Page 18 of Dr. Brandt

“Stop fucking around, Warren, and get back here, I nearly shouted. “This is embarrassing.” I ran my sweaty palm over my forehead and glanced around at the people bustling around the airport. “Warren.”

Silence.

“Warren.” I raised my voice even louder. “Warren!”

I glanced down to see the home screen on my phone. My fiancé had hung up on my ass. I should’ve expected this. It’s what Warren did when things didn’t go his way on a phone call.

Instead of allowing tears of frustration to surface, I remained steady in my cause to find my son. I didn’t care if Warren was doing what he thought was best for Jackson; that wasn’t his call to make, and I was furious.

“Call Jacks,” I ordered my phone, my eyes staring at the security checkpoint.

“Mom?” Jackson answered. “Please tell me you’re checking in. Warren is pissed and being an asshole.”

“Yeah, he just hung up on me,” I returned. “I need you to tell Warren that you’re staying here with me. Dr. Brandt is going to check you out, most likely treat you, and find some answers.”

“Mom,” Jackson said, trying to bring in some reasonable authority, “I know you’re trying to do what is best, but if Dr. Tsang can’t even get me in, what makes you think the more famous doctor will?”

“Because he’s an old friend from college, son,” I said, bringing in my parental authority. “Get out here and meet him. We'll take the next flight out if you don’t like what you see or how you feel about him. Warren can kiss my ass for acting like this and making you believe this is all fucking bullshit.”

“Good God, Mom,” Jackson said.

“Sorry for the language, but I’m at my limit. Dr. Brandt is going out of his way to help us, and Warren is acting like the doctor is beneath him. I’m over it. Get out here. I want you to meet him and make the call on whether you want him to treat you.”

“Hey, Warren, I’m heading back to Mom. She said we’ll be on the next flight if I’m not into this Brandt guy,” Jackson said.

I heard Warren mumble something to Jackson. Warren was still boarding the plane—even after I’d accomplished what we came here to do—and he couldn’t be bothered to tell me himself. It was apparent that his goal for this trip was to prove me wrong and make me look foolish, and he was furious that I managed to do what I’d set out to do.

Why am I marrying this asshole again? I thought, feeling the heat rushing to my cheeks.

“Hey, Mom!” Jackson hollered. Bless that boy and his Spidey senses for picking me out of the crowd.

“Right here,” I waved and hugged him tightly when he came close.

“Well, take me to this doctor you’re willing to risk your fiancé for.” He raised an eyebrow, looking at me like Cam had earlier.

I pushed away the instant fear that, for the first time, I was about to introduce my son to his biological father and Cameron to his son. I could only imagine what would happen if the truth of Jackson’s paternity came out. Were the unknown consequences of that a risk I was willing to take? Absolutely. I’d do anything to ensure my son had his life back. Why else did I come all this way?

Chapter Nine

Jessa

Searching for Cameron, I rushed out of the airport, probably looking like I was fleeing the Feds.

“Where the hell is he?” I asked, staring at what seemed like hundreds of cars flooding into the loading zone at the airport.

“Hopefully, you got the good doctor’s number, so you can just call him,” Jackson said with a sympathetic grin. “Mom,” his stark blue eyes leveled me, “take a breath and relax. I’m here, and you’re here; that’s all that matters.”

I briskly ran my hand over his arm and exhaled. “Got it, Champ,” I said. “Me and you.”

He nodded assuredly, making me focus on the simplest of all solutions to my predicament: using my phone to call Cameron instead of looking around like a frantic idiot.

“Yes, darling,” Cam teased.

“We’re out front. Where are you?” I was too frazzled to bring myself to fully appreciate his light-heartedness.

“Parking garage,” Cameron answered. “On my way to the terminal now.”

“Okay. We’re right where I got out,” I answered.

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