Page 3 of Love in the Lab
My pulse quickens. “Is there a problem?”
“No. No, not exactly. Before I invited you to join this research team, I talked to Dr. Shepherd.” He’s my former boss. “He toldme about some of the creative connections you made in his research, how those connections produced breakthroughs.”
I nod. “Yes, he included me as an author on three different publications because of my contributions.”
“And that’s wonderful. It was your creative problem solving that helped me to know I needed you on this research team. But I just haven’t seen it here, yet.”
My face heats. This lab is bigger and more bustling than my previous one, and I’ve had a hard time concentrating. I make sure to get my work done, hence my weekend hours, and I know it’s all accurate, but she’s right. I haven’t had any of thoseahamoments that seem to pop into my head out of nowhere.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Gantt,” I start, but she interrupts me.
“No, no. This is not an apology moment; this is a growth moment. Molly, we need you on this team. I want to try something to help stir up your creativity. A change in scenery.”
A change in scenery? What does that mean?
“I’m going to have you partner with Dr. Stanch for a while. Get out in the field in the fresh air and sea spray. See if we can’t kick-start that amazing brain of yours.”
My stomach drops, and I fight to keep my expression neutral. Work with Dr. Stanch? In the field? Hard pass. I can barely stand being in the same lab as him for a couple of hours.
I start to protest, but Dr. Gantt holds up her hand to stop me. “This is not negotiable, Molly. I think you need this. Sometimes we can get in a rut because of a rigid schedule or too much routine. Creativityispossible in those circumstances, but if what you’re doing isn’t working, it stands to reason that you have to try something else. We’ve got to get you out of your comfort zone and into your growth zone.”
Out of my comfort zone? The problem for me is that my comfort zone isn’t about being comfortable; it’s about functioning. It’s about being able to do life with any modicum ofcontrol. I’ve carefully honed my routine for years to make sure I can focus on what matters most to me other than my family: my work. Disrupting the system now is risky.
I wipe my palms on my thighs and take a breath to try to calm my racing pulse.
Resigned, I ask, “When is this happening?”
“I’ll talk to Dr. Stanch today. Don’t worry. I won’t share details. I’ll simply let him know that I’ve asked you to learn the fieldwork side of our research, too. You two can start tomorrow.”
Tomorrow is soon. Dr. Gantt stands, so I follow suit. Before I leave, she walks around her desk and places her hand on my arm.
“Molly, I know you’re not excited about working in the field. I promise you it’s not any kind of punishment. I see so much potential for your future in this discipline. It feels like you’re boxing yourself in when outside of the box is where we’ll find the solutions we need. Get out of the box, Molly.”
I tip my head once in acquiescence, but internally I’m fuming as I leave her office.
Get out of the box? Outside of the box is just chaos and failure. The box keeps me on track.
Without the box, I’m honestly afraid of what will happen.
Just outside Dr. Gantt’s office door is Jonathan. Maybe when she said she’d talk to him today, she meant right now. He leans his back against a wall, one foot on the ground, the other leg bent at the knee with his foot propped on the wall. His arms are crossed in a casual pose. Of course, he’s smiling.
I level a withering stare his way before stomping toward my cubicle.
Chapter two
Jonathan
Today part one of my plan to win over Molly Delaney starts. When Dr. Gantt told me yesterday that Molly would be joining me in the field for the foreseeable future, I knew I had to find a way to get her to at least tolerate me.
Why is winning her over so important to me as to warrant a plan? Yeah, I’m not really sure. I mean she’s gorgeous: petite with brown hair the color of caramel, usually tied up or back in a practical ponytail, and deep blue eyes framed behind round glasses and long, fluttery eyelashes. She’d be attractive even if I wasn’t already predisposed to think women in science are hot.
I hope I’m not so shallow that her looks are the reason she intrigues me. Molly Delaney is a puzzle. I’ve known her for about six years now—we’re the only two scientists in Dr. Gantt’s lab that came up through the grad program together—but I don’t really know much about her. Her brilliance, and peculiarity, are widely known around the department, not just in our lab. Peculiar in that she’s quiet, even aloof, and serious to a fault.
And she doesn't like me. I have a reputation for being a likable guy, so honestly the fact that she doesn’t like me kind of makes me not like her, because what the heck? Not even sure what I did. I like when people like me, so it also makes me want to change her mind.
So yeah, Molly’s a puzzle, but one I'm willing to put in the time to solve, at least for the harmony of my work life for the next couple of months.
Of course, Dr. Gantt forcing Molly to work with me in the field makes the whole winning-her-over thing more difficult. I know she wouldn’t be working with me willingly, and the daggers she shot at me as she came out of Dr. Gantt’s office yesterday made it clear this is against her will. Molly gravitates toward the lab-based work of testing samples, studying data, and writing up reports. The understanding around the lab is that she has a fear of the ocean and doesn’t like boats. Doesn’t make sense to me considering our line of work, but what do I know?
