PART 2
Julian opened his mouth, but Dr. Vance raised a hand before he could speak.
“I need everyone to stop,” he said. “The baby’s condition comes first, and the child who witnessed this is not going to be argued with in my treatment room.”
The nurse guided Lily to my side while another staff member started prepping the room. Toby’s weak whimper scraped against every instinct in my body. I held him close enough to feel each shallow breath while Dr. Vance asked Julian one question.
“Were you present when a nighttime medication was put into your infant son’s syringe?”
Julian stared at the sealed prescription bottle. Then looked at his mother.
Evelyn answered for him. “We were helping. His wife was exhausted and making everyone miserable.”
“I didn’t ask you,” Dr. Vance said.
Lily pressed the teddy bear against my arm. Julian’s face tightened like he was hunting for an answer that would make him look less responsible.
“I was there,” he finally said. “But my mother told me she knew what she was doing.”
Evelyn turned sharply on him. “Don’t put this on me!”
That was the first time either of them had admitted any part of it.
I looked at Julian and realized he wasn’t scared because our baby had been given the wrong medicine. He was scared because someone outside our family had heard the truth.
“Why?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why would you let her do that?”
He rubbed both hands over his face. When he lowered them, he still wouldn’t look at our son.
“Because she said it would make him sleep long enough for you to finally calm down.”
