While Cynthia was on her rounds, she met up with the grey-haired, matronly, head nurse, Sally Tompkins.
"Sally, I just met this man at lunch who said he worked for the legal department in the hospital."
"There are a few of them up there. What was his name?" Sally asked.
"He said his name was Roger Parsons," Cynthia responded.
"Oh, yes. Roger. He's a nice fella."
"Is he?"
"Yes. And pretty good looking too," Sally replied.
Cynthia coyly responded, "I hadn't noticed."
Sally wasn't buying it. "Now, I find that hard to believe. Are you interested in him?"
"No. I'm far too busy for that with my residency."
"Well, luckily you two work in the same place, making it all the more convenient," Sally suggested.
Cynthia replied, "Well, you know what they say…."
"No, what?" Sally asked.
"Don't dip your pen in the company ink," Cynthia reminded.
"I don't think that applies in this situation," Sally replied. "Did he ask you out?"
"No," Cynthia seemed disappointed.
"Did he even hint at the possibility?" Sally asked.
"He just mentioned that maybe we'd see each other in the cafeteria again sometime, but didn't ask me out to lunch or anything."
Cynthia busied herself with writing on her clipboard. Sally smirked while Cynthia wasn't looking, "Well, he was probably just being polite and wasn't necessarily interested in you."
Cynthia looked up, appearing somewhat hurt, "You don't think so?"
"I have no idea," Sally responded.
"He said he found ambitious women to be 'impressive' and enjoyed talking to them and seemed to understand the challenges a lone professional woman would have in this environment."
"That sounds like him."
"So, it's genuine?" Cynthia questioned.
"From what I've seen, he's an open book. What you see is what you get. I don't see him going after all the hot little numbers around here, so either what he told you is true or he likes the fellas."
"I doubt that," Cynthia continued writing on her clipboard.
Sally smirked out of view again, "How would you know? Didn't you just meet him?"
"Yes."
"Well, maybe you should be down at that cafeteria again at the same time some other day and make sure he's on the up-and-up," Sally said, turning away and smirking again.
"Maybe I will," Cynthia said defiantly.
Sally began walking away and waved with her hand as she left, "Good. Let me know how that goes."
A week later, Cynthia was eating in the hospital cafeteria again. Roger walked in and she saw him before he saw her. He seemed to be looking for someone. She waited for him to look her way and she nervously waved him over. He saw and acknowledged her and headed over to her table.
"Hi Cynthia," Roger said with a smile.
"Hi Roger," she replied.
"How are you this fine day?"
"I'm good. You?"
"Never better," Roger replied. "What have you been up to?"
"Mostly rounds. I have a challenging patient right now," Cynthia shared.
"Oh. What's the trouble?" Roger asked.
"Abdominal pain of unknown origin. Ordered a variety of tests and can't find a cause. It's been kind of frustrating."
"I see. I've often wondered….how does it feel to have people put their lives in your hands? That must be a lot of pressure." Roger seemed genuinely interested. He took some bites of his lunch.
"It is a lot of pressure. It will probably be a lot more when I'm on my own since as a resident I collaborate with a lot of people and have a Head of Residents to help. I'm okay with people depending on me in general. It's somewhat invigorating and I feel like I'm contributing to the world in a meaningful way." She ate some of her lunch.
"And you are," Roger replied.
"I'm what?" Cynthia asked.
"Contributing to the world in a meaningful way," Roger replied.
"Oh. Thanks. What have you been up to?" Cynthia asked.
"The usual. Mostly reading, writing, and researching."
"What are you reading, writing, or researching?" Cynthia asked before taking another bite of her lunch.
"Mainly information about the business side of health care, and health and non-profit law. It's quite boring. I'd rather be a trial lawyer. That's the goal I'm working toward. I plan on making 10% of my practice pro bono, and defend people who can't afford lawyers."
Cynthia's face lit up, "I plan on doing the same with my future practice!"
Roger almost choked when he saw her so enthusiastic, immediately overtaken by her growing more beautiful with the happiness and excitement on her face.
"That's great!" he exclaimed as he could barely contain himself. He calmed his tone a bit. "What inspired you to do so?"
"Probably a combination of my upbringing, but I think the Depression really motivated me. People who weren't doing as well as my family at the time were walking around untreated or dying from lack of medical care. What about you?"
"Mostly my upbringing, but I think I just have an innate sense of justice," Roger replied.
"Charity and justice are very good things," Cynthia returned.
"Yes, they are." Roger continued eating to not appear too excited about finding an intelligent, caring, and interesting woman.
Cynthia also resumed eating. Residents didn't have much time for lunch, so she looked at the clock and Roger noticed.
"Do you have to get back?"
"Yes. More rounds," she replied.
Roger stumbled on his next words. "Oh, um…." He paused. "I hope you don't think I'm being forward, but I'd love to learn more about you. Would you be interested in going out for dinner when you get some free time?"
Cynthia hesitated, torn with being worried somewhat that this was still a game, but nonetheless interested in learning more about him too. "Sure. I'm not free until Saturday."
"I'm free then too. How about 7 O'clock? We could meet somewhere or I could pick you up."
"I've heard that the Old Monterrey on West Gray is pretty good, and is one of the few Mexican restaurants around."
He liked that she was assertive enough to offer a choice of restaurant for the date. "I love Mexican food. Shall I pick you up?"
"How about if we meet there?" She offered cautiously.
"Sounds good," he replied. "7 O'clock at the Old Monterrey it is."
"Great," she replied. "I have to go now, unfortunately. I'll see you then," she said as she smiled and picked up her tray.
He stood up out of respect. "Great. Have a good day," he said, smiling that giant Parsons smile.
"Thanks. You too," she said and turned and walked away and put up her tray and left the cafeteria.
Roger sat back down with that huge smile plastered on his face and pounded once with both fists on the table with enthusiasm. A nurse at the next table looked at him with a stunned expression when he looked over at her. "Oh, um, ahem….sorry," he said as he adjusted his tie nervously and picked up his tray and left to go back to his office.