Illumine Her (6 page)

“Okay, this old bag is a
really
good looking one,” Lisi whispered next to her.

Alana watched intently as the doctors led the mysterious man inside the
fale
. After they were seated in a circular pattern, the head of the hospital cleared her throat and loudly proclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor and my deepest pleasure that I welcome to our hospital Mr. Chase Malek.”

Chapter Four

A
lana looked at the tall man and noted the way he sat cross-legged on the floor. Chase sat regally with his hands on his knees, head bowed. There appeared to be no discomfort or awkwardness on his part despite his long legs, and she was instantly impressed.

“We are extremely humbled by your act of kindness and generosity that you have bestowed on our hospital. On behalf of the staff members, patients, and the people of Samoa, I would like to thank you for you generous donation once again.
Fa’afetai, fa’afetai lava
,” the spokesperson continued. “To welcome you properly in the Samoan way, we have prepared the
‘ava
ceremony.”

The
‘ava
ceremony took place on the most important of occasions, from the bestowing of chiefly titles to the welcoming and farewell of visitors. The formality conferred honor from the host to the visitor in a remarkable show of praised words and drinking of the kava. Prominent to the ceremony was the presence of the
‘ava
mixer who sat behind a
tanoa
bowl with several assistants sitting beside him or her to create the drink. Alana tried it once and didn’t like its bitter taste.

The chief orator loudly acknowledged the beginning of the ceremony in honor of their visiting guest. The assembled party clapped loudly and slowly to initiate the ritual. The
‘ava
server carried a cup made from coconut shell across the
fale
and swooped his arm down low to Chase. Chase took the cup in his right hand, and after a pause, spilled a few drops on the floor to his right side. Alana was taken aback.
This guy knows about the ‘ava custom
, she thought to herself. Someone obviously briefed him on the way over.
Let’s see if he knows what comes next
, she challenged.

Chase then proceeded to speak in flawless Samoan.

“Lau ava lea Le Atua, ua E faia mea silisili mo ou tagata. Sa e puipui ma malusia matou uma i le malu o Ou aao. Lea ua tini pa’o ai le uto a Tapalega. Lea ua moli laau i Foga’a ua aulia mai lenei aso sa taupoina. Ia uli ma sao lo tatou aso! Ia Manuia!”

Here’s to you God! Thou hast created the utmost of blessings for your people. Thou hast protected and sheltered us all underneath the canopy of Your arms. Our goal has been reached, like that at Tapalega. Gratitude and praise like those done at Foga’a. We have arrived at this special day. Let this day sail smoothly! Be blessed!

As he spoke the words, his voice held a deep timber quality and easily demanded the attention he was already receiving in the
fale
. Without a hint of a foreign accent, the room stilled at his speech, stunned in its silence. Alana gaped as Chase raised the cup to his lips and drank a small quantity before tossing the remainder over his shoulder. He handed it back to the server with assured confidence as the server retreated and returned it to the bowl.

“Is he for real?” Lisi whispered. “He’s either Mormon or got seriously schooled on the way over here.”

It was expected that foreigners would only learn the two-worded
Ia Manuia
—not sprout some impressive monologue that included polite language and an innate knowledge of their culture.

Alana scoffed to hide her amusement. “The man’s loaded. He probably hired the best Samoan-language teacher around.”

Chase looked up at that moment and took in the scene around him, turning his head before coming to rest his eyes on her. He halted and held her gaze, as if he was reaching into the depths of her soul with just one look. The way his lips lifted into a knowing smile made her feel like he could see how she really felt despite the uninterested facade she had put up. She inhaled sharply and quickly turned her attention to something, anything else in the
fale
. Feeling unsettled, she focused her eyes on the wilting coconut fronds around the posts. When several minutes passed, she dared a curious peek over at him again. He was concentrating on the conversation that was taking place around him. She examined his face for the first time and noted his strong jaw line, full mouth, and straight nose. It was difficult to discern from this distance the color of his eyes. Brown? Grey? She couldn’t tell but was instantly intrigued. Alana allowed her gaze to roam down the column of his neck to his masculine shoulders before resting on his forearms. They were thick and looked incredibly strong; she had a forearm fetish and admired his immediately. He had an athletic build, and she observed how well dressed he was: white button down, sleeves rolled to his elbows, grey pants. She couldn’t place his ethnicity; his skin color a deep tan and hair a dark brown, she was instantly curious about him. Alana flicked her eyes back up to his face and was horrified when she saw that he was looking directly at her, one corner of his mouth lifting in the faintest hint of a smile. Embarrassed, she lowered her head and placed a hand over her forehead. She knew her cheeks were probably flushed beetroot at that moment, and she wanted nothing more than to be swallowed up by the earth.

“I caught that.” Lisi chuckled quietly. “Mr. Donor God just scored himself fans from the entire female population in this country. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of us secretly breaks into his jet to fly back with him. Myself included.”

“Shhh,” Manu admonished beside them. He observed Alana’s flushed cheeks and frowned, his lips pressed tight.

“I want to meet him,” Lisi admitted dreamily.

Following the formal proceedings, the group was led to a main hall where lunch was served. Long tables covered in tropical blue tablecloths were placed along the rear of the room, holding plates of fried chicken, baked fish, potato salad, and coleslaw. Smaller tables with chairs were scattered throughout the room and donned with red
teuila
and hibiscus flowers.

