Tired, if anything. “Chamomile. Lavender. A few others. All washed. All things I’ve used myself for years.” The doctor accepted the bag and glanced inside without judgment. “Thank you,” he said. “This helps.” He motioned toward the small consultation room. Mike and Carrie followed as Eleanor took a seat, her hands folded tightly in her lap.
“I need to ask you directly,” the doctor said gently. “While Maxine was in your care, was she given anything other than food, water, or her prescribed medication?”Eleanor hesitated. Just a beat. “I gave her tea,” she said quietly. “A few sips. I didn’t think it would hurt. It calmed her. She liked being part of it.” Her voice wavered, then steadied. “Nothing else. No supplements. No powders. Nothing like that.”