Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 40

Julian gave a brief nod. "Get the nursery ready. Caden will be staying here for a few days."

"The nursery..." Lena hesitated, looking incredibly uncomfortable. "Mr. Weston, did you forget? Mrs. Weston had us clear out the nursery a few months ago. The room is completely empty now. There isn't even a bed in there."

Julian froze. Hearing Lena say it out loud, the memory suddenly hit him. It was only in that moment that he truly grasped just how determined Hester had been to try for another baby. She had forced herself to move on.

That nursery was the one Hester had personally designed and decorated for the twins. After they lost the babies, she would spend hours sitting in that room alone. Over the last five years, she had spent more time in that nursery than anywhere else in the house.

Julian didn't say anything else. He adjusted Caden in his arms and walked up the stairs.

The nursery was right next to the master bedroom. He stopped in front of the door, freeing one hand to turn the knob. It wouldn't budge.

It was locked.

Julian frowned. An unexpected, suffocating weight pressed down heavily on his chest.

Just then, Caden stirred against his shoulder.

Julian pulled his hand back from the door, gently rubbing the boy's back. "You awake, buddy?"

Caden lifted his head, still groggy from sleep. He instinctively tried to rub his eyes, but the moment he raised his heavily bandaged hand, he stopped. His bottom lip quivered, and his eyes instantly welled with tears.

"Dad, my hand hurts."

Julian kept his voice soft and steady. "You're a brave boy, Caden. You have to be tough. It'll heal in a few days, okay?"

Caden nodded, sniffling. "Dad, please don't be mad at Mom. She didn't want me to get hurt."

Julian's jaw tightened. Looking at the boy's innocent face, he asked quietly, "Then tell me the truth, Caden. How did you cut yourself?"

"I saw a video of a guy peeling an apple with a knife. He looked so cool. I wanted to try it."

Julian frowned. "Where did you see the video?"

"On Mom's tablet."

Julian didn't think much of it. Social media was flooded with those kinds of videos, and kids naturally loved to imitate what they saw. It was a normal, albeit dangerous, accident.

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