Page 26 of Dr. Brandt

“How can you be so naïve?”

“If you think I wouldn’t walk over hot coals to get my son help, then I don’t know what to tell you.” I knew what he was insinuating, and I couldn’t have felt more disgusted. He was insulting both Cameron and me, all because he was feeling insecure. I didn’t know where this breakdown in our communication had started, but I was positive I’d never felt farther away from him. If he was trying to get me to see things his way or be sympathetic to him, he couldn’t have gone in a worse direction.

“Anything else?” I questioned, tears pooling in my eyes again.

“You know where I stand. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if things don’t work out for Jacks.”

“Warn me? What the hell does that mean, Warren?”

“You know what? It doesn’t matter. You’ll do whatever you want, regardless of my opinion or feelings, so this is on you.”

“What are you warning me about?” I questioned again.

“The guy probably wants to get laid, Jessica,” Warren sighed. “I saw what he looked like, and he looks the type who would take that as payment from a gullible woman like yourself.”

“You’re such an unbelievable asshole,” I stated bluntly.

“Well, someone needs to keep your head out of the clouds. Jess, professionals like him don’t just take patients and do friends a favor. Can’t you see that? For Christ’s sake, the man’s a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon, and you’re treating him like he’s a hook-up for discount movie tickets. He’s doing this all for a piece of ass; trust me on that.”

“You know what?” I finally spoke up, stopping Warren mid-lecture. “I know you’re pissed, but this isn’t fair to Jackson.”

“Oh, so what’s fair, then? His mom hooks up with his dad, whom he doesn’t even know about yet, and then insists that this man will perform magic on him, fix him, and all will be well in his life again? It doesn’t work that way, Jessica, and you know that.”

“What I know is that not trying doesn’t work for me. You, of all people, should know that when it comes to Jackson having a chance at the life he deserves, I’m willing to throw it all on the table.”

“Even our relationship?”

“You’re the one doing things to threaten that, not me.”

“If you’re the woman I want as my wife, you’ll respect that I have a problem with this. I know you think I’m being an asshole but put yourself in my shoes. Imagine how it feels, knowing that my beautiful fiancée is with her ex-lover and their son, and I’m not there to protect you both from this man should he have other motives.”

“We don’t need your protection. I’m not a damsel in goddamn distress, and I have never been. What I am is a competent woman, listening to the insecure ramblings of a man who is being extremely selfish.” I contained my emotions as best I could, so I didn’t end up screaming at him the way I wanted to. “Furthermore, I think I’m smart enough to know if a guy is doing me favors for a piece of ass. This conversation is ridiculous, and I’m not having it anymore. If you want to support Jackson and me, as you used to be keen on doing, then get out here and do it.”

“Yeah, well, I’m working. Someone has to pay the bills, right?”

With that last dig, Warren hung up on me. I was so sick of his shit, and I knew I didn’t deserve it. I deserved better. Fuck him.

There was a lot at stake here emotionally, and now, my future marriage was in jeopardy. I couldn’t get swallowed up in those thoughts, though. I needed to be focused and clear-minded and set up Jackson’s appointment with Cameron and see all this through until the very end. My relationship drama would have to wait.

Chapter Thirteen

Cam

In the week since Jessa had come into my office, I’d been faced with the need to process more emotions than I could count. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the mental capacity to deal with all of them, so I stuck with the one thing I could process. I had a patient whose scans I was going over for the fourth time, and he needed my skill.

Of course, this patient happened to be my biological son, and every time I’d seen him since our first meeting, I saw myself. It was bizarre to stare at a sixteen-year-old version of myself; it was also a curse.

“Dr. Brandt, Jackson Stein is here with his mother,” my receptionist alerted.

“Yes, thank you,” I said, rising to my feet. “Let’s hope this goes smoothly.”

“Good luck, Doc,” she said with a curious smile.

She had no idea how much luck I would need. After learning the boy was mine and reading up on his condition, I walked a fine line by meeting with Jessica and Jackson without my surgical consultation team. I hoped this was a smart idea, taking more of an intimate approach than a professional one.

Jackson’s only shot at halting these seizures was through surgery. It would also mean a lifestyle change and could be the most challenging mountain he’d ever climb in the fight to get his life back.

“Shit,” I mumbled, my hand gently covering the door handle to the consultation room where Jessa and Jackson waited.

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