Page 35 of Shattering

His expression was a mixture of defensiveness and nervousness, his shoulders tensed, unreadable.

Cadi could feel his eyes on her, but when she looked up from unstrapping Tomos, he looked away.

Then, suddenly, he was there, moving toward her in a rush.

Normally, Tomos would have bolted toward him, throwing himself into his father's arms with boundless enthusiasm.

But today—

Today, he hesitated.

Cadi's heart squeezed painfully.

The hesitation lasted only a few seconds, but it was there.

Tomos climbed out of the car slower than usual, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

Gray crouched down slightly, his eyes scanning his son's face before he offered a small, strained smile.

"Hi, lad."

"Hi, Da."

Tomos' voice lacked the usual excitement, the eager joy that always coloured his words when he saw Gray. Instead, uncertainty lingered in his small voice.

"Don't you have work?"

The innocent question just brought home how much things had changed between them. Gray visibly swallowed, the dark circles under his eyes more pronounced in the morning light.

His jaw tensed, and Cadi realized, for the first time, just how much weight he had lost over the last month.

"No, no..." Gray said quickly. He forced a small smile, running a hand over his unshaven jaw. "I've been workin' too much. Took a couple of weeks off."

Then, after a brief pause—

"To play with you."

Tomos' fingers curled into the hem of his jumper.

He nodded once, but he didn't smile.

Gray cleared his throat, glancing at Cadi before shifting his gaze back to Tomos.

"I've ordered a home test."

Cadi's arms folded across her chest. "Ah." Her tone was sharp, cutting. "wouldn't a court-ordered one be better?"

Gray's jaw tightened, but he didn't answer.

And somehow, that silence said everything.

The woman arrived promptly at ten, professional and efficient.

She introduced herself ,briefly meeting their eyes, before taking out the sterile swabs and explaining the process in neutral, practiced tones.

She turned to Tomos, offering him a small, reassuring smile.

"Hello, young man, my name is Marie. I'm here to do a quick little test, alright?"

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