“Let’s grab a plate. I’m starving,” Manu said and led the girls to the buffet table.

“I don’t think I have time to eat, Manu. I have to get back to my patients,” Alana protested. Just then her phone pinged with a message. “See? I got to take off.” She started to move away quickly.

“Hey, are we still on for lunch tomorrow?” Manu called as she dashed to the front door.

Alana whipped around and replied, “Yup! Text me. Your treat, right?” He scoffed, and she smiled in response. “Hey, I’m not the hot-shot doctor around here. You’re the one making the big bucks.”

“Right. Not on these government salaries. But I’m sure I can manage buying you a sausage roll? Or maybe a
keke saiga
?”

Smiling, she turned towards the exit and ran head first into a broad chest. “Omph, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see—” Alana’s speech was cut off as she peered up into the dark blue eyes of Mr. Chase Malek.
So they’re blue
. A deep ocean blue that could only be found beyond the reef.

His eyes widened in surprise before he warmly smiled down at her. Her heart thudded against her chest at the close proximity, and she moved to step away, returning a hesitant smile back.

“Oh, Mr. Malek. I see you have met one of our most recent nursing graduates,” an older nurse whose name Alana couldn’t remember spoke.

“Not yet,” he answered with a tone of amusement. He stuck out his hand to her. “I’m Chase.”

Alana swallowed and extended her own. His large hand engulfed hers in a firm handshake, and the sensation shot a tingle up her arm. She glanced self-consciously to her left and saw heads of department and prominent doctors glaring in her direction and could imagine their exact thoughts. Why is he wasting his time talking to this nurse? He should be over here with us. Chase looked over to where her attention was diverted. Momentarily distracted, she took the opportunity to slip past him but he blocked her movement.

“You didn’t tell me yours,” he said in a low voice.

Clearing her throat, she urged herself to relax. “Alana. My name is Alana Vilo.” She gave a small smile and tilted her head upwards to meet his eyes. He was easily the tallest man in the room, and she felt miniscule against him.

He smiled brilliantly in return, flashing straight, white teeth. “I didn’t mean to startle you, Alana. While I’m here, I’m interested in acquainting myself with the hospital and meeting its staff.”

A second message came through on her phone, and she fidgeted uncomfortably.
Time to go
, she thought.

“It was lovely to meet you, Mr. Malek. I hope your visit to Samoa and to this hospital is a pleasant one. If you’ll excuse me, I have to tend to my patients now.” She smiled politely but cringed on the inside. God, she sounded like a robot.

“Of course.” He grinned slowly, his eyes lighting up and crinkling at the sides. “It was wonderful to meet you too, Alana.”

Stepping aside to allow her to pass, she finally let go of the deep breath she was holding as she turned into the hallway. A third beep came through, and when she checked the message her heart sank.

Terrified, she bolted down the long corridor to the intensive care unit, pushing through the doors and racing over to the drawn curtains surrounding a familiar bed. She slipped through the curtain and saw a doctor and nurse working frantically over Mr. Filipo’s body.

Dr. Fetu was pounding on his chest when he looked up and barked, “Alana, God damn it, where have you been?”

Alana sucked in a breath and immediately stepped into her professional shoes. Following his instructions, she stood back as he placed paddles from the defibrillator on the old man’s chest.

“Clear!” he shouted.

She watched as his body was shocked. Over and over again the shocks shook him and the bed. Alana’s heart quickened as she frantically looked to the machines for any sign of progress, of life…anything promising.
This could not be happening
, she thought. They were just chatting mere hours ago.

The room was silent save for the shocks and the shuffling of feet but Alana’s ears were roaring with her heavy breathing.

Several minutes passed when the doctor finally stopped and stepped away. His face had a sheen of sweat on it, and he was breathing harshly. Wiping his forehead with his shirt sleeve he said three words that brought an end to it all. “Somebody call it.”

No. No. No! Her mind shrilled and protested. It could not have just come to an end like that. One moment they were joking in the morning, and the next he was dead. Alana could not accept that his life could be so fleeting, so fragile. Did she have no control over it? Feelings of powerlessness flooded her mind—her young cousin who died of dengue fever, her father in the car accident, and now her patient.

“No! We have to keep trying! There’s still time!” she cried, pushing herself forward so she was situated over Mr. Filipo’s chest.

She began to pound down in an effort to revive him. Two breaths, thirty compressions, over and over again. She could not just give up now. She had to try. It was happening too fast for her, and she was not ready to let him go.

“Alana, stop! It’s over now. He’s gone. We did everything we could.” Dr. Fetu came behind her and grabbed her shoulders.

“I can still do this, please,” she pleaded, a sob escaping from her throat.

“Alana, enough!” Dr. Fetu demanded.

“You have to let me try!” she shot back as she continued her ministrations. She couldn’t believe she was talking that way to her superior, but she was not ready to let this patient go. Hot tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked hard to keep them from falling. Perhaps she should never have become so attached to him. To any of them. But she had a soft spot for Mr. Filipo. He reminded her of her father, and if she couldn’t save her father, she would damn well try her hardest to save Mr. Filipo. It was too much if she just had to let him go. Doubts flooded her mind and she began to question her credibility. Could she really do this job? Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this after all. She was too emotional, and this was too personal.