9. Jiya
JIYA
Some days were harder than others.
There were mornings when I woke up expecting to hear Cole's voice beside me, only to remember he was gone. Other days, I buried myself so deeply in work that I almost convinced myself the ache in my chest had lessened.
This was one of those days.
Since the company had already purchased the land for Cole's project, I had thrown myself into helping secure investors and bring his vision to life. If I wasn't taking care of the children, I was working. If I wasn't working, I was researching. Staying busy had become my way of surviving.
“This is what he had in mind,” I said to the illustrator, pointing to the layout spread across the table.
Cole wanted to create homes that families and seniors could truly afford and call their own. He had imagined children growing up in safe neighbourhoods, running freely through backyards, and people feeling a deep sense of belonging within a community that cared for one another.
“Houses on one side and short apartment buildings on the other, separated by the little river here, with a park on the side of the houses.” I chewed on the end of my pen, studying the drawing carefully, trying to see it the way Cole would have seen it.
“The apartment buildings are for?” asked the young woman with gold-rimmed glasses, her pencil hovering over the page.
“Senior citizens,” I answered.
“But why would you have young children and senior citizens in the same space?” she asked, tilting her head.
“Because studies have shown that relationships are critical as we age,” I explained.
“Older people can improve their brain and cognitive function through interaction, while younger children benefit from the wisdom and experiences of older generations. They learn patience, empathy, and respect in ways that can’t be taught in a classroom. ”
“But older people don’t like noise,” Michelle, the illustrator, said, her brow furrowing.
“I know,” I replied with a small nod. “That’s why this river separates them, creating a natural boundary, with the park located on the families’ side of the community.
” I traced the curve of the river with my finger, imagining the sound of children playing in the distance while seniors enjoyed quiet walks along peaceful paths.
“Plus, families who live in these houses can also have their parents living in these apartments nearby. They won’t have to travel far to check on them or worry about them being alone.
They can be close enough to care for each other while still having their own space. ”
“Sounds good,” Michelle replied. “Let me draw up a sketch.”
After five drafts of sketches, each one improving on the last, it was finally ready to be made into a 3D presentation. Watching the concept take shape in front of my eyes felt like watching a dream slowly come to life, piece by piece, as though Cole’s vision was being rebuilt from the ground up.
“The project is coming along great,” I said to Cole on Saturday morning when I went to visit his grave.
“You would be so happy. No one in the market has a concept like this, and Liam is happy too. This was your project, and I am so proud to finish it for you.” I reached out and gently stroked the smooth surface of his grave, with Milo and Oreo sitting beside me.
“I hope you’re proud of me,” I whispered.
With Liam’s guidance and my own research, I had finally found my footing in the construction and development business.
There had been moments when I had almost given up and whispered that I did not belong in this world, but I kept pushing forward, driven by the promise I had made to myself and to Cole.
Completing his project became my purpose, a flame that kept me moving even on the hardest days.
His dream became my compass, pointing me toward a future he had once imagined, and I was hell-bent to see it through to the very end.
By the evening, I was already exhausted from the day’s activities with the children.
I had taken Lucas to his soccer game earlier, cheering from the sidelines while he ran across the field, and then driven Emma to the neighbours’ house for a birthday party.
By the time dinner was over, my body felt heavy, and my mind longed for a few quiet hours.
“Alright, guys,” I said after helping them change into their pyjamas. I guided them toward the living room and plopped them in front of the television. “It’s the weekend, so you’re granted an extra half an hour, but no more than that.”
“Yay!” Lucas shrieked, throwing his hands in the air as though he had just won a major victory.
“Yes, Mama.” Emma’s small voice bubbled with the same excitement as her brother.
I folded my arms lightly and looked at them both, keeping my tone firm but gentle. “No troubling Geeta. Deal?”
“Deal, Mama,” they replied together, reaching out to shake my hand with solemn seriousness that made me smile.
“Love you both,” I said, leaning down to give each of them a quick kiss on the forehead.
Before leaving the house, I bent to scratch the dogs’ bellies, listening to their tails thump happily against the floor.
Standing upright again, I called out toward the kitchen at Geeta. “If you need me, call me. I’ll be at the restaurant.”
Since Geeta became part of our family, she had grown into someone I trusted completely.
She had learned to drive, bought a car of her own, and taken on a part-time online job as a data entry clerk while still caring for the children and helping manage the house.
In many ways, she had become the support system that held our daily lives together.
I often wondered how I would have managed without her.
She had built friendships of her own over the years, and I could see the difference in her confidence—the way she carried herself now compared to the shy, uncertain woman I had first met. Watching her flourish was like witnessing a flower bloom after a long winter, and I was extremely proud of her.
“Okay, Didi!” Geeta called back.
The summer rush had begun at the restaurant, and weekends had turned into a whirlwind of activity.
After driving to work and parking in the back lot, I stepped out of the car and paused to take in the evening air.
The golden rays of the setting sun streamed across the sky, and the temperature was about twenty-three degrees Celsius.
It was just past six in the evening, and another long night awaited.
Entering the restaurant through the back door, I greeted the staff with a quick wave and walked toward the office, where I found Jack reviewing paperwork at his desk. I leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
“Busy night?” I asked.
“Busy weekend!” he replied, shaking his head with a tired smile. “It’s been crazy since last night.”
“Anything special?”
“Well, there are a couple of guys down from Vancouver celebrating one of their friend’s last days as a bachelor. They came in yesterday and hogged one of the pool tables.”
