Chapter 6: Physician, Heal Thyself

Hana Ito

I HAD FUN teasing Meredith. She took her education seriously and her desire to work for—or under—Liam Cyning overflowed so much I was surprised she was classed as an Advisor instead of an Aspirant. But I suppose merely loving your chosen line of work is not the same as being called to it. If she’d not been chosen as Liam’s Personal Assistant, she would have been disappointed, but she would have found something else to do. For me, nothing could possibly replace my calling to become a healer—a doctor.

The cost to my personal life was high, but it didn’t make a difference to me. I’d had a few relationships. I was, after all, two years older than Meredith. But relationships ultimately got in the way of my studies or work at the hospital. As soon as that happened, I was single again.

We were up early on Saturday. The event wouldn’t start until eleven, but the core volunteers needed to be at the park by eight to get things set up. We had portable grills for the hot dogs we’d be serving. Games with courses to lay out. And areas for the different age groups of children who would be present. If a child in the hospital was mobile and deemed fit enough, he or she would be brought to the picnic with a nurse watching over them. But there would be dozens—we hoped over a hundred—of children who were not sick but just came for the festival and hopefully would make friends with the patients.

People started arriving at ten-thirty and there were a few moments of panic as we tried to get things started. I was to light one of the grills and get started. Unfortunately, it was quite uneven and I struggled trying to get it level so I could start the charcoal.

“May I help? We could put a small stone under the short leg,” a young man said, moving at once to his knees to lift the short leg and scrape some small stones under the leg. “How does that look?”

“Much better, thank you. I’m afraid I didn’t have the strength to lift it up. I don’t think the hot dogs will roll off the grill now.” I looked up into the young man’s gorgeous blue eyes and smiled. He wasn’t too tall, but I’m only five-one. I get nervous around giants of six foot or more. I expected him to say something to me.

“Well ... um ... I guess I’ll try to be useful somewhere,” he stammered. He looked away from my eyes and I was afraid he would flee.

“Why don’t you help with the grill here. Can you light the charcoal?” I asked.

“Oh. Yes, certainly. I’ll have it started in a few minutes,” he said.

“I’ll go get our plate of grillables. I’m Hana, by the way.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Hana. I’m Liam.”

“We’ll be sweating over the grill together shortly. Please just call me Hana.” I turned to get the food out of the coolers while Liam showed some skill in getting the charcoal to light. Liam. It could only be Meredith’s Liam. I had a flash of jealousy. It was silly, but he was cute and terribly shy. I wondered how he had ever managed to be classed as a Leader. Well, I was ready to follow him.

In half an hour, the smell of grilling hot dogs and hamburgers rose from our grill as he worked, placing cold meat on the grill while I removed cooked meat to the picnic table. A small child ambled up to where he was grilling with her head turned up trying to smell the savory aroma. She couldn’t quite see over the edge of the grill. I gasped as I saw her reach to pull herself up on the grill.

Liam didn’t hesitate. He reached down and scooped the little girl up and safely back from the grill.

“Did you want to see what was grilling?” he asked. “I’ll show you. But it’s very hot. That’s why I hold a long-handled pair of tongs to turn the hot dogs over.” The little girl pointed at a hot dog. “Is that the one you want to eat?” he asked. “It’s almost ready. Hana, could you put this hot dog on a plate just for my little friend? What’s your name, precious?”

“Wendy.”

“Wendy, Hana is getting a paper plate. She’ll put your hot dog on it and carry it to the table so you can sit up and fix it the way you want. Just remember, the hot dog will be hot at first. Okay?”

“Okay.” He pointed at the hot dog she’d indicated to make sure he got the right one. She nodded and he put the food on the plate I was holding. She squirmed a little and Liam put her down, placing himself between the little girl and the grill. She immediately reached for my hand and I led her to the table where children were busily digging into their food.

Liam stood guard over the station as he doused the coals in a bucket of water and scrubbed the grill. He stayed there until he was sure the grill was no longer hot enough for a child to get burned. I saw him step away and the same little girl come over to meet him. It looked like he had a fan.

I saw Meredith across the park as she started toward him. We were both too far away to listen to the intense conversation they were having. Then Liam stood up and took hold of the little girl’s waist as she led him off yelling, “Choo choo!”

“Come get on board the train,” Liam called to nearby children. They began to flock toward him and he guided little Wendy around as more and more children attached themselves to the train. Meredith and a few other volunteers fell into line, encouraging the children to make train noises. Before long, nearly all the children were in line, nurses helping their charges move with the train while Liam and Wendy led them on a long follow-the-leader game. It was near the end of the party and I stepped up beside Liam and asked him to lead the train to the station so the parents could take their children from it. He pointed to the bandstand and I hurried to tell parents where to pick up their children.

