chapter276

That photo really did turn out great.

Connor grinned to himself as he saved it on his phone.

Across the table, Lucinda caught the little exchange and felt her anger bubbling up. She could barely keep it together.

Garrett, noticing how well Connor and his sister were getting along, suddenly felt a little left out. He jumped in, eager to share. "Mom, Dad, you have no idea how awesome Lydia was today. She grabbed a half-empty water bottle, and in one quick move, she nailed the suspect right in the head. Knocked him flat. It was honestly the coolest thing I've ever seen."

Listening to Garrett's proud recap, Cameron and Kylie turned to Lydia, eyes wide with surprise. "Lydia, that's incredible. Seriously, how did you even pull that off?"

Lydia just laughed, a little embarrassed. "It all happened so fast. I figured I'd give it a try, and somehow it worked. Honestly, I borrowed Garrett's water bottle for it.

Garrett nodded, getting excited all over again. "That's true. I was standing right next to her. Who would've thought she's our little princess that just came back home?

Lucinda flinched at the words "little princess." She tightened her grip on her fork. Before Lydia showed up, she was the only one who ever got called that. And Lydia? She was just a country girl. How could anyone think she was a princess?

Okay so she caught some suspect, but it was just pure luck. What was so impressive about that? She didn't act like a proper heiress at all. Lucinda just didn't get what her parents or Garrett saw in her. Grandpa was right. Lydia really needed some lessons in etiquette, or one day she'd embarrass the Norwood family in front of everyone.

Lydia glanced up, her voice soft. "Yeah, it was pretty unexpected."

Garrett looked at her, genuinely curious. "Lydia, can I ask you something? Back in the OR, when you insisted we avoid a craniotomy, how confident were you that you'd actually find that ruptured vessel?"

To be honest, Garrett hadn't dared to take that risk himself. If the patient's situation wasn't so urgent, and if he'd had all the time in the world, maybe he could have found it too. But he couldn't have gambled like that. He just wasn't sure enough.

Lydia paused, thinking it over. "About fifty percent, I guess."

She hadn't been completely sure at all.

Garrett was stunned. He'd always figured she must have been at least seventy or eighty percent confident How

decision like that? fo

she have stuck to her

Lydia seemed to read his mind. "You're wondering why I kept insisting, even though

I was only about fifty percent sure, aren't you?"

Garrett nodded. Yeah. I'd really like to know."

Lydia leaned back a little, explaining patiently, There were two reasons. First, I just believed that if I kept looking, could find it. Second, the patient was a young lady, really beautiful. If we'd done the craniotomy, she'd have had to live with that scar forever. So wanted to give it another shot before giving up."

Most doctors-and even the patients themselves would probably think a scar was no big deal, as long as they

ed. But for Lydia, if she could

survived.

spare someone an extra cut she'd

always try.

Garrett felt a whole new level of admiration for her. He hadn't realized how much

she thought things through.

Lydia, you're amazing. I could learn a lot from you."

Lydia just smiled. You are great too. We all learn from each other."

Garrett could tell she was being modest, which just made him like her even more. He grinned. "Alright then."

Meanwhile, Lucinda watched them, her jealousy growing with every word.