Maude laughed, instantly liking her.
They spent the next hour going through the basics—which buttons summoned transport, which elevators werefaster, which hallways were temporary dead ends because of renovations, how the colored directional lines on the floors corresponded to various departments.
Maude soaked it all in, grateful her years of web design had kept her ability to learn new systems sharp.
Just after eleven, Rose nodded toward a man slowly rolling his wife in a wheelchair.
“Your first customer,” Rose whispered dramatically. “Go be marvelous.”
Maude gave Rose a quick nod, then approached with a gentle smile. “Good morning. Need help finding a department?”
The couple looked relieved. “Yes,” the husband said. “Cardiology?”
Ollie’s department. Maude scanned the wall directory. “Of course. I’ll walk you there.”
As she did, she matching their pace, offering conversation, keeping everything simple and easy. By the time she delivered them to the correct check-in desk, the wife touched her arm lightly.
“Thank you, dear. I feel like this place gets bigger every time we’re in it.”
Maude’s heart warmed. “You’re very welcome.”
She walked back toward the lobby, and Rose gave her a thumbs-up. Tess passed by and mouthed,Great job.
Maude smiled as a realization struck her. She liked this. More than she’d expected. And it was definitely something she could do.
And as she slipped back behind the volunteer desk, her phone buzzed lightly in her pocket.
A text from Ollie.Thinking about you this morning. Bet you’re charming everyone already. When’s your break? Meet me at the cafeteria for lunch?
She had to ask. Rose said she could go at one. Maude texted Ollie back and told him when she could meet him, firming up the date.
By the time one rolled around, Maude was more than ready for a break. Her feet weren’t exactly hurting, but they were definitely considering a formal complaint. When she stepped into the cafeteria, the aroma of today’s stir-fry special making her stomach rumble, she spotted Ollie immediately.
He sat at a small corner table, dark hair slightly disheveled, the long sleeves of the tee under his scrub top pushed back, stethoscope draped casually around his neck. He looked like a walking advertisement for “hot doctor,” and Maude felt a familiar flutter in her chest.
Was that a good sign or a bad one? Ollie was a cardiologist. He should know.
He stood as soon as he saw her. “There’s my favorite volunteer.”
His smile kicked her heartbeat up a notch. Man, she had it bad. “Favorite? How many do you know?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Actually, just you and Rose. Admittedly, she’s a very close second.”
Maude nodded. “I can see that.”
They got their food, both of them opting for the stir-fry, and returned to the table. Maude set her tray down and slid into the chair across from him.
Ollie looked her over like he was checking her well-being. “How’s your first day going? Have they overworked you? Underappreciated you? Tried to recruit you into the surgical rotation?”
Maude laughed. “Well, Rose tried to convince me she’s in charge of the entire hospital, so I think I’m already part of some underground volunteer hierarchy.”
“Ah, yes,” Ollie said with mock solemnity. “Rose. She rules with an iron fist and a handbag full of Werther’s Originals.”
Maude dug into her pocket and extracted the gold-wrapped hard candy Rose had given her earlier. She held it up. “Actual facts.”
Ollie laughed, then went more serious and leaned forward slightly. “But really, are you doing okay?”
Maude sipped her Coke as she collected her thoughts. “Actually, I am. I like it. More than I thought I would. Helping people, even in small ways, is really nice. It feels good. Useful.”
