Page 11 of Shattering

The betrayal was suffocating, overwhelming.

She had seen enough.

Something inside her had broken. And she wasn't sure it could ever be fixed.

Chapter 9

The school gates were already bustling with parents when Cadi arrived. She stepped out of the car, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag as she scanned the crowd of children spilling onto the pavement. Among them, she spotted Tomos immediately. He was tall for his age, his frame lean but strong, and his blond hair gleamed in the sunlight, a sharp contrast to the darker-haired children around him. His green eyes—so much like her mother's—were alight with excitement as he walked out with James, deep in conversation.

Cadi barely had time to take a step forward before his teacher, Mrs. Graham, approached her with a warm but concerned smile.

"Mrs. Hughes," she greeted. "Tomos had a little tumble during PE today. Nothing serious, just a slip, but he scraped his elbow. He was a trooper, though."

Cadi's eyes flickered to her son, her stomach tensing. "Are you alright, love?"

Tomos barely paused, holding up his bandaged elbow with exaggerated drama. "Mum, it was heroic. I was diving for the ball. You should've seen it!"

James grinned. "It was epic. He almost scored."

Cadi smiled, brushing a strand of his hair back. "Sounds like you were very brave. But next time, maybe try staying on your feet."

Tomos laughed, already launching into a full recounting of the match as they walked to the car. He was full of beans, his words tumbling over each other in his excitement. Cadi listened as best she could, nodding in the right places, but her mind felt fractured, torn between the moment and the weight of what she had witnessed earlier.

By the time they arrived home, her head was pounding. The house was still new to them, a recent purchase on a mortgage that felt like a commitment they should have celebrated more. It was in a lovely neighbourhood, just a short drive from the hospital, with climbing roses trailing the side of the building and a bright, airy conservatory that bathed in golden light during the afternoons.

But Cadi's favourite part had always been the kitchen.

The open-plan design overlooked the back garden, where a cherry blossom tree stood in full bloom, its delicate pink petals fluttering in the breeze. It had been one of the things that sold her on the house, the thought of watching the seasons change from this very spot. But now, she could only stare at it, distracted and hollow, the beauty of it lost on her.

She set out tea for Tomos, who ate as if he hadn't had a meal in days. He devoured toast, biscuits, and a bowl of fruit, all while chattering about the goals he nearly scored and how James had tripped over his own feet at the last moment. Cadi nodded, forcing a smile, trying to focus, but her mind kept circlingback to the text message, to Gray's absence, to the feeling of impending loss she couldn't shake.

As soon as he was done, Tomos sprang up, already halfway to the door. "Mum, can I go play with Arya? Remember he moved in next door, and he's got a football net in his garden?"

Cadi hesitated. "Alright, but stay where I can see you. And be back before it's dark."

Tomos whooped in excitement before dashing out, leaving the kitchen suddenly, painfully quiet.

Her phone vibrated on the counter, drawing her from her thoughts. A text from Gray.

Covering an extra shift. Don't wait up.

Cadi's fingers tightened around the device. Another shift. Again.

Her pulse quickened as she hesitated, then, gathering her nerve, she hit the call button.

It rang. And rang. Then voicemail.

She exhaled slowly, the tension leaving her body in a rush. Relief, unexpected but undeniable. She wasn't ready for that conversation. Not yet.

Before she could put her phone down, it buzzed again. Regan.

Cadi sighed, swiping to answer. "Hey."

"Did you talk to him?" Regan's voice was sharp, straight to the point.

Cadi closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. "No. He's covering another shift."

Regan exhaled loudly. "Cadi, you need to address this. You can't just ignore it."

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