Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 273

Caden leaned against Hester’s warm embrace, tilting his chin up to look at her with wide, innocent eyes. "What about you, Godmother?"

Hester blinked in surprise, then let out a helpless laugh. "I feel the same way."

"Then can I be with you every day, just like Gigi?"

Hester chuckled. "Gigi doesn't spend every day with me. We just happened to run into each other here. Did you think I secretly brought Gigi out to play without you?"

Caden bit his lip and nodded.

Hester pinched his cheek affectionately. "I’m here for work, and Mr. Kane is here for work, too. Once he’s done, Gigi will go back home with him."

"Are you not going back?"

Hester paused. She didn’t want to go back. But with Julian hovering around, she had no intention of revealing her plans to him.

"My work here isn't going to be finished for a while," she deflected smoothly.

"Oh," Caden murmured. "Then before Daddy and I go back, can I stay with you?"

Hester hesitated, glancing at Fiona. The therapist gave a subtle nod, signaling her to agree.

Hester looked down at the boy and smiled. "Yes, you can."

"Yay!" Caden cheered. He held up his hand, extending his pinky finger. "Pinky swear! You can't lie to a kid."

"Alright." Hester looped her finger around his.

"Pinky swear, sealed for a hundred years!" Caden giggled. His childish voice had finally regained a spark of life.

Fiona stepped forward, giving Hester a meaningful look.

"Mommy said I liked Godmother too much, that I was ungrateful. Then she grabbed my arm... my tummy hurt so bad. When she pulled me, I couldn't help it, I threw up. She let go of me, and I fell off the sofa and hit my head..."

For a five-year-old, Caden was articulate enough to explain exactly what happened when he wasn't completely overwhelmed.

By the time he finished, Hester’s eyes were brimming with tears.

Her heart ached fiercely as she pulled his trembling little body into her arms, soothing him as the traumatic memories wracked his frame.

"It's over, Caden, don't be scared. I promise you, nothing like that will ever happen again."

Fiona pressed her lips into a tight line and sighed. She turned to Julian. "Mr. Weston, we need to speak outside."

Julian gave a curt nod and followed Fiona out of the room.