Chapter 7

Nathan wondered why his mother was suddenly asking about Diane.

Diane had undergone surgery, but the results hadn’t been good. For now, all they could do was manage her condition and let her recover at home. The hospital still hadn’t completed her discharge paperwork.

“Claire told me,” he said. “We’ll take care of it when she gets back.”

Margaret relaxed. So Claire hadn’t lied to her.

If her son and daughter-in-law were divorcing, Margaret was firmly on her son’s side.

“The money we gave Claire when you married,” she said, as casually as if they were discussing the weather. “She spent it on her mother’s treatment, didn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“You earn so much more than she does, and her mother’s illness is expensive. You’ve been supporting them both.”

Margaret went on. “You got the worse end of this marriage. Our family gave Claire plenty of money. We don’t owe her or her mother anything.”

She lowered her voice. “If she asks for more, especially money, don’t give in just to keep the peace. We aren’t a charity. We’ve done enough for her mother.”

Nathan’s irritation grew.

“What’s gotten into you? You’re usually the first to say you hate talking about family business.”

“I’m worried she’ll take advantage and ask for a fortune.”

The difference between their families had always bothered Margaret.

Claire hadn’t brought any money into the marriage, and the subject had been touchy from the start. The Brooks family didn’t need her money, but their son’s bride had brought little with her. People in their circle had made jokes about it for months.

They’d never been pleased with the match. For Nathan’s sake, they’d kept their objections mostly to themselves.

Nathan’s voice cooled. “You didn’t sleep well last night, did you?”

Margaret stared at him. She didn’t make a habit of discussing other people’s marriages, but was she not allowed to ask about her own son’s divorce?

She hadn’t had a day’s peace since Claire joined the family.

Nathan had always made up his own mind, though, and he cared about keeping up appearances. Seeing his expression, Margaret told him to get some sleep and went upstairs.

Nathan watched her go, frowning.

Since he’d returned, he hadn’t seen Claire. His mother and sister both seemed angry with her.

Something was wrong.

Had something happened while he was away?

It was late, so he waited until the next day to call Claire.

He had no idea she was sitting in a hospital in Linden Valley, frightened and exhausted.

Diane had collapsed at a scenic spot the day before. Claire thought the exertion and altitude might have been too much for her.

She regretted bringing her here. Nathan had been right that altitude sickness could be dangerous. She should have paid closer attention.

His call came just then, and she answered at once.

She wanted to ask him about her mother. How serious could this be? What should she do?

But Nathan had called to question her.

“When are you coming back?” he demanded.

Claire looked through the doorway at her mother, who was still in danger.

“Are you that desperate for me to come back?” she asked.

Nathan was still thinking about what Margaret had said the night before.

“Did you ask my family for money?”

For a moment, Claire couldn’t make sense of the question.

She pushed herself away from the cold wall, her face pale.

Of all the things he could have said, that was what he’d called to ask.

She’d thought Nathan was different. But for all his intelligence and composure, the first thing on his mind during a divorce was money.

When she didn’t answer, he took her silence as an admission.

“If you need money for your mother’s treatment, tell me. Don’t go to my family about it again.”

Claire hadn’t slept or eaten in more than a day. Her head swam, and her heart began to pound.

She hadn’t asked for more property in the divorce. She’d kept the $500,000 his family had given her when they married, and they’d promised to help arrange her mother’s care.

The Brooks family had access to better doctors. Claire had never asked them to pay the medical bills.

Yet apparently even those two things were too much.

“Nathan Brooks.”

She said his full name.

Their last call had ended badly too. As far as Nathan was concerned, Claire refused to listen to anything he said. He had no patience for the mess their marriage had become.

“Am I wrong?” he asked. “If you need money, come to me. Why involve my family?”

“Who told you I asked for money?” Claire’s voice turned cold. “Have them say it to my face.”

Nathan’s reply was colder. “If it concerns your mother’s treatment, talk to me. Don’t bother my parents. They’re busy.”

‘Busy. Of course they are.’

His father headed a department at a military hospital. His mother directed a women’s and children’s hospital. How could Claire dare trouble them with her mother’s little problem?

“When exactly are you coming back?” Nathan pressed. “Have you bought tickets? If you haven’t, I’ll book flights for you and your mother. She needs a follow-up.”

That made Claire angrier.

“Riverton General Hospital is all reputation and no substance. The care is terrible, and so are the people. Cameron looks down on my mother so much he wouldn’t even see her for her follow-up. If there’s something wrong with her, like you say, he will be the first person I go after.”

“Claire, stick to what happened. Don’t lash out at everyone.”

Nathan found her increasingly unreasonable. Cameron had handled the appointment badly, but Nathan was a doctor. He had no tolerance for people threatening medical staff.

Claire pressed a hand to her aching head and tried to steady herself.

Cameron had neglected a patient. That much was clear. But Nathan would still take his side.

She drew a long breath.

Diane lay unconscious in the room ahead of her. Claire was too tired to keep arguing.

“I’ll come back. Give me two more days. You don’t have to worry.”

Her voice was flat.

“And Nathan, thank you for saying I can come to you about Mom’s condition. Could you arrange for someone to see her? I don’t think she’s doing well.”

Her voice broke. Before she could start crying, she hung up. She didn’t want him to hear.

Nathan called back, but she rejected the calls.

She knew how he and his family saw her and Diane: burdens who kept asking for more.

Her fingers were cold and shaking as she messaged Professor Zimmerman. She told him Diane had fallen ill in Linden Valley and that she needed to extend her leave.

—

Diane woke that evening. She remained in the hospital for three days.

“Claire, I’ve had enough fun,” she said weakly. “Let’s go back to Riverton. You’ve been away with me so long. Nathan must be upset.”

Claire nodded beside her bed.

Nathan was upset. His wife was keeping him from getting divorced and marrying Lily.

“The doctor wants you to rest here for two more days, Mom. We’ll go back the day after tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Diane answered with her eyes half closed.

Claire watched her mother struggle to keep them open. She looked so weak that Claire couldn’t stop her tears.

She wanted to say, ‘Mom, please don’t leave me. You’re the only family I have. I haven’t even given you a good life yet. I don’t want to be alone.’

But she couldn’t say any of that to Diane, and there was no one else she could tell.

—

Back in Riverton, Professor David Zimmerman couldn’t stop thinking about Claire.

The retired professor sat watching the evening news through his reading glasses, though he barely paid attention. Every so often, he sighed.

He’d taught at Riverton Medical University before joining the biotech institute run by his grandson. Claire had been one of his students. He’d brought her to the institute himself, and he cared for her deeply.

He was also the one who’d introduced her to Nathan.

A man in a suit came downstairs carrying a briefcase, checking his watch as he walked.

“Off on a work trip?” David asked.

Lucas Zimmerman nodded and came over. “I’ll be gone three days. Don’t forget your blood pressure medication while I’m away.”

David noticed the passport in his hand. “Where are you going?”

“Dovia. I’m meeting with a team about a biologic drug and an mRNA vaccine project.”

“So you won’t be going to that brain-computer interface symposium in Linden Valley?”

“No.”

David looked disappointed.

Lucas noticed. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I was thinking about Claire.”

At the mention of her name, Lucas’s expression changed. He no longer seemed in such a hurry to leave.

“She took her mother to Linden Valley,” David said. “A couple of days ago, she messaged me to say her mother was sick and she needed more time off.”

He removed his glasses and sighed.

“Her mother never recovered well after the brain tumor surgery. And now this.”

“She’s sick?” Lucas frowned.