Page 66 of The Sweetest Surrender

“We don’t need a counselor. Margaret just needs to come to her senses,” Walter stressed.

“Again, this is about Selena. Whether you’re willing to go through counseling for the benefit of saving your marriage or not, you will go for the benefit of Selena’s stability.”

Walter opened his mouth to disregard Jordan when Jordan leveled him with a deadly glare.

“You seem to be having a difficult time understanding, so let me make it plain and clear, Mr. Strauss.” Jordan kept his gazed pinned on Walter. “Dr. Shelia Bradford comes highly recommended.”

“From who?” Walter asked.

“From me,” Jordan responded. “She was my family counselor when my mother’s life was abruptly taken from us so many years ago. Trust me when I tell you Dr. Shelia Bradford is what you need right now.” Jordan glowered at Walter. “Dr. Bradford will help you try to fix what’s broken, AND, if it can’t be fixed, she will help you two pull Selena into a safe environment where you can give her a clear understanding of what is going on and why.”

“What do you mean by safe environment?” Walter opposed.

Jordan’s glower intensified. “The last time I saw you, you were seconds away from striking your daughter, do you remember that?”

“Walter!” Margaret gasped.

“I wasn’t going to hit her, maybe shake her up a little, but…” Walter sighed. “She slapped me silly. It was just a sudden reaction.”

“Poor you,” Jordan said, laying the sarcasm on thick.

Margaret pushed out a resigned sigh. “I didn’t expect for her to take it this hard.”

“Why?” Dr. Bradford inquired.

“You know.” Margaret tossed her arms up. “She’s not young. The reality of people separating is not something her mind can’t understand. Happens to people every day.”

“On the contrary,” Dr. Bradford said. “Adult children are still your children. Finding out their parents are divorcing can cause trauma to stir within them. Your marriage is their life example. You’ve molded ideas about marriage, relationships, and family throughout years. Questions and doubts about their childhood could come into question. It can be just as tough for her as an adult as it is if she was an adolescent and, in many ways, a divorce can feel like a death.”

Margaret and Walter stared at each other.

“We should have this conversation in my office. After we’ve had a few sessions, I think it’s a good idea to bring your daughter in.”

Walter could see the doubt in Margaret’s eyes.

“We have to do it. If not for us, for Selena,” Walter said.

Margaret exhaled and nodded.

“When should we get started?” Dr. Bradford asked.

“If you’d like, Doctor, you can have a seat and we can make this our first session,” Walter said.

“That’s a great idea,” Dr. Bradford said. She glanced at Jordan and held her hand out for a shake.

“Thank you, Mr. Rose.”

“I’m still Jordan to you, Doctor.”

Dr. Bradford nodded in agreement then took her seat, and Jordan took his leave. Outside, Madison Santari was waiting, leaning against his Porsche with a prim smile on her face. Paparazzi didn’t miss a thing when it came to Chicago’s elite, and this time was no different. They stepped out of the shadows and snapped pictures as Jordan strolled up to Madison.

“Why do I get the strange feeling you’re following me?”

Madison’s smile expanded.“You need a date for the luncheon this Saturday right, and I need a ride home.”

Jordan shook his head with a mild grin. “Because you just happened to be stranded out here, right?”

“Exactly.”

Jordan chuckled and opened the passenger door. “If I were you, I’d make sure to have a way home next time. I’d hate to see you take a taxi.”

Madison’s nose crinkled, and Jordan shut the door with a whistle on his tongue as he strolled to the driver’s side.

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