Mac silently enjoyed the rest of her breakfast while listening to Isa's instructions and advice about the therapy session, and later as she quickly looked through the files of the patients that Isa offered him. Breakfast was a real feast for the palate, and for several minutes the neurologist had been eating more out of gluttony than hunger. She had particularly enjoyed the Rheinland-style sausages with jam, which she had had the indecency to repeat after having devoured two chocolate croissants. She already knew that type of sausage and how to serve it, because she had eaten it before with Greta Meyer, but it was food that was difficult to find in Pygar, because it was necessary to wait to be brought by some trader from Rheinland. It was true that in the colony, sausages were also made with lab-grown meat, which were more accessible and common, but the difference in taste with the original was abysmal. Now Mac had it at her disposal at Belle's for every day she was on the Healing Heart, along with another incredible variety of culinary products that the ship offered in its various restaurants and supermarkets, and that would cost her doctor's salary for a month if she would like to get them at Faith Haven.
Mackenzie watched in amusement, above Saito's tablet, as the psychologist placed a large portion of fresh, raw salmon in a bowl for Niki, distracting the cat from the piece of smoked salmon on her own plate. Wilson had been watching her for a while, and the kitten hovered over Saito's fish from a distance, staring at it, moving slowly, in that half-crouched position that felines usually adopt when they are preparing to hunt. However, as soon as the bowl of raw salmon was placed within her reach, she meowed gratefully and immediately forgot about anything other than enjoying the delicacy that had been offered to her.
The neurologist nodded and momentarily left the tablet on the table. "From what you're telling me, the therapy will go more or less as I imagined, but I needed to be sure not to make any mistakes. I understand that patients will be more relaxed when placed in a secluded, beautiful environment, divided into small groups. It's a good idea, and it's great to have the means to be able to do this. OS&C is very generous in allowing us to use their little island for this." She paused for a moment, helping herself to some smoked salmon with butter as she had seen Isabella do, and then she continued speaking, gravely. "I'm glad to be able to work with women from the Shelter. Honestly, ever since you told me about its existence during the visit to Faith Haven, I've felt a great attraction for this initiative. Apart from being a service that I consider extremely important for a very vulnerable collective of victims, it's a professional challenge." She looked at Isabella, her face serious. "Being able to help these people, mentally destroyed by those... monsters, to reintegrate into society after the trauma, and be able to rebuild their lives is... something I would be very proud to be able to participate in."
Dr. Wilson gobbled her piece of salmon, and savored it slowly, with delight. "Blessed Deux, Isa. I don't think I've had this good of a breakfast since... well, I don't even know if I've ever had a breakfast that good." She laughed, happily. "I'm going to force myself to stop eating now, or I'm afraid I'll fall asleep in the middle of therapy." She drank the last of her coffee and then wiped her mouth and hands with a napkin. "I can consider myself satisfied."
Eating well was one of the things Mackenzie enjoyed the most, and she rarely had the chance to do so in recent years. Faith Haven, and Pygar in general, was not known for being a place where a great diversity of food could be grown or raised there, so importing products from outside the planet was the only alternative if you wanted to eat something more exclusive than the regular ranch. This made the price of the most exquisite food very expensive, and it wasn't something that could be consumed regularly. In addition, in the case of the neurologist, she usually did not have time either. Her work kept her very busy and when she got home she did not usually feel like cooking, something that she was not good at, too, so basically fed herself with sandwiches that she ate between breaks. So, if someone served her a nice, hearty meal like the one she just enjoyed, her mood would inevitably change to a better, more positive one.
Mac took Isabella's tablet again, ready for turning her attention back to the patient files. "Thanks to your explanations, everything has become quite clear to me about how today will unfold. I must say I like this dynamic of mixing therapy with that kind of mini-vacation, as you told me." She lightly tapped rhythmically her fingers on the casing of the electronic device, an involuntary gesture which in her signified eagerness to start working. "I know you've told me that these are people who are in an advanced stage of the process and are stable, but I think it's esential that every moment of therapy be a safe and comfortable space for them." Wilson patted her backpack, inside which she had put her study book away again. "I've read in 'Introduction to Human Psychology' that there can always be a setback in the process that means a step back towards the goals that the therapy seeks to achieve. I've also read that the moments of openness during the sessions are the most dangerous moments, because it's when the patient immerses himself in his problems and addresses them directly. Without a suitable environment and, obviously, the right professional support, the session could be even more negative than positive."
Wilson looked down at the tablet again, and opened the first patient's file. "I think I should start memorizing at least the most important data from our patients' medical history, so that I don't need to review it during the session." Her fingers kept tapping involuntarily on the casing of the electronic device. "The last thing those poor tortured ladies need is to see a stranger like me, barging into their therapy session, looking at them with a lost face and snooping through my notes every 5 minutes."
