Too Young (The Jewel Project #1)

Chapter 23 - Intermission

"We'll get to that in a minute." Herrison waved her away.

Maxi looked toward the door, waiting for Freider to get his butt in there and join the conversation that would follow. He finally showed up, his face screwed up in confusion, joined by a tall, thin woman with brown hair, wearing a tailored brown pant suit.

"Doctor Brown?" Maxi asked, surprised to see her children's neonatologist. This was getting freaky. Why were all these people in her house? At the same time. "What's going on here?" This could only mean bad news. The worst kind.

"This is so not how I pictured this conversation," Herrison mumbled and dropped clumsily into an armchair. "This is going to take a while."

"Is this about our children?" Maxi insisted.

Doctor Brown nodded and Herrison heaved a deep sigh and answered, "Yes, it's going to be a long talk. You should go make yourself some tea."

Maxi swelled with indignation. "You people come barging into my house, know something about my kids you're not telling me and you want me to go make tea?"

Freider put his hands on her shoulders. "Honey, calm down."

"Take your hands off me, Freider! I want answers and I want them now!" she positively shrieked. This was not proper conduct for a lady, but she didn't care. The worry was driving her insane.

"Maxi, I'm not ordering you around," Herrison's voice was soothing, as though he were talking to a child. "But I think you should sit down. We have a lot to talk about and I don't have that much time."

"Don't patronize me, Herrison James," Maxi said between her teeth.

Herrison cowered. Maxi threw him one more murderous glance then sat down on one of the couches. Freider sat next to her, his lips pursed and his brow furrowed.

"Well then," Herrison stretched his legs, using his hands to position them properly. "I think doctor Brown should go first."

Maxi frowned. Herrison acted as if he already knew what the doctor wanted to say, but she was too curious about it to pick a fight with him now.

The woman cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I come with worrying news."

Why was Maxi not surprised? Except, the doctor hadn't seen her children in years. Would could be so worrying now? "Go on."

"Tyler Mason has unfortunately passed away. Which leaves your son the only survivor of our drug trial."

Complete and utter silence filled the room.

"Who exactly is Tyler Manson?" Maxi asked. She caught Freider flinching next to her and as she turned to him, the paleness of his face shocked her. "Freider, what's going on? What son? What drug trial?"

Doctor Brown stared at her, confused. "Your son, Kyle, received an experimental treatment at birth, to keep him alive. Your husband signed the consent form."

Maxi jumped off the couch, her pulse thundering in her temple. "How could you approve something like that without consulting me first?"

"You should have told me. She just said he's the last survivor. Which means everyone else is dead!"

"Kyle's completely normal." Freider huffed and folded his arms across his chest.

"Is he?" Doctor Brown seemed intrigued. "This is most odd. You see, this medicine, given to infants, produces a mutation. We haven't understood its effects fully yet, but we believe it could lead to unusual physical capabilities and, unfortunately, permanent psychological trauma." She bit her lip. "The other children we've used this drug on did not cope well with it."