Chapter 172
Both sisters took their father’s illness seriously, so when the hospital asked for signatures, they had no problem agreeing. With both signatures in place, the hospital had nothing to object to, and it was actually much better for Barry and his team.
Claire was in charge of acupuncture and making the herbal ointment. The ointment had to be mixed in the hospital lab. They were worried someone might slip something into it, and if anything went wrong, who would take the blame? Claire didn’t mind. She was happy to go along with their rules. The lab gave her a private room to work with her herbs.
Barry finally found out who Claire’s teacher was, not because he asked her, but because he ran into the vice president of the hospital while running errands. Once Barry learned that Claire’s mentor was Dr. Hale, he did some digging. The Carter family had practiced medicine for generations, and their ancestors had even been royal physicians. That legacy lasted all the way until Dr. Hale’s generation, when the family tradition finally ended.
Dr. Hale passed all his knowledge to Claire, his youngest student. Barry admired the old doctor, who had suffered a lot during tough historical times, and he couldn’t help but treat Claire with extra kindness—like a favorite grandchild.
Claire hadn’t realized having a respected teacher and a real medical lineage made people trust her a lot more than if she’d learned everything on her own.
She worked in the lab until three in the afternoon and then decided to leave early. She found Barry to let him know. “Barry, I’ve got something to do tonight. I need to head out of town and pick someone up, so I’m heading off now, okay p>
She drove Edison’s car, the one that was usually parked at home. Barry just waved her off. “Go on, get going p>
He really couldn’t stop Claire if she wanted to leave. As long as she finished her work on time, he had nothing to complain about. Claire was always on top of her tasks anyway.
She planned to make the trip alone, but just as she was about to start the car, her phone rang. It was Lance. The timing couldn’t have been worse-she groaned to herself.
“Where are you?” Lance sounded irritated.
“I’m about to head out and pick up Grandma,” Claire answered honestly.
“No, I mean where are you right now? We’ll come get you, then we’ll go pick up Grandma together p>
“You don’t even know how to drive. How are you getting there, taking a taxi?” Lance’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
Claire was already annoyed and wanted to snap back. “What do you care how I get there? Maybe I’ll just fly a plane.” She rolled her eyes, frustrated.
She’d had her license for years, but the James family always acted like she couldn’t drive. Even with the license, they thought it was just for show. Claire didn’t bother arguing
“Stop being stubborn. Give me your address, we’ll come get you.” Lance’s tone softened a little.
Claire still wouldn’t give in. “I’ll drive myself p>
“Fine, if you don’t want to go, Cindy and I will go p>
Hearing that, Claire almost laughed. Cindy would never talk back like this, but Claire wasn’t like her. She was fiercely independent, especially since leaving the James family. She felt like a wild horse finally ruinin free.
running
“Okay, you two go ahead,” she replied, even though she was already pulling out of
the driveway and heading for the countryside.
Claire didn’t care for Lance and
care
Cindy, but she really liked Pandora.
Pandora was a wise woman, and
she seemed so much happier living
in the country if she’d
stayed with
the James family, it probably would
have worn her down.
Claire and the siblings arrived at almost the same time. Lance and Cindy managed
to get there just a little ahead of her.
“Grandma, we’re here to pick you up!” Lance called out from across the yard.