Chapter 38
CHAPTER 38
“Well, there's no question, Jackson's going to have to leave,” Irene said to me. We stood outside of the ICU. Jackson wasn’t around.
I stared at her in disbelief. “Excuse me?”
She crossed her arms with a resolute air. “What’s the problem?”
I felt stunned at the lack of loyalty towards Jackson. “The problem is that Jackson has been our rock for the past week. He has catered to both of our needs, holding us up emotionally. He drove two hours in the middle of the night to come and get you after Matt’s accident. And now you're going to toss him aside because Matt got a bit emotional?”
She lifted her chin. “My son’s health is in danger. No one is going to jeopardize his recovery. Not even Jackson.”
“Jackson is part of this family. You can’t ask him to leave.”
A stubborn look crossed her face that reminded me all too much of Matt. “Yes I can and I will.”
“You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.”
She looked me right in the eye. “I think you're letting your emotions for Jackson cloud your judgment.”
Low blow, even for Irene. I spoke slowly, trying to choose my words carefully. “You can’t hurt one son because you want to heal your other son.”
Her nostrils flared. “Matt is the only son I have in this hospital. He’s my only priority.”
I felt so much anger and hurt on behalf of Jackson, I couldn’t even speak. “You're wrong on every single level.”
“She’s right,” Jackson’s low voice spoke from beside us. He stood there with a tray of coffees for us. His expression was impossible to read. “I'll go.”
My heart cracked when I looked at Jackson. He had emotionally stepped back so far behind a wall, all that was left behind was a man completely devoid of emotion.
“No,” I said sharply. “This is wrong.”
Jackson handed Irene the tray of coffees, and then he reached forward and kissed her on the forehead. “I want Matt to get better as much as you do. He and I will have to work on our relationship when he’s feeling stronger.”
Irene’s cheeks burned pink. She was unable to meet either of our eyes. “I'm going to check on Matt.”
We stood there until the whoosh of the heavy door shut behind her.
“I hate her,” I said with venom in my voice. “And right now I hate Matt.”
Something flickered in Jackson’s eyes. “Emily. You need to be there for them.”
But who would be there for me? I tried not to beg without avail, “Don’t go. Please don’t go.”
Green eyes looked down at my face. “Can you take care of both of them for me?”
I shook my head, fighting tears. “They don’t deserve your care or your love.”
“No,” he said gently. “It’s the other way around.”
My face crumpled. I felt so much hurt on Jackson's behalf that I almost couldn’t breathe. How much rejection and pain had this man experienced in his life that he believed he didn’t deserve their love. “Where will you go?”
“I'll be around. I have to finish my outpatient treatment.”
“You're going to be staying in New York?” My heart started to beat again.
His gaze fixated on something beyond my head. “I have another seven weeks here.”
I worked to swallow, my thoughts immediately going to my granny’s penthouse. “You need a place to stay. You can stay at my other place.”
His eyes swung back to my face. He rocked on his heels. “Not necessary.”
I started to dig through my purse for my keys frantically. “It is a full-sized penthouse with a pool and the most incredible gym. There are six bedrooms and a kitchen. Fully furnished, a nice big patio. There's even cleaning staff that comes once a week. I'll let them know you're coming. Martha can stock the kitchen. It'll be no problem.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Emily. I don’t need to stay there. I can find my own place.”
I pulled the keys out and my face lifted to his. I wanted him to stay there. Even if I couldn’t be near him, it would bring me a measure of comfort knowing where he was. At least for the next seven weeks.
It was incredibly manipulative, but I pulled the one string that I knew would do the trick. “It'd make me feel safe, and it would bring me comfort to know where you are. In case I need you.”
Green eyes studied my face for a long moment. And then he gave me a curt nod. “Text me the address.”