Page 45 of Once Upon a Star

“But you were ready for a change,” Ara supplied.

“What makes you say that?” I asked and mixed up the sauce.

“You came to New York. You’re going to be in a play. I would say that was a bit of a change.”

“Well, you were here. It was kind of a no-brainer. I met Isla on a movie set years ago and she was one of the few people I stayed close with. She was the first person I called when I was considering coming to New York. It helped that she had a play she wanted to produce and the lead was perfect for me.”

“How is it going?” Ara asked.

It was a loaded question, and one I wasn’t ready to answer. I had specifically not talked to Isla or even looked at my phone. She said there wasn’t going to be any news, plus I wanted this time with Ara and me. It had worked out perfectly and we had connected in the way I had always wanted. But what if I came back to the city and I didn’t have a job? What if Isla couldn’t secure the funding? What would happen then? A feeling of dread filled me and I pushed it down. I didn’t want to think about that, nor what Cassie was going to do if it did.

“Slow, and not without its ups and downs. We’re taking a break for a few days while some issues get worked out. Which worked out well for us. And you, how is the residency? How much longer do you have?”

If Ara noticed that I changed the subject a little too quickly, she didn’t say anything. She took a sip of her wine and got a soft smile on her face and said, “It’s going really good.”

“I can tell by the smile on your face.” I pointed my knife at her.

“Really?”

“Yes. You get this soft, sweet smile on your face when you talk about work. It shows you not only love doing it but you like doing it. That is rare.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes. Think of how many people just go to their job every day and do it because they have to. Not because they like it or love it. Being able to do that is a rare and wonderful gift. Most people don’t find out what they really are good at or want to do in life ever. You have. You should be proud and happy. It’s wonderful.”

Ara leaned back in her stool and thought about my comment. “I guess. I never thought about it one way or the other. Being a doctor was just always something I wanted to do. Like when you are in kindergarten and they ask you. I said doctor. Other kids might have changed their minds, but I never did. It just was.

“It made sense to me to go to school in New York to then go to medical school here, too. It was where I wanted to be. It was where I thought I should go to school. It was just the way it was. I never thought that it wasn’t going to work out or what I was going to do if it didn’t.”

“You would have figured it out.” I put the pasta and sauce on two dishes.

Ara stood up and took the salad and the bottle of wine and brought it over to the table. She had already set it up and even put two candles out. It was a perfect romantic meal. I hoped it would be the first of many. It wasn’t just the setting but the woman that made it so special. It was how we had been when we were making dinner that I wanted to have. It was the simple moments, the day to day that I knew I would cherish as much as the big moments. And I wanted to share all of them with Ara.

“Have you figured out where you’re going to go when your residency is done?” I asked as we ate.

“I’ve been offered a job at my current hospital and I think I’m going to take it. It’s a good place to start.”

“But it isn’t where you want to be?”

“It’s good. I’m learning a lot but I would like to work in a county hospital at some point.”

“That’s magnanimous of you,” I said as I ate.

“It’s where I think I can do the most good. Also, it’s a lot busier and fast-paced, which I like.” Ara nodded her approval at the pasta. “This is really good.”

“You sound surprised,” I said.

“I am.” Ara smiled at me.

“Hidden skills, I tell you. Why not go there now?” I asked, bringing us back to the original subject.

“I want to get as much experience and knowledge from my current hospital before I move on. I might not even go to a county hospital next. I might try and see what else I can learn at another place.”

“You’ll just use all the other hospitals to get what you can out of them and then move on?” I teased.

“Wouldn’t they be doing the same thing with me?” she asked.

“Fair enough. I admire your ambition and goals.”