Page 52 of Dr. Brandt

“It’s so beautiful here,” Jessa said as I kept on Highway One toward Carmel-by-the-Sea. “The cypress trees are incredible.”

“If you look down at the shit-stained rocks,” I said, pointing to where the gray ocean surrounded numerous rocks covered in sea lion, seal, and seagull shit, “those black mounds are sea lions and seals.”

Jackson laughed while Jessa rolled her eyes, “Shit-stained rocks? You should be a tour guide up here,” Jackson said with another laugh. “Oh, shit. I see one, maybe two!”

“Shit-stained rocks or sea lions?” Jessa asked Jackson before looking at me. “Thanks for that, by the way.”

“No problem,” I smiled. “The seals are super cute.” I pointed toward another shit-crusted rock, “Check it out. There’s about fifteen over there.”

“Not for spotting the marine life,” she arched a reproachful eyebrow at me, “for—”

“I don’t think I—wait. I see them! They’re on the closer shit-stained rocks,” Jackson added with a laugh.

“For that. Thanks for that,” Jessa said.

“For what, calling the rocks what they are? Shitty rocks?”

“Cameron,” she exhaled, lowering her voice, “I do my best to refrain from cursing around my sixteen-year-old son, so could you please respect that too?”

I eyed her and sighed. “You’ve done an amazing job raising him,” I said. “However, he’s going to curse either way. So, you need to pick and choose which ones you will allow.”

“Exactly, Mom,” Jackson said, joining my team.

“No, not exactly, Jacks,” she said. “The second I let you, you’ll be dropping f-bombs on every other person you see. Besides, it’s extremely unprofessional for Dr. Brandt to cuss in front of children.”

I smiled at Jackson through the rearview mirror as he rolled his eyes and put his earbuds in, pointedly ignoring the tirade his mother was about to launch into about our usage of foul language.

“Seriously, Captain America, you should relax a little bit,” I teased Jessa, only to have the power of the mother hen stare my ass down and pin me to my seat.

“I think it’s best if you focus on your job as a surgeon who wants to help me and my son, and I’ll focus on being Jackson’s mother.”

“Why don’t we meet in the middle?” I pressed, not knowing what hole I was digging myself into.

“Why don’t we not?”

“You have done a fine job raising him; I will say that,” I informed her, taking the safer ground.

I’d have to be a fool to sit here and act like I could win an argument with a single mother. God built these women to be mentally stronger than anyone on this planet, and I would lose this battle should I foolishly choose to fight it.

“Thank you. I’d like to keep raising him right if you don’t mind?”

“I get it. Subject change,” I conceded, smiling at her softened expression. The Jessa I knew wasn’t quick to jump on anyone’s case, so it was easy to deduce that the strain she was under made her testy. “I think we’re going whale watching tomorrow morning. Someone mentioned something about whales in the bay or some shit?”

“Oh, for the love of God, Cam,” she said, nailing me for saying the word shit, I’m sure.

“What?” I announced, “he’s got his earbuds in. Jesus, Jess.”

She rolled her eyes, and I couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she was. It was highly attractive, but I felt bad for pushing her when she was already at her limit.

“Okay, allow me to censor your mouth like this,” she said in a calm yet borderline lethal tone. “Would you talk like this around your patients?”

“Fuck no.” I didn’t want Jessa to think I was some dumbfuck who would be so unprofessional around his patients. I covered my mouth, feeling like an asshole, and glanced in the mirror to ensure Jackson had his earbuds in. “Sorry,” I said with a guilty smile.

“My point exactly. Treat him like he’s a regular patient, and we’ll be fine. You must understand that, especially at his age, kids will constantly push the limits, and that last thing I need is some kid who cusses like a sailor.”

“True,” I pursed my lips. “I’ve seen some disrespectful kids come through my hospital, and it’s quite shocking when they cuss their parents out. Not to mention disrespectful.”

“Ah, look at you. The pediatric neurosurgeon, learning something new every day.”

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