Page 28 of Finally Yours
Chapter Thirty
I never want her to doubt how I feel again. -Asher
Asher
“You ready for this, Dr. Cannon?” Dr. Maggie Kincade questions. “There are a lot of people out there. It’s almost time to introduce you.”
I glance through the curtains again, sweeping my eyes over the crowded room where everyone has finally been seated at their tables. My heart pounds in my chest and my mouth is suddenly dry. I’ve never been a big fan of public speaking.
“I’m ready, Maggie. Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Maggie squeezes my arm and walks out onto the stage, ready to announce auction items. After she’s done, I have something planned that will either convince Lyla how crazy I am for her or will make her die of embarrassment and never have anything to do with me again. I’m of course hoping for the former reaction.
Maggie describes the silent auction process and the items that everyone will be bidding on. They include a weekend at someone’s cabin in Aspen. That would be an amazing trip for me and Lyla. I make a mental note to write in a bid later. You know if I’m still able to function after this.
“And those are the items up for auction tonight. All proceeds will go to new equipment for the hospital and some of the upgrades we so desperately need.” I see some nods in thecrowd and I almost snort. Almost every piece of equipment we have needs to be upgraded. I hope some people are ready to reach into their wallets tonight.
Maggie leans forward into the microphone again. “I have one last thing for tonight. A surprise, if you will. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dr. Asher Cannon for years, and this is the first time we’ve ever been able to get him up on stage. So, that in itself is remarkable.” I hear some laughter and I cringe. I’m literally sweating through my suit.
“But he has an announcement he would like to make, and he has given of himself so much over his years at Memorial that I think the least he deserves is our attention. So, let’s put our hands together and welcome Dr. Asher Cannon to the stage.”
I step out and give the audience of my colleagues and various donors a small wave. I step up to the podium and realize my hands are shaking as I grip the edges. I so badly want to say the right things. I thought about writing everything down, but to be honest I felt like that would sound rehearsed and false, so I decided to go with my gut.
“Hey guys, I…um,” I pause, feeling a wave of panic overtake me, but find Lyla’s face again in the audience. She gives me an encouraging nod and I find my voice again.
“I’m not much of a public speaker. I think I feel more comfortable with a scalpel in my hands than I do at this podium. Not sure what that says about me.” I hear a few titters in the audience and continue, “When I first came to Memorial, I was a bright-eyed resident, idealistic and ready to make a difference. I was also scared shitless.” I hear a few outright giggles at that statement.
“I was fortunate enough to meet my mentor that first day, Dr. Michael Kennedy.” I see the light of recognition on many of the faces in the audience. “I know he was as dear to many of you here as he was to me.” I clear my throat, feeling a lump ofemotion well up unexpectedly. “He not only became my mentor here at work, but he invited me into his home and became my friend, the only friend I had at the time.” I grip the sides of the podium harder. “You see, I grew up like many do, without the warmth of love in my home. When Dr. Kennedy invited me into his home, he showed me a different way of life. He talked about his late wife with such affection and adoration that I was genuinely confused. I had never seen that before. I had never seen a couple in love like that. But when I saw how much he loved his daughter, Lyla, well, that really blew me away.” My gaze meets Lyla’s and I see a tear fall down her cheek. That damn lump appears in the back of my throat again.
“He loved her without question, without any strings or contingencies. He was her champion no matter what. I feel very fortunate that I got to see that kind of relationship up close. I grew to love Lyla too, at first as my friend’s daughter, and then for being just who she is, which is a sweet, loving person who can never find fault with anyone, even an old cynic like me.”
I take a deep breath and then meet Lyla’s blue-eyed gaze again. “Lyla, would you mind coming up here, please? I think I’ll do better with this next bit if you’re right next to me.”
Lyla cocks her head to the side, studying me. Her cheeks heat and she slowly nods as others clap around her. “Go, Lyla!” I hear one of the nurses shout. “Help the poor doc out!”
She finally pushes back her chair and makes her way to the stage as applause grows. She looks bewildered and embarrassed. Her tight smile makes my nerves skyrocket.
When she reaches the podium, she says under her breath, “I’m not sure what’s going on, Asher.”
I grab her hand and squeeze it, looking deep into her blue eyes. “You’ll see in a minute, Lyla. Just give me a minute.”
I turn back to the microphone. “Thanks, guys, for helping me get her up here. She’s much prettier to look at than me somaybe you’ll forgive me for my bad public speaking skills.” A few chuckles erupt in the crowd, and I grab for Lyla’s hand. I need to feel her support now.
“Like I said, Dr. Kennedy brought me into his family, and I came to love being there. So, when he got sick, it hurt like hell. I won’t lie about that. Watching him slip away was hard. Watching Lyla be strong for him was even harder.” I glance over at the woman by my side. “She was there every day, always trying to lift his spirits. She waited on him hand and foot, and saw her father go through pain that no human should ever have to go through. She was patient, loving, and kind through it all. Maybe that’s part of the reason I fell in love with her.”
I hear a few gasps from the audience, but most people just smile. I suppose it’s been obvious to everyone else for a long time. I see Nurse Vicky sit back in her chair with a satisfied smile and I can’t help but smile as well.
“I fell hard for this woman next to me. I guess you could say, I even became a bit obsessed. How could I not when the most beautiful person in the world also has the most beautiful heart in the world? I guess that’s why I thought I would never be worthy of her.” I look over to my side. Lyla’s eyes are shining bright with tears, and she has a lopsided smile on her face. Maybe I’m not doing so bad.
“I screwed things up a bit with her because I was scared. I was scared as hell that I would never be able to make her happy. I was scared as hell that I would never live up to what her father wanted for her. I didn’t think he could be the man he was or live up to the legacy he left behind. I still know I can’t be him. But I do know that with Lyla by my side, I can be a better man.” I squeeze her hand again, and this time she squeezes mine back.
“So, anyway, what I’m getting to in a very roundabout way is that I wanted to make sure Dr. Kennedy’s legacy lives on, especially here at this hospital. I also wanted to give Lyla the giftof that. And most of all, I wanted Dr. Kennedy to be remembered also for the love he had for his beautiful wife because it was such an essential part of him. I’m learning that when you love someone as much as he did her, it’s almost impossible to imagine life without that person.” I glance over at Lyla, thinking of trying to be without her now. I don’t want to imagine that life. “I hope that wherever Dr. Kennedy and his wife Mary are, that they are finally together again. At any rate, their names will be together here at Memorial forever.”
I walk over to the easel that’s been placed to my right. There’s a black sheet covering it. I pull it back slowly. I hear a few gasps from the audience.
“Our oncology department had already been granted a few upgrades, but I decided it was time that this hospital recognized Lyla’s dad and my mentor for all his service.” I look straight into Lyla’s beautiful face as I make my next announcement, “So, we will be renaming the oncology department the Michael and Mary Kennedy Oncology Center in honor of him and his lovely wife. They both passed from this horrible disease that we have yet to find a cure for. I hope that many will find inspiration and life-saving treatments here at our improved center.”
The applause that follows my announcement is thunderous. All I care about is the love that I see shining in Lyla’s eyes.
