.
Pulling my clothes into place, each motion sent a dull ache through my shoulder that forced me to slow down and steady my breathing.
When I finally finished, I noticed that the bandage on my head had loosened. Standing in front of the mirror with my back to the door, I tried to adjust it carefully, wincing when the edge lifted away from my skin.
I was about to call Geeta when I heard a knock on my door.
“Come in!” I called out, thankful that she had somehow read my mind and come to check on me. “Can you help me with the bandage? It came loose in the shower, and my arm is hurting.”
A soft sound behind me made me turn.
Caleb stood near the doorway.
“Oh, sorry,” I said quickly, feeling heat rush to my cheeks. “I... um—”
“I can help you with it if that’s okay,” he said, his voice low.
Unease twisted in my stomach as I searched for a way to decline the offer, even as another part of me desperately wished he would stay close.
“Umm... okay,” I replied softly.
He stepped into the room and walked toward me. When his hands closed gently around my arms, a shiver ran through me, starting at my shoulders and travelling down my spine, making it hard to breathe. He guided me to sit on the bed.
My breath caught as I looked up at him.
His face was close enough that I could see every detail—the stubble along his jaw, the intensity in his blue-green eyes, the quiet concentration in the way he focused on me.
The closeness made my pulse race in a way that felt both terrifying and irresistible.
He carefully peeled away the loosened bandage from my head. Taking an alcohol swab, he cleaned the cut with patient, steady hands.
The sharp sting made me inhale softly, but the discomfort faded quickly beneath his gentle touch.
Kneeling in front of me, he lifted his eyes to meet mine.
Neither of us moved.
The air between us grew unbearably heavy. My heartbeat thudded wildly in my chest as the faint scent of his cologne wrapped around me.
For one weak and foolish second, nothing else seemed to matter.
Then the sound of small footsteps racing up the stairs shattered the spell.
“Mama, you ready?” Emma called out.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
My children always did have the most perfect timing.
Emma burst into the room with Mia clutched tightly in her hands. “Hurry, Mama!”
I opened my eyes and blinked quickly.
Caleb secured the clean bandage and helped me to my feet. The warmth of his touch lingered even after he stepped back, making my heartbeat spiral wildly all over again.
We walked out of the bedroom together, and he scooped Emma into his arms.
Moments later, we gathered our things and headed outside, climbing into his car.
Even then, I could not calm the frantic beating of my heart or bring myself to fully meet his eyes.
Jack greeted the children and me when we stepped inside.
“Hi, guys! Are you ready for dinner?”
“Yes, Pappy!” Lucas and Emma shrieked in unison.
Jack raised his eyebrows and smiled when he saw Caleb standing behind us. He stepped forward and shook his hand warmly. “Nice to see you again.”
Leading us to the table, I focused on the children and the familiar surroundings, doing everything I could to avoid Caleb’s eyes.
Our almost kiss upstairs replayed itself in my mind, making my pulse quicken.
Thank God Emma had interrupted us.
The thought of what could have happened if she had not come running into the room made my scalp prickle.
Cheating on his fiancée weeks before his wedding and being responsible for it was something I could never carry on my conscience.
He needed to be clear about what he wanted in his life, and I needed to be strong enough to set boundaries.
He could not have both. The cake and the cherry were not an option.
Even without looking at him, I felt his presence beside me throughout dinner. My appetite had vanished, yet I forced myself to eat while focusing on the children, the restaurant, anything except him.
Halfway through dinner, Will walked over to our table, wiping his hands on his apron. “Did you guys like your food?” he asked, his blue eyes twinkling.
“It was delicious,” Caleb replied. “The lobster, in particular, thanks to Lucas here, was exquisite.”
Will’s chest puffed out, and his smile widened. “Thank you, thank you so much,” he said.
After dinner, Lucas insisted on ordering two sizzling brownie sundaes to share between the five of us.
The rich scent of chocolate filled the air as the desserts arrived, still bubbling on the hot plates.
“You’ve got it on your nose, Pookie-pie,” I said, wiping a smudge of chocolate from Emma’s face as she giggled.
When we finished eating and settled the bill, Lucas tugged lightly on my hand.
“Mama, can we walk for a bit?”
I nodded.
We stepped outside and began walking along the waterfront together.
The temperature had dropped to eighteen degrees Celsius, and the last warmth of the sun melted slowly into the water.
Reaching the end of the walkway, we stepped onto the wooden dock.
A gazebo had recently been installed by the village’s mayor. It stood proudly at the edge of the water, white and wooden, shaped in an octagon with delicate latticework and small light bulbs strung around it.
I rocked gently from side to side, holding Emma securely on my hip.
“This is Mama’s favourite place,” Lucas announced to Caleb.
I still had not looked directly at him, and this was not going to be the moment I chose to start.
I lowered myself onto the bench inside the gazebo, and Lucas sat beside me.
A second later, Caleb took the seat next to him, close enough that I was painfully aware of him beside me.
“Didi, I’ll take a picture?” Geeta asked, lifting her phone with a cheerful smile.
“No, no, it’s—” I began, shaking my head.
“Yes, please,” Caleb said, cutting gently across my protest. “Do take one.”
Geeta laughed and began snapping photos while the children bounced and wriggled beside us, making it nearly impossible for her to capture a still moment.
“Finally,” Geeta exclaimed. “I got a good one.”
She walked over and held out her phone for us to see.
Curiosity pulled my attention toward the screen.
My breath caught the second I saw the picture.
Emma and Lucas were laughing openly, their faces bright with happiness. Caleb gazed at me while my attention was fixed on the children. The image looked so natural, so complete, that my chest tightened.
It was a beautiful picture.
A family picture.
The kind of life we were never supposed to have together.
I scrolled through the rest of the photos, my fingers moving slowly across the screen.
Swallowing hard, I felt my heart begin to throb painfully in my chest.
There was no denying it anymore. The truth had been sitting inside me for too long. I could not let guilt continue to eat away at me.
Caleb deserved to know.
No matter what happened afterward.
No matter how much it hurt.
Drawing in a steady breath, I forced myself to act before fear could stop me.
“Selfie, everyone?” I asked, lifting my phone with a small, determined smile.