Fractured Love

The sun streamed in through the wide bay windows of the Elba home, spilling golden warmth across the polished oak floors. Sunday mornings in Toronto always carried a certain rhythm for Nick, one that combined the comfort of routine with the sweetness of ritual. He loved them; the laughter, the hurried calls from Noel for Mason to tuck in his shirt. He smiled to himself and turned away from the window, gently patting Marie, who was singing softly to her doll as though the doll were part of the family headed to church too.

Nick stood in front of the antique mirror that had belonged to his mother and straightened the knot of his tie. Noel and Mason had finally wandered into the living room, and the mirror reflected not just his image but the family he was so proud of.

Noel, graceful even in the smallest gestures, knelt to fasten Maire's shoes, her dark hair pulled back neatly. Mason, lanky and restless at ten years old, fiddled with the cuff of his shirt, already impatient with the fuss of church clothes.

"Dad", Mason whined, "do I really have to wear this tie? Nobody else wears ties anymore", he complained.

Nick raised a brow, adjusting his own tie deliberately before turning.

"Real men wear ties, Mason. It shows respect", he answered gently.

"Respect for who?", Mason muttered under his breath.

"Respect for your mother, for God, and most importantly, for yourself", Noel said without looking up, her tone brisk but soft. She was smoothing Maire's curls, coaxing them into place with practised hands. Maire giggled, tipping her head toward her mother's lap as though she wanted to stay there forever.

Nick's heart swelled at the sight. This, this was the life he'd built; sometimes, he still couldn't believe it. A thriving architecture firm, a beautiful home tucked into one of Toronto's successful neighbourhoods, and a family that looked like the textbook example of a perfect family.

He could already picture the four of them arriving at church together in his white Land Cruiser as usual. Mason, trying to dash ahead to meet his friends, Maire clinging shyly to Noel's side, people would look, as they always did. The Elbas were admired, even envied, for how perfect they seemed. But perfection, Nick knew, could be fragile. He shook the thought away, tucking it back into the corner of his mind.

"Come on, everyone. We'll be late", he said, reaching for the car keys from the bowl by the door.

***

The drive to church was filled with the usual banter. Mason kicked the back of Nick's seat until Maire scolded him with the righteous indignation only a little sister could muster. Noel hummed along with the radio, a habit that always calmed him more than she realised.

At church, sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows, painting the pews in reds and blues. They smiled at people and friends they knew as they made their way to their usual seat. Nick