I raised an eyebrow, amused by the image.
“But they’re good guys,” he continued. “They ain’t any trouble.”
“And the rest of the people?” I asked.
“The usual summer rush,” Jack replied, leaning forward slightly. “A bunch of tourists and folks from other towns. It’s going to be busy again tonight. We could use your help if you’re not too tied up.”
A spark of energy stirred inside me. No matter how tired I felt, the restaurant always awakened something purposeful within me.
“I’m ready to help,” I said.
“By the way, how are things with Karena?”
I had told him everything about her unexpected visit, the tears, the apology, and the attempt to rebuild a relationship that had been broken for years.
It was a complicated path I had begun walking, and I was still trying to find my way. Even though I had felt hurt and angry, I couldn’t turn my back on the woman who had given birth to me once I heard her truth. Forgiveness had not come easily, but we were working through it.
“So far, so good,” I replied. “It’s been two months, and I’m taking it slow. She calls every week, and I give her updates.”
Jack nodded. “That’s good,” he said. “I’m so proud of you. I hope you know that.”
“I do.” I reached out to give him a quick squeeze. “Shall we?”
He nodded.
Strapping on my apron, I stepped out of the office and into the restaurant.
Another busy evening had begun, and I was ready for the craziness of the night to unfold.
“I need a Cow Special, a virgin mojito, and two chocolate shakes for table thirteen,” I yelled to Jack over the music, above the buzz of conversation and laughter. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he warned me the place would be busy.
“Got it! Come back in five,” he shouted back, already moving toward the bar.
I turned quickly and walked toward another table, slipping into my usual rhythm despite the growing pressure behind my temples.
“Hi! Good evening. My name is Jiya. Your server tonight will be Kayla. Can I get you some drinks and appetizers?”
After jotting down their order, I entered it into the system and handed the slip to Kayla, who nodded gratefully before rushing off toward the kitchen.
The restaurant felt alive and full of movement, and I moved through it almost on instinct, balancing trays, clearing plates, and greeting customers.
Jack placed the drinks he had prepared onto my tray, and I carried them carefully across the floor, weaving between tables and chairs before setting them down in front of the waiting guests.
Once that was done, I helped clear two nearby tables, stacking dishes efficiently while keeping an eye on the growing line at the door.
Around eight o’clock, a group of men entered and gathered near one of the pool tables. I glanced over. Two of them stood with their backs turned toward me, their voices blending into the noise around them. I returned to my routine immediately, focusing on the customers in front of me.
Jack caught my eye and motioned toward the group.
“That’s the group I was telling you about,” he said. “I’ll start them with some beer.” He smiled widely.
I nodded with a small smile. “Sure.”
The restaurant grew even more crowded as the night progressed. People brushed against each other while passing through narrow spaces, and karaoke had begun, with diners eagerly requesting songs and cheering for one another. The energy in the room felt electric, but my body struggled to keep up.
A dull ache began to form behind my eyes.
By ten o’clock, the headache had intensified, pressing heavily against my temples and making the lights seem brighter than usual. I took a slow breath and walked toward Jack, hoping he would understand.
“Jack, is it okay if I leave?” I asked quietly. “I’m not feeling too good.”
“Yeah, no problem. I think we’re fine now. Two other servers just came in to help.”
“Okay, great,” I replied, my head falling back, letting out a huge breath.
I looked around the packed restaurant one last time, feeling a flicker of guilt for leaving during such a busy night. I knew my body needed rest before the headache turned into something worse. After delivering one final order to a nearby table, I made my way toward the staff entrance.
As I walked, a woman bumped into me without so much as an apology, forcing me to step aside to regain my balance. I turned around instinctively, my jaw clenched.
Before I could take another step, I was bumped again—this time by a man.
“I’m so sorry.”
The words came from behind me.
Something in his voice sent a sudden chill through my body.
Slowly, almost against my will, I turned and looked up.
Blue-green eyes stared back at me.
The same eyes I had known years ago.
The same eyes I had once trusted.
The same eyes I had walked away from.
The same eyes I had spent years trying to forget.
And now, those eyes had returned.
My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn’t move.
It felt as though I had been hypnotized, trapping me in that single moment. The noise of the restaurant faded into the background, replaced by the loud, frantic beating of my heart.
Our eyes locked, and time ticked by.
“Caleb?” a voice called out from somewhere behind him.
He turned his head toward the sound, breaking the connection between us.
The instant he looked away, instinct took over.
Quick as a startled animal, I spun around and slipped through the staff entrance, my pulse racing wildly inside my chest.
Memories surged forward—images of him in bed with Caroline, the lies he had told, the promises that had shattered. The past crashed into the present with overwhelming force.
My heart drummed in my ears. Sweat trickled down the side of my face.
How did he find me? How did he know I was here? Was this a coincidence?
Thank God I had already told Jack I was leaving for the night. The pressure inside my head felt unbearable, like a heavy stone pressing down on my skull. I rushed toward the lockers, grabbed my bag with trembling hands, and forced myself to keep moving.
“Bye, Will,” I called out quickly as I headed toward the exit. “I’m heading home.”
“Take care and drive safely,” he shouted back.
I pushed open the rear door and stepped outside, my eyes moving from one direction to another, checking every corner, every shadow, every parked car.
Once I was certain the path was clear, I walked quickly toward my car, my heartbeat still racing.
I slid into the driver’s seat, locked the doors, and started the engine.
Then I drove straight home.