This year’s Hearties Family Reunion (HFR) was filled with heartwarming stories, along with some pretty big news. Ben Rosenbaum teased that he and some of his “When Calls The Heart” co-stars would appear in a Hallmark Countdown to Christmas film this season, to fans’ delight.
On Saturday, the cast took part in panels all day long, laughing and sharing inside stories with attendees. Amanda Wong and Rosenbaum got into the spirit of things, as well. Wong revealed the hilarious details surrounding Mei and Mike Hickam‘s first kiss.
Heart Racing, Sweat Dripping & Tuna Salad Dilemma
Amanda Wong joined the “When Calls the Heart” cast in season 9 as Mei Sou. Mei came to Hope Valley with the intention of becoming the town pharmacist, but she had some secrets. Mike Hickam began showing interest in Mei in season 10, and the two started getting close. However, when it came time for their first kiss, Amanda was extremely anxious.
“Ben, the ever-professional, comes up to me and he goes, ‘So, Amanda, when we are rehearsing, we don’t have to kiss for real, we can just…,'” Amanda Wong recalled Ben telling her before they began rehearsing their first kiss. “And I was like, ‘Ben, don’t even look at me right now, I can’t even look at you. My heart is racing, I’m so nervous. I’m sweating everywhere.”
“It was exactly like that,” Ben chimed in, smiling.
She explained that she was still in a panic when the Kraft Table came over and asked if either of them wanted a tuna salad sandwich.
As the cast and audience laughed, Amanda mimicked Ben’s response to that question, “Ben looks at me and goes, ‘You’d better not eat that.'”
Ben Rosenbaum Recalls Navigating the Kiss With 100 Eyes on Them
“So, we did the kiss, and it was as nerve-racking as you can imagine. It was fine, because it was supposed to be awkward, but it just really a little bit was very awkward,” Amanda said. “And what made it worse — or better– was that the crew, one by one, came up to us and was like, ‘Oh, good job guys!'”
“Yeah, I mean, everyone can remember their first kiss, “Ben added. “Imagine trying to bring that energy to the scene. And then looking around at, like, 100 of your co-workers watching you do it. It lends itself to awkwardness.”
Since even real-life first kisses are known to be awkward, we’re pretty sure that their nervousness just added to all the reasons Mike and Mei have become one of our favorite “When Calls the Heart” couples.
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