The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 300

Chapter 263: The Discharge-2

Claim

I pulled into the driveway of our house. The winter afternoon light cast long, warm shadows across the gravel. I killed the engine, and the silence inside the car was thick and heavy.

“We’re here,” I said softly, turning around in my seat.

Bella looked up at me, a small, genuine smile breaking across her tired face. “We actually made it home.”

I got out, opened her door, and carefully unclicked the heavy infant car seat from its base. Holding it by the handle, I walked up the porch steps with Bella right by my side.

As I unlocked the front door, it suddenly flew open. Tom was standing right there in the hallway, his face bright with excitement. Behind him, Nadia, our house help, stood holding baby Grace on her hip.

“They’re here, Tom! I told you they just pulled up,” Nadia said with a warm smile, looking over at us. She glanced down at me as we stepped inside. “He’s been glued to that front window since breakfast, Caleb. I had to keep checking the clock with him every ten minutes so he wouldn’t lose his mind waiting for your

car.”

Above Tom’s head, taped securely to the doorframe, was a large, messy paper banner.

Bella smiled, stepping past me. “It’s beautiful, Tom.”

I looked up at the sign. It said WELCOME HOME VICTOR in big letters, but the letters decreased in size as he ran out of space on the paper. The ‘R’ at the very end was approximately one centimeter tall, squeezed tightly against the edge.

“Nadia held the chair steady so I could tape it up,” Tom explained, walking eagerly beside us as we carried the car seat into the living room. “I ran out of room for the letters, but I wanted to make sure his whole name was there.”

“You did a wonderful job, buddy,” I said.

Nadia stepped forward, lowering Grace slightly so she could get a glimpse of the seat. “Welcome home, little one,” Nadia whispered gently to the baby. “We have the nursery warmed up and everything ready for you guys.”

I put the seat down and gently unbuckled our tiny, screaming son. We got Victor settled into the bassinet in the center of the room. Nadia quietly carried Grace into the kitchen to give us some quiet space.

Tom stood back respectfully, waiting until the crying finally stopped, and then he walked over to the bassinet very slowly. He looked down at the tiny baby with a very serious face, like he had a big plan.

“Hey, Victor,” Tom whispered, leaning his head over the edge. “I’m your big brother, Tom. You are really small, but don’t worry. I am going to show you all my toys later, and I will protect you from the big dogs outside.”

Bella made a sound that was half-laugh and half-cry, quickly turning toward the window to wipe her eyes.

I stepped up behind her, putting my hand on the back of her neck very lightly. She leaned into my touch, just slightly, letting her warmth seep into my palm.

Chapter 763 The Discharge 2

Clam

The next morning. I walked into the quiet kitchen to brew coffee. On the counter, resting against the sugar bowl, was a folded piece of paper in Tom’s messy handwriting.

I opened it and read:

Dear Victor, welcome to our house. We have the best toys and I will help you grow big and strong like me. Love, Tom.

I stood there in the quiet kitchen, staring at the page for a long time, a soft smile finally hitting my face. I pulled out my phone, took a clear photo of it, and sent it to Sebastien and to Diana. Then I used a magnet to stick the card right onto the center of the fridge.

Bella came downstairs a few minutes later, her hair tied back. She walked straight to the fridge, stopped, and read the note. She stood entirely still for a few seconds, looking at the bright crayon drawings Tom had added around the edges.

“He is six years old,” Bella said, her voice soft as she looked at the paper.

“I know,” I said gently.

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