screams fake and I want nothing to do with it.
I open my mouth to speak when Jackson interrupts me. “Absolutely fucking not.”
Her smile gets wiped off her face as she scowls at him. “Why is that? And who are you to decide whether or not I get to see my grand baby?”
“I’m the father and I get to decide who I let my son around. And let me tell you something, the last person I’m going to let him around is your poisonous ass.” The looks in his eyes is alarming, but the hate in his voice is something else. The death that curls around each word makes chills crack like thunder along my arms, creating goosebumps and making me let out a small shiver.
“You’re the father?” She laughs, and that’s where I draw the line.
“Get out of here, Mom. Don’t come back.”
She turns her gaze towards me and her mood flips to sadness. It’s an immediately tell that this is fake. Her entire attitude and happiness about seeing Wesley is fake. She’s putting on a show. And she’s failing.
“You know what, Cara? I can’t deal with Jed anymore. He’s such an asshole sometimes, and I really want to come back home. He’s always bitching about this or that, and I’ve just about had enough of him. Please let me come home, baby. I just want to come home.”
I shake my head. “Sorry, you can’t.”
Anger lights her up as she points a finger at me. “You don’t get to choose. I’m the mother, and if I’m ready to come home, I’m coming home.”
“We’ll see about that.” Jackson mutters from behind me.
“Come on, let’s go.” I turn around, deciding to leave before this gets any worse. She’s done every emotion she can do, and all she has left is anger. It’s only going to get worse and worse, and there’s no way in hell I’m sticking around for it.
“You can expect me home by next week!” She shouts at me, turning around as she lights up a cigarette and walks off.
Jackson watches her as he grabs his phone.
“What’re you doing? We have to go or we’ll be late.” I unlock the doors and go to open the bed of the truck.
“I’m texting Easton. No way am I leaving Wesley and Rose home alone with your mom lurking around.”
Panic seizes in my chest and I nod. “Okay. Good idea.”
Fuck.
The last thing I need is my mom to be coming around again. This might be her home, but there’s no way in hell I’m living with her again. And I’m certainly not bringing Wesley around her. Not now. Not ever.
Fuck.
"Good news." Dr. Peterson says as he walks in with a smile on his face.
As usual, we followed up at the doctor after Jackson's physical therapy appointment. Physical therapy was much of the same. Jackson's upper body strength is continuously strengthening, whereas his bottom half is showing no improvements. Jackson is getting irritated more and more each appointment we go to. They want to keep trying. Keep trying, keep going. They constantly insist this, but when Jackson leaves sweaty, irritated, and defeated, I'm the one that has to deal with his anger.
Once we come to the doctor's office, Dr. Peterson checks Jackson over and every so often runs a few tests. Today was one of those days, which always means our appointment is longer than usual. We've been sitting in here since Jackson got back from his tests about thirty minutes ago, waiting in silence.
Dr. Peterson sits down at the computer and signs in. Turning the monitor, he shows us what looks like a kid coloring picture to me, with the erratic lines going up and down across the page.
"What is it?" I ask, trying to decipher the medical report in front of me.
Dr. Peterson looks at us, his white glasses balanced at the end of his nose as he looks at us over the top of them. His white doctor's coat has a pin on the pocket that says #1 Dad! that I stare at instead of his gaze. I'm too nervous. My stomach flips in anticipation.
Just get on with it.
"Jackson, I have to tell you, buddy, it looks like all the work you've been doing might be paying off." He says as he adjusts the front of his jacket.
"Why do you say that?" He asks, his eyes bouncing from the screen back to Dr. Peterson.
"This right here," He points to a line that shoots up, "your nerves are finally responding. Did you