Page 38 of Clara Knows Best

“Uh, huh. You get my comic books,” he said as he left the room.

“I would sell them,” she called after him, and then sighed and began to close up her chicken caesar salad. She would have to finish it later.

She looked up from her computer screen to see Jesse escorting their last patient of the day out of an exam room. He brought the centenarian slowly and carefully to Clara’s desk.

“You’re all set, Mrs. Fairchild,” Clara said brightly. “No co-pay today.” This was technically true, because Clara had seen fit to waive the co-pay. Being the daughter of the proprietor had certain perks. “Your great-granddaughter just called to say she’s here to pick you up. And this is for you.”

She placed one of the heart cookies, now in a cellophane goodie bag, on the high counter. It had pale green frosting and the wordsSWEET PEA.

“Oh, my goodness,” Mrs. Fairchild said with a shaky laugh. “How darling.”

“Dr. Flores thought you’d like that one,” Clara lied shamelessly.

“Oh, my,” Mrs. Fairchild giggled. “Sweet pea. My Gerald used to call me sweet pea.”

“Dr. Flores has a way of knowing these things sometimes,” Clara said, ignoring a dark glance from the doctor. “I made you a little Valentine’s bouquet to take with you. Do you need a vase for it? I might be able to scare one up.”

“Oh, you sweetheart,” Mrs. Fairchild murmured, accepting the roses tied together with ribbon. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Well, it’s almost Valentine’s, and we want you to know that we love you.”

“I’ll put them in my Lennox vase from my wedding,” Mrs. Fairchild said, touching the petals gingerly. She looked up with a half-frown, half-smile. “Thankyou.”

“You’re welcome,” Clara said, happy that the gesture had been well-received.

“The cookie is far too pretty to eat, but I will enjoy looking at it. Oh, I must not keep Elena waiting. Good-bye, Clara.”

“Good-bye, Mrs. Fairchild. Call if you need anything.”

“Can I walk you out?” Jesse offered.

“Oh, Dr. Flores. I think you’re the nicest doctor I’ve ever had.”

He shot Clara another look, but she only smiled.

Jesse was back five minutes later to ask, “Have you been telling everyone that the flowers and cookies and goodie bags are from me?”

“Only Mrs. Fairchild got flowers.”

“But the rest?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Mind if I ask why?”

“Good business,” she said with a shrug.

“She just made her granddaughter ask me out.”

Clara raised her eyebrows. “Where are you going to take her? The diner or the Gila Monster?”

“Neither.”

“She’s going to cook?You’regoing to cook? Y’all are going all the way to Marfa?”

“No, I’m not going out with her,” he said impatiently.

“Good call,” Clara approved. “She didn’t sound super nice on the phone.”

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