Come in 18
Posted on July 07, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 18

โ€œZinnia, Raymond is a great doctor. You should learn from him if youโ€™re interested,โ€ Henry said, smiling.

โ€œHa! I knew you had an agenda.โ€ Raymond chuckled. โ€œEvery time I come here, you trick me. And you know I donโ€™t take apprentices anymore.โ€

โ€œSince you brought it upโ€ฆ Zinnia, I see talent in you. How about learning from me?โ€ Raymond said, eyes sparkling. Henry had found a gem โ€“ Zinnia was truly talented.

โ€œBut I already have a teacher.โ€ Zinnia shook her head. โ€œThanks anyway, Mr. Spence.โ€

Henry rubbed his chin โ€“ this wasnโ€™t in the report. โ€œMore teachers never hurt. Raymondโ€™s skills could really help you,โ€ he said.

Henry was really surprised. He had seen Zinnia buying those medicines and had even watched her do those massages. That was why he said that. Plus, Raymond rarely took apprentices. Medical students nationwide would kill for this chance.

Henry felt bad for Zinnia, his granddaughter heโ€™d just got back in touch with. Heโ€™d never used his connections before, but now he wanted to make things go a little easier for her.

โ€œI can only have one master,โ€ Zinnia kept refusing. In her heart, there was only one person who deserved that title.

โ€œMr. Spence, thanks for the offer,โ€ Zinnia said, apologizing to Raymond.

โ€œNo biggie! If you change her mind, come find meโ€”Iโ€™ll teach you for free,โ€ Raymond said kindly.

Getting turned down twice didnโ€™t faze Raymond one bit. In fact, his eyes lit up with prideโ€”he knew Zinnia had a backbone. Most folks wouldโ€™ve jumped at the chance to be his student.

โ€œOur Zinniaโ€™s got a lucky streak with her simple ways.โ€ Henry chuckled, grinning as Raymond took a shine to Zinnia. When Raymond liked someone, his whole face glowed.

โ€œThanks, Mr. Spence,โ€ Zinnia said, accepting the nod without fuss. Sheโ€™d learned plenty from her master but knew there was always more to pick up. Nobody knew everything about medicine.

โ€œZinnia, did your master show you this pressure point thing?โ€ Raymond leaned in. He felt her hand movements looked oddly familiar.

It looked just like the Moore familyโ€™s secret trick. But theyโ€™d never taught outsiders, and their line was gone. Raymond shook his head, thinking it must be a copycat style.

โ€œYeah.โ€ Zinnia nodded.

โ€œHenry, youโ€™re lucky to have her,โ€ Raymond laughed.

โ€œWhatโ€™s all the ruckus? I heard it from the porch.โ€ Sofia walked in.

โ€œGrandma!โ€ Zinnia called out.

โ€œRaymond, you staying for dinner?โ€ Sofia spotted Raymond right away.

โ€œWouldnโ€™t miss it.โ€ Raymond grinned. โ€œCame for your cooking.โ€

โ€œWhatโ€™s so funny?โ€ Sofia asked, handing over the shopping bags to a maid.

โ€œZinniaโ€™s a genius,โ€ Henry beamed. โ€œRaymond quizzed her on medicine, and she nailed it. We might have another doctor in the family.โ€

โ€œNo way? Our Zinniaโ€™s that smart?โ€ Sofia piled on the praise, determined to keep Zinniaโ€™s spirits up.

โ€œIf she werenโ€™t already apprenticed, Iโ€™d snag her as my last disciple. Sheโ€™s a gemโ€”you struck gold,โ€ Raymond said, eyebrows wiggling.

Raymondโ€™s white eyebrows were practically twinkling with joy, and his eyes were all lit up. He really wished heโ€™d been the one to scoop up a talent like Zinnia.

Their med talk showed Zinnia knew way more than basics. โ€˜Sheโ€™s tackling hard stuff as a teen. Who knows how far sheโ€™ll go?โ€™ Raymond marveled inwardly.

โ€œZinnia, could I meet your master? Iโ€™d love to swap notes,โ€ Raymond asked, scholar-curious. Age just made him hungrier for med chats.

โ€œI donโ€™t know his name. I addressed him โ€˜Masterโ€™ and he left recently,โ€ Zinnia answered.

โ€œLeft? Oh noโ€ฆ Zinnia, I didnโ€™t meanโ€”โ€ Raymond winced, thinking she meant her master died. He apologized fast.

โ€œItโ€™s okay,โ€ Zinnia said, clueless about the mix-up. She almost mentioned telling Raymond when her master returned but decided against it.

Zinnia was sharp but sometimes slowโ€”leftovers from childhood health stuff.

Henry and Sofiaโ€™s hearts ached to hear that.

โ€œCrabs are almost done. Jacksonโ€™s home,โ€ Benedict announced, breaking the tension.

โ€œZinnia, Iโ€™m back,โ€ Jackson said as he walked in, eyes locking onto Zinnia. โ€œGrandpa, Grandma, Mr. Spence,โ€ Jackson smiled, greeting everyone.

Raymond beamed at Jackson, โ€œItโ€™s been a while. Youโ€™ve changed a lot. Youโ€™re more reliable than Yannis.โ€

โ€œGive Yannis time,โ€ Jackson laughed, referring to his buddy.

โ€œYeah.โ€ Raymond nodded.

โ€œCrabs are ready. Go wash up, Jackson,โ€ Sofia urged.

Chapter 19


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