"Jenny, I got you a little something for our first meeting."
Pandora handed her a jade pendant right in front of Edison's grandmother.
Jenny's eyes widened, caught off guard. "Thank you!"
She remembered what Claire had said about Solenia customs. When an elder offers
a welcome gift, you take it — no questions asked. There was no way she could refuse.
Jenny accepted the pendant, practically glowing, then turned to Edison. "Can you help me put it on?"
Edison shot her a look, part exasperation and part amusement. "Let Claire do it." "Why can't you?" Jenny stuck out her lower lip, suddenly stubborn.
He gave in without another word and carefully fastened the pendant around her neck.
Pandora glanced at Vicki next. "Vicki, you seem pretty happy to meet Edison's girlfriend. Shouldn't you go grab your welcome gift too?"
Pandora was basically spelling it out, and Vicki gave herself a playful slap on the thigh. "Oh my goodness, I totally spaced. Let me run and get it."
As soon as Vicki left the room, Claire mumbled, "Finally. Some peace and quiet."
Claire was spending New Year's Eve with Pandora, which put Pandora in an extra good mood.
They set Jenny up to stay in the old house. Edison insisted she shouldn't be staying at his place, not when he lived alone. Pandora seemed to pick up on something but didn't argue.
That night, Jenny showed up with her pillow and tried to crash in Claire's bed, but Claire told her no way.
So, in the living room, Claire, Jenny, Pearce, Patti, and Edison settled in to keep Pandora company for the countdown. Vicki was the first to call it a night — she was older and couldn't stay awake. The rest of them kept Pandora busy with card games.
Claire lasted maybe half an hour before she got kicked out of the game.
"Claire, you're benched. Let Jenny play instead, Pandora said, rubbing her temples. She couldn't believe she'd forgotten Claire was as scary at cards as her mom- the kind of genius only a math competition kid could be.
Jenny was way more manageable, though. Playing against her was easy and fun, no pressure at all.
Feeling left out, Claire wandered into the kitchen to put together a fruit platter for everyone.
As midnight approached, the sound of the New Year's countdown blared from the TV. Right then, Claire's phone rang. Abbott, the hospital's vice president, was calling.
"Happy New Year, Abbott," Claire
said, not sure why he'd be calling at that hour. She always waited until New Year's Day for holiday calls Everyone was too busy on New Year's Eve.
"Claire, where are you right now? Are you free?" Abbott sounded stressed, voice tight with urgency.
"I'm at The James Village, staying up with my grandmother." Claire stepped outside so she could hear better. All around, village kids were setting off fireworks.
"Why'd you go out to The James Village? Didn't you have a place in Apex?"
"Look, I need you to grab your gear — especially your gold needles. We've got a critical patient here, and we need you in surgery."
"What happened? What's the situation?"
"Massive trauma. We can't stop the bleeding."
"Okay, I'll get ready. But it's going to take me at least two or three hours
to get back to Apex." She did the math
even driving as fast as 's
she
dared, it would be at least two and a
half hours.
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"Here's the plan. Start driving. We've prepped a helicopter, and it'll be much easier
to pick you up on the highway than in your village."
The second Abbott mentioned a helicopter, Claire realized whoever needed her help must be someone very important.