Page 1 of My Destiny
PROLOGUE
Brooke
“Hi, this is Jake… I can’t take your call at the moment. Leave your name and number after the tone and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
I pressendbefore the tone beeps. There’s no point in leaving a voice message. He didn’t reply to the one I left him at six o’clock saying that dinner was almost ready, and asking when I could expect him home. He also didn’t reply to the one I left him an hour and a half later as I sat watching the wax drip down the sides of the candles I’d placed in the centre of the table and our food go stone cold.
Moving to Melbourne six months ago was the beginning of a new life for us. My husband Jake had been offered the job of a lifetime as a senior partner at Cavanagh and Associates, one of the largest law firms in the country. It’s a position he’d been striving for ever since he joined the bar—his dream job, one could say. But only weeks into our big move, the cracks in our relationship started to appear, and in the months that followed, things have only managed to get worse.
Tonight’s dinner was supposed to be all about new beginnings for us—a fresh start on our new life, a chance to put the last few months behind us. The constant fighting is really getting me down. I’m lonely and feeling isolated since our move, which hasn’t helped our plight. I gave up everything to come here: my career, my friends, my life. To say I’m not happy with where things are heading would be an understatement. I knew this move would change our lives, but things are certainly not changing in the way I’d hoped.
Don’t get me wrong, Melbourne’s a beautiful city, renowned for its restaurants and street art, but it’s not home. Well, not to me anyway. Things seemed much simpler when we lived in Sydney. It’s where we met, and the place I was born and raised by my mother.
Up until the move, I was content with my life and with our relationship. I’m not sure if it’s the stress of his new job, or the crazy long hours he’s been putting in, but my husband’s no longer the person I fell in love with all those years ago. He’s become somewhat of a stranger to me.
After I graduated from university, I took a job at a large dance studio as a teacher and choreographer. Teaching dance has always been my passion. I’ve been saving every penny in hopes of fulfilling my lifelong dream of opening my own studio one day.
I miss my students, but Jake no longer wants me working. He says we don’t need the money, since his new job also came with a huge salary, and that my time would be better spent looking after him. Becoming a full-time homemaker wasn’t something we’d ever discussed prior to coming here, and I’m not sure I would’ve agreed to uproot my entire life if it had been. Yes, the sole purpose of our move was so Jake could follow his dreams, yet lately my dreams no longer seem important to him. Isn’t marriage supposed to be a partnership? In the past we’d always supported each other.
Sure, I could’ve ignored his demands, and continued on my chosen career path, but the constant bickering every time I brought up the subject was wearing me down. I don’t deal well with conflict; I never have.
Starting a family could give this new life of mine some purpose, but those plans—like my career—have been put on hold. “Children will only complicate things,” he says, whatever the hell that means. When we first got married, Jake wanted kids as much as I did, but somewhere along the way he’s now decided that being a father no longer fits into his life’s plan. Not in his near future anyway.
Entering our bedroom, I place my phone down on the bedside table. The clock reads 11.05 pm, and—surprise, surprise—my husband’s still not home. I exhale a large breath as I lay down and pull the covers up around my chin.I hate this!
My eyelids become heavy as I stare at the digital clock, watching the minutes tick by. My stomach churns and my mind is laden down with worry. All my uncertainties from the past creep back to the surface. Everything has changed, and I’m no longer sure what my future holds. I feel incredibly alone, which is something I hoped I’d never feel again.
As I drift into a restless sleep, I’m oblivious to the fact that in less than twenty-four hours, my life as I know it will be turned upside down, then spiral out of control. I’m also unaware thatmy true destinywill step in and play its part, changing the course of my life forever.
CHAPTER ONE
Brooke
It’s just after six when I open my eyes. Rolling over, I find Jake fast asleep beside me. I’m not sure what time he finally got in, but it breaks my heart to see what’s become of us. I want things to be the way they used to be.
Moving closer, I snuggle into the warmth of his body, making him stir. “Good morning.” I place a soft kiss on the side of his neck as I speak.
“Morning,” he mumbles, sliding his arm around my waist and resting his lips against my forehead. His gesture provides immediate comfort. This is the sweet, caring, attentive husband I’ve missed. These small glimpses give me hope.
“What time did you get in last night? I tried to call you a few times.”
“I don’t remember… Late.”
“Did you forget about the special dinner we planned for last night?”
“Jesus, Brooke.” He sighs as he rolls onto his back and scrubs his hands over his face. “I just opened my eyes and you’re already starting.” He throws back the covers and rises from the bed. I’m not used to these mood swings from him. One minute he’s fine, and with a flick of a switch he changes. “I’m under enough pressure at work without getting shit from you too.”
Letting out an exasperated breath, I roll over and stare up at the ceiling.Who stole my nice husband and replaced him with this jerk?“I only asked you a simple question,” I grumble. “You promised me you’d be home for it.” His expression softens slightly as he stares down at me from beside the bed.
“I’m sorry, okay? And I’m sorry about dinner last night. My life’s just…” He throws his hands in the air as he speaks. “Things are really complicated at the moment.”
“Do you think you’ve taken on too much with the new job?”
“What? No!”
Sitting up, I reach for his hand. “Jake, can’t you see what this job is doing to you? You were never this stressed or overworked at McCabe and Brunswick.”
“Just drop it.” With that, he turns and stalks across the room.
