Page 66 of Love in the Lab
I let out a whoosh of breath and start talking. “My parents got divorced when I was twelve. You know that. My mom got an amazing opportunity to move to Switzerland and work for the World Health Organization. Dad didn’t want to go. I feel like he abandoned her, like he refused to support her dreams. I blame him for breaking up our family.”
Molly rubs my back as she responds. “That sounds hard.”
“It was. Nothing was the same after that. I couldn’t look at my dad the same way. He should have been willing to follow her to keep our family together. We only saw Mom about once a year after she moved.”
She makes a humming noise in her throat. “You and your sister stayed in Ohio with your dad?”
“Yeah. Until I graduated. I took a gap year and spent it with my mom in Egypt. She’s moved around to a few different offices over the years. Then I went to college in Florida before coming here for grad school.”
“Why didn’t you and Tamara move with your mom?”
I consider the question. “I’m … not sure. I don’t remember it even being a conversation. Maybe she didn’t think she could take care of us on her own with her new job?”
“Your dad’s job was less demanding?”
I frown. “Well, no. He was an engineer and had intense deadlines that kept him plenty busy.”
Molly makes the humming sound again, and I’m suddenly disoriented. Why wasn’t there a conversation about Tamara and I moving to Switzerland with Mom? Did she not want us to come with her?
As if she senses my impending existential crisis, Molly pivots the conversation back into safer territory. “Anyway, after the parade tonight, I might be coming around on Halloween. Are you doing anything Friday for Halloween night?”
I shake off my thoughts and focus on Molly. “Trick-or-treating is usually pretty lively in my complex, so I’ll be busy handing out candