The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman) novel Chapter 1088

The Salstroms had three kids, and up until now, Herman had never laid a finger on any of them.

Today was different.

Nancy was terrified, crying so hard the whole house shook. Flynn and Feiman were beside themselves, worried sick that Herman would lose control and really hurt the little guy.

Katelyn was even more frantic. She hurried upstairs, banging on the door, shouting, “Herman, don’t hit Nancy! He’s just a little kid—what are you thinking? Talk to him, that’s all he needs! Ana, go in there and say something, please!”

Feiman chimed in, “Ana, go on, talk to them. Nancy’s still just a baby.”

Flynn added, “Anastasia, can’t you hear how hard Nancy’s crying? It’s breaking my heart. Please, go calm things down.”

Salma kept quiet. As the mother-in-law, it was smartest to stay out of it when her son-in-law was disciplining his own child.

Anastasia stayed calm. “Don’t worry so much. Nancy’s been getting way too wild lately. He needs a little discipline. Herman knows what he’s doing—he’s his dad, after all. Nancy messed up this time. He actually hit someone. If we don’t correct him now, who knows what’ll happen next?”

Herman had to play the bad guy, and she the good. If one punished and the other coddled, what lesson would Nancy ever learn?

It didn’t matter if Katelyn had gotten under Nancy’s skin—hitting your grandma was never okay.

Respecting your elders is just basic decency.

Paradise and Emmie stood out in the hallway, not daring to say a word.

“If you won’t go in, I will,” Katelyn said, her face stormy. “He’s just three. You can’t spank a kid that age.”

She sent the nanny to fetch the spare key, but before the door even opened, Herman stepped out.

“How’s Nancy?” Katelyn demanded, worry and anger battling in her voice. “You’re a grown man—how could you hit a child?”

“Who didn’t get spanked as a kid?” Herman shot back, his voice low. “No one is allowed to comfort him. He needs to think about what he did.”

“He’s just a little boy! What do you expect him to figure out by himself? I never hit you or Flynn when you were little,” Katelyn snapped. “Let me check on Nancy—don’t you dare hurt him.”

Herman closed the door, his tone firm. “Mom, let me handle my own son. Please, stay out of it.”

Katelyn’s face flushed with anger. “Fine, fine! He’s your kid now, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

She turned, stomped downstairs, grabbed her purse, and walked right out the door.

Feiman sighed, following her out into the yard. “Katelyn, why get into it with the kids on a holiday?”

“I can’t stand to see a child get hit! And if I can’t say a word about it, I’ll just leave. He’s all grown up now—thinks he knows everything,” she called back, loud enough for Herman to hear.

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