Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
He’d never planned on having either.
And now he had both, it seemed.
“We don’t know,” Grady told him quietly. “The accident wasn’t a big one. Some woman backed into us. It was jarring, but not a huge impact. However, Effie said she couldn’t feel her legs. She’s back there now, getting some tests.”
Something strange filled Brooks’ face. But before Steele could try to figure out what he was thinking, a doctor walked into the waiting room.
“Are you the family of Effie Stephenson?”
Brooks jumped to his feet. “I’m her nephew.”
The doctor eyed him, then looked past him to him and Grady. Probably wanting to speak to someone older. Fuck, he had a feeling this wasn’t going to be good. “Are the two of you family?”
“They are,” Brooks said, likely seeing the same thing Steele had. That this doctor didn’t want to tell Brooks what was going on.
“I’m her fiancée,” Steele said smoothly. “Grady is her boss.”
Brooks shot him a look, but his expression didn’t change. The kid was good.
“All right,” the doctor said, turning to Steele. “Maybe we could speak alone.”
Brooks scowled.
“Just give it to us, doc,” Steele said gruffly.
“Steele,” Grady warned.
“Brooks can handle hearing this,” Steele said to Grady.
“I can,” Brooks added determinedly.
“All right. We have run several tests and taken Ms. Stephenson for an MRI, as well as X-rays, and an ultrasound, and we cannot find any physical reason for her paralysis.”
Huh?
He looked to Grady, who appeared just as confused, then over to Brooks, who had sucked in a breath. The kid still looked like he was going to pass out, so Steele moved closer.
Maybe he should have spoken to the doctor on his own.
“Then you must have missed something,” Grady said. “She was hitting her legs. She couldn’t feel them.”
“We’re very certain that there is no physical injury.”
“You’re saying she’s faking it?” Brooks asked.
The doctor frowned. “No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. Ms. Stephenson told us she was in a car accident six years ago where she injured her back.”
“Yeah, with my dad,” Brooks said. “He died a few days later from a brain bleed. And Effie, she . . . she injured her back really badly.”
Fuck. Steele put his hand on Brooks’ shoulder. To his shock, he didn’t shake him off. So maybe he did need some reassurance.
“Do you think that has something to do with what’s going on?” Grady asked. “Could she have re-injured her back and it’s causing some sort of temporary paralysis?”
“I went over her old notes,” the doctor said. “Back then, she had some numbness in her legs. I think that the accident today has triggered something in her brain. It’s brought up old memories and stressors. This is something her brain is doing to her. She’s not faking it. She truly cannot feel her legs.”
“Fuck,” Steele muttered.
“What I believe is that she needs a bit of time. Has she been stressed lately? Working a lot?”
“Not as much lately,” Brooks said. “But a few months ago when she lost her job, yeah. Things were tight. We didn’t have a lot of money for . . . for anything, but she never let me go without. I wanted to quit school to help, but she wouldn’t let me do that. She jokes that I’m her ticket to the good times because I’m smart and I have to take care of her in her old age. But I know her . . . even when she’s old she’ll be taking care of me because that’s just who Effie is.”
The doctor’s gaze softened at this. Then, a slightly worried look entered his face. “Does she have health insurance?”
“Yes, she has health insurance,” Grady said coldly.
“Because she’s in a private room—”
“Say one thing about money and this conversation is going to go very differently,” Steele interjected.
“Ahh, right.” The doctor swallowed nervously. “I think what she needs is some rest. Keep her stress to a minimum. Make sure she’s eating well. Do you know whether she spoke to anyone professionally after her last accident?”
“I don’t think so,” Brooks said quietly. “She was too busy taking care of me.”
“Not your fault, kid,” Steele told Brooks gruffly.
The doctor nodded, looking slightly uncomfortable. “I’ll let you go see her now if you like, but I would warn you not to add to her stress.”
“Wait, have you told her that her paralysis isn’t a physical thing?” Grady asked.
“Yes, I sat down and explained things, but I’m not sure she completely understands.”
Shit. That wasn’t good.
“You shouldn’t have told her without us there,” Grady snarled at the doctor, surprising Steele. And Brooks, who jumped.
“She has a right to know what is going on with her own body,” the doctor replied huffily.
“Yes, and if her mental state is delicate, she needs people by her side who care about her. If we get in there and she is in any way upset, you can expect to hear from our lawyers.”