Chapter 12
“No, what would be weird is if you didn’t help her. You two are mother and daughter, after all p>
Octavia looked even more hurt as she turned to Claire. “Claire, I know I’m not your real mom, but I’ve always treated you like my own p>
“I raised you for eighteen years. Doesn’t that mean anything to you p>
“Are you upset because Lance brought you home so late last night p>
“He was just worried you’d want to visit your grandma p>
“After all, Pandora is your only family now p>
“If you want to come back and live with us, your dad, Lance, Cindy, and I would all be so happy p>
“It’s just… your grandma would be all alone out here, and that would be really lonely for her p>
Anyone could tell what she was getting at. Any kid who knew what was good for them wouldn’t dare say they wanted to go back to the James family.
“There’s no need. I’ll stay in the countryside with my grandma,” Claire said.
Pandora spoke up too. “We can take care of our own, Octavia. You don’t need to worry p>
Lance ignored Pandora and looked straight at Claire. “Don’t twist Cindy’s good intentions. She just didn’t want you to waste time. She had no idea you’d learned medicine from your grandma p>
Claire didn’t even bother to answer him.
“So, can you move? The food’s getting cold,” she said, staring at the James siblings still blocking her way.
“Claire, I really wasn’t trying to misunderstand you Cindy reached out, trying to catch Claire’s sleeve.
Claire stepped aside, avoiding her touch.
“I get it. Let’s just eat p>
Cindy still looked upset, glancing at Octavia and Lance for support.
Octavia tried to comfort her. worry about. That’s just how
TS.
yon’t take it personally.
“Yeah, Cindy. You were just worried about Jim,” Lance added, ever the good brother.
Cindy felt a little better and turned to Jim. “Jim, how are you feeling now p>
Jim dodged when Cindy tried to pat his head. “Thank you, Cindy. I’m all better p>
Suddenly Cindy felt like she didn’t belong in the village anymore. Even Jim had taken Claire’s side.
Her grandma had never really cared for her, but she was so much warmer to Claire. Now that the danger had passed, everyone went back to eating.
During the meal, talk turned to the new young matriarch. No one had expected her to be this capable. Jim had almost suffocated, but she’d saved him. They’d seen kids choke to death before, which made what Claire did even more impressive.
The village doctor took the chance to come over with a drink, hoping to ask Claire about the rescue technique.
He’d lived here his whole life, but
xet
he’d never learned this kind of first looked simple but it worked
aid
so well.
“It’s called the Heimlich maneuver,” Claire explained. “A doctor named Heimlich invented it p>
“After we eat, I can teach everyone how to do it p>
“That way, if anyone ever chokes again, you’ll all know what to do p>
The doctor’s eyes lit up at her offer.
The elders at the table couldn’t stop praising her.
But then, one of them suddenly slumped forward and started crying.
Claire didn’t understand, so she looked at Pandora.
Pandora whispered, “My uncle’s first grandson choked to death on an egg yolk p>
Back then, they didn’t have any way to help him. There was nothing they could do except watch him slip away.