The nurses broke off with their charges to return to the hospital. Parents took mini trains to the parking lot where they said goodbye to their friends. I maneuvered Liam out of the way a bit.

“Thank you so much for your help today, Liam. You really stepped in to save the day. That was probably the easiest conclusion to a festival imaginable.”

“It was really fun,” Liam said. “I’m glad I got to help.” We’d had several minutes to chat while grilling and transporting food and it seemed like he was more comfortable as the party ended.

“Excuse me for being forward, but this would be a good time to ask me out next weekend,” I said. I knew it was brazen. He stammered a bit.

“Really? I mean. Of course. I mean. Um ... Hana, would you like to go out next weekend? Maybe Saturday night?” he asked.

“How nice of you to ask. I’d love to go out and get to know you better. Let me give you my phone number and you can call to make arrangements.” I’d already written my name and number on a paper napkin and pressed it into his hand.

“I’ll look forward to it and call tomorrow.”

“Not before ten. I have a night shift tonight and will sleep late.”

He smiled and I saw Meredith headed for us again. I winked at her and left. I saw them in a conversation as animated as the one Liam had had with little Wendy.

My phone rang after ten on Tuesday morning and Liam sounded like he’d rehearsed what he wanted to say.

“Miss Ito ... uh ... Hana, I have tickets for the symphony Saturday evening. Would you be my guest for the concert and dessert after?” he asked. Very charming.

“I hope this is Liam Cyning calling,” I said innocently.

“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. Yes. This is Liam Cyning. I hope you remember our conversation Saturday afternoon.”

“Yes, I remember,” I giggled. “I’d be delighted to go to the symphony Saturday. I love classical music and I understand they are doing Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique. It’s one of my favorites.”

“I’m so glad I found tickets then. Shall I pick you up at seven?”

“Do you know where I live?”

“Um ... not yet. My driver could pick you up though if you let me know.”

“Oh, a driver.”

“Yes. I’ve never had a reason to have a license before. I should think about that.”

I’d been prepared to tell him I couldn’t go out after all. He was cute, but in a teenager sort of way and Meredith had fumed a bit after his call on Sunday. Not that she would say anything, but I could just tell she wasn’t happy. He said he would work out arrangements for something based on a few suggestions I gave him. Then when he called on Tuesday and suggested the symphony, what could I do.

I had a huge amount of studying to do and continued night shifts through Thursday, but I had the weekend off. Until Sunday night. I got straight to work.

It was Friday before I saw Meredith again. I got back from the library and she had just returned from her alternate residence at Buxton House. I opened a bottle of wine and poured us each a glass.

“How was your week with the new job?” I asked cheerily. She growled at me.

“As if you haven’t talked to him as much as I have.”

“Meredith, that’s not true. We’ve only spoken a couple of times. I was going to turn him down for the date, but then he suggested the symphony and I crumpled. You know how I love the symphony.”

“Oh, yes. Who do you think suggested it and got the tickets and made reservations at Chez Panisse for you?” she groused.

“Meredith! I’m so sorry. He had you make all the arrangements?”

“I’m his personal assistant. And, no. He didn’t ask me to make the arrangements. He wanted to sit down first thing Monday morning and talk. Well, first thing when I got there. I didn’t attempt to get there for breakfast like when I’m staying there.”

“What happened?”

“He was a nervous wreck. Hana, he’s only ever been out on one date. He’s eighteen and has had only one date! And from what he told me, it was unremarkable and she declined his invitation to go out a second time. It’s really quite amazing that he got up the nerve to talk to you Saturday.”

“He was so helpful! And the way he rescued little Wendy when she was about to put her hand on the grill and just took over cooking. And then when he led the children all around as a train. Everyone just jumped aboard. It was quite amazing. I guess I was a little infatuated from the start,” I admitted.

“He quite surprised me, as well. I hadn’t even spotted him arrive and all of a sudden, he was with you manning a grill. I had children at the tether ball and never got away to even ask how he was getting on,” Meredith said.

“So, what did you talk about Monday?”

“He had a regular confessional. Told me about his lack of confidence in speaking with women and his disastrous first date. Which apparently was a well-chaperoned dance, but he couldn’t find anything to talk about. You may need to carry the conversation tomorrow night. Then he was in a panic about what to do on a date. I finally suggested the symphony and dessert. You wouldn’t believe how relieved he was. He was going to call you at once, but I suggested he make sure tickets were available. Of course, I was the one who made the call, reserved the table, worked out the timetable with him.”