Page 160 of Waiting For A Girl Like You
“Mike, we agreed I wouldn’t be involved in this part.”
“Things change.” Michael returned to his seat. “Taylor left for Tulsa at dawn. She’s meeting Bryan for brunch.”
“I just spoke with Taylor,” Dr. Gilbert said, adjusting his too-tight bowtie. The man was downright unattractive, in Jamison’s opinion, looking very much like a nervous rodent in his perfectly pressed khakis and pink polo shirt. His nose was too big for his face, and his lips were chapped, which was probably why his tongue continued to dart out to moisten them. “She said her father never showed for their brunch date and isn’t answering his phone, so she’s headed back.”
“Then I guess we need to hurry. Are you prepared?”
Eugene fidgeted, his shiny loafers squeaking as they touched. “I’ll administer the neurosteroids to the men via an intravenous transfusion. That will take me about an hour. The women will continue the bremelanotide injections. I’ll handle those last, since they’ve already been on the regimen for a month.”
Michael nodded once. “And how long until we see the effects?”
“Thirty minutes to an hour.”
Liking the answer, Michael told Dr. Gilbert he could begin. “Oh, but please speak with Jamison and Mr. Cohen here before you leave. I think they have a right to know what you’ve learned.”
Dr. Eugene Gilbert winced, his large rat-like nose scrunching in distaste. “I want to start by saying that I mean you no harm nor harbor any ill will toward you or your family,” he said in a clipped, professional manner. “But I have reviewed your medical records thoroughly, and I’m sorry to say that children are not possible.”
It hit like an ax, severing something deep inside her. Jamison blinked, barely able to form her one word reply. “Okay.”
Eugene Gilbert was a respected fertility doctor. He would know.
He wouldknow.
And there was no reason to lie to her, not now, anyway.
“Okay.” She couldn’t say anything else. There were just too many emotions strangling her. “Okay.”
Dr. Gilbert continued, flustered. “Don’t let other medical professionals give you false hope. It’s a cruel game, and some in my field play it to keep profit margins high. But you’ve been through enough. Live your life. Enjoy what you have.” He turned to flee, hustling for the door as fast as he could. “Good luck.”
“Thank you, Gene.” Michael motioned for him to leave. “By the way, were there two men at the gate when you arrived?”
“No one was at the main gate.” Eugene bowed his head respectfully. “It would appear you are the last of your men here.”
Eugene Gilbert left them then, and Michael unlocked her handcuffs before she knew what was happening. Flying across the room, she stumbled straight over to Liam, collapsing into his lap.
She sobbed openly, her grief cracking through every barrier. “They said maybe,” she whispered. “They said maybe.”
Liam held her like he could shield her from Eugene Gilbert’s words, his own tears falling. “Why her?” he rasped. “Why would Taylor want her if she can’t...”
He was searching for the lie. Not wanting to believe the news could be true. But he wasn’t with her that day in the doctor’s office. He didn’t see their faces as they explained themaybesand thepossibilities. They wanted to give her hope, but even then, the options had been limited.
“Taylor doesn’t know,” Michael said from across the room. “Gene lied to her and said Jamison was fine, but he told me the truth a few days ago when I explained what I needed him to do to make this work. That’s why I took the risk and went for Kris as fast as I could. If Taylor found out Jamison truly can’t have kids, she would have accepted the win of having Damon, Emily, and a pregnant Claudia.”
Liam gritted his teeth. “So why hasn’t she started yet? If you’ve had the three of them this long, what’s she waiting for?”
“Because Taylor loves theatrics. She wants one big, giant extravaganza. Sure, I’m supposed to have Jamison, and Emmett is supposed to have Emily, but she’s going to let every man down there have their chance with them,” Michael said, as casually as if he were describing the weather. “And Damon? There’s going to be a fucking line a mile long. Taylor will get the most time, but the rest will gladly wait as long as they need to for him.”
“Giving Taylor all the Fairweather babies she wants,” Liam concluded grimly with a hiss. “You’re all a bunch of sick fucks.”
Michael had the nerve to laugh. “Don’t lump me into that group.”
Jamison gagged, barely choking down the images Michael’s words were placing in her head. “Why?” she screamed, her sanity no longer intact. “Why would those people do this?”
“Because those people are nothing.” The sound of Michael’s heavy footsteps approached, and he squatted on the floor next to Liam so hecould see her face. “They’re sheep looking for a purpose. Followers who have no mind of their own. They do as they are told and accept things at face value. Look how long I’ve existed with them, barely hiding my contempt, and they accept it. They turned the other way when I weeded out the most fanatical, the problem ones, and those that could create issues once I prepared to finish them off.”
Liam anchored her to his chest as she shoved at Michael, ready to claw his eyes out. “If you wanted just to eradicate them, you could have done it. You didn’t have to drag us into this hell with you!”
Michael dodged her swing easily, dropping to his knees but remaining just out of reach. “I dragged you into this hell because I wanted you to suffer. A part of me wanted all of your family to suffer for abandoning her. You left Cecilia in the care of that monster, and you never once fought for her. None of you! I don’t care what you say. I don’t care how much you claim Simone or Annabeth loved her. When I met Cecilia, she thought she was worthless. And if I was going to take down this entire nightmare your family created, I was going to make it hurt as much as possi—”
