Page 29 of Love in the Lab
As she turns to leave, Dr. Gantt says over her shoulder, “It’s been awfully exciting around here this week, hasn’t it?” She levels a look at Jonathan, her eyebrows raised, before walking off in the direction of the lab area.
“Oof,” Jonathan says, and I cringe.
“Sorry,” I say softly. This prank war is getting out of control. Neither of us were supposed to get in trouble over it.
Jonathan shrugs. “Don’t be. This is amazing. And all for me, huh? ROY G BIV and all.” He stands and steps closer to me.
Warmth creeps into my cheeks and across my chest. He noticed and recognized the pattern. “Want help cleaning it up?”
He inches closer so we’re standing toe to toe. “Nah, but thanks. Go get some work done, Mollapalooza.” He smirks, looking down into my face. I tip my head back to see him, my heart pounding. “I’ve got you.”
Despite the time I’ve spent recently on fieldwork and pranks at work, I finally finished my data model. As I hoped, it shows a correlation between harmful algal blooms and tropical weather systems. That is to say, years with higher tropical activity were also years with water conditions suited for harmful algal blooms to prosper. Of course, as any even mediocre data scientist will tell you, correlation is not causation. The data don’t prove that tropical storms and hurricanes contributed to outbreaks of harmful algal blooms. I wish I had real-time data of water conditionsduringa tropical storm or hurricane.
I’m focused on the finer points of my research when my phone rings. It’s my mom. I forgot I told her I’d talk to her later today about her and Dad visiting this weekend. I check the time. Somehow, it’s already seven in the evening, and I’m still at the lab.
Stretching my back and shoulders from my desk chair, I answer the phone. “Hi, Mom. Sorry I didn’t call you back. I got caught up with something at work.”
“Hi, honey. No worries. I figured it was something like that.” I can hear the smile in her voice even over the phone.
Now that I’m not wrapped up in my work, I realize I’m famished. I didn’t plan on being at work late tonight, so I only packed a lunch, which I ate at lunchtime, of course.
“So, you and Dad are coming to New Orleans?” I put my phone on speaker and set it on my desk while I rummage through my bag for a granola bar oranythingedible.
“Yes! Your father and I both took some time off work, and we’re going on a road trip! We’ll leave Austin on Thursday and see you in New Orleans this weekend, and then we’ll leave New Orleans Monday morning and see your sister in Florida next week.”
I chuckle, pulling a pile of receipts from my bag. “Is this because you want to meet Adam, and I just happen to be on the way?”
“Notonlybecause we want to meet your sister’s boyfriend. They do seem serious, though, and even though Nicole promised she’d bring him home for Thanksgiving this year, we just don’t want to wait that long.”
I shake my head. Thanksgiving is only a couple of months away, and when my mom sayswe, I’m pretty sure it’s mostly her that’s impatient to meet Adam. My dad wants to meet him but is probably fine waiting until Thanksgiving.
“But,” my mom continues, “we also want to seeyou. You haven’t been home since Christmas, Molly, and we miss you.”
“I’m coming to Texas for Thanksgiving this year, too, you know.”
My mom has started responding when a hand comes down heavy on my shoulder. I yelp and startle halfway out of the chair. I spin to find Jonathan standing behind me, a sheepish look on his face.
“Sorry!” he mouths, taking a step back.
I glare and wave him away while Mom worries on the other end of the phone. “Molly, honey, are you okay? It sounded like you yelled. Where are you? Are you safe?”
My heart is still beating rapidly from the fright. “I’m fine. I’m at the lab and acoworker…” I scowl at Jonathan, who’s still hovering in my cubicle. “...startled me, that’s all.”
“Is that your mom?” Jonathan whispers.
I try to shoo him away again, but he’s not deterred. Instead, he clears his throat and says, “Mrs. Delaney? Hi, this is the coworker. Sorry to interrupt your call.”
The line is silent for so long that I wonder if the call dropped. “Mom?”
“I’m … here. Molly, will you introduce me to your friend?”
I groan. “Mom, it’s just my coworker Jona … Dr. Stanch. He was just leaving.” I glower, hoping Jonathan takes the hint and disappears.
But, of course, he doesn’t. He flashes a charming smile toward the phone, even though it’s just a voice call, and my mom can’t see him. “Jonathan Stanch, Mrs. Delaney. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise, Jonathan! Where are you from, dear?”
“Originally Ohio, but I’ve been in Louisiana for a while now. Molly and I were actually in the same cohort for graduate school here at New Orleans State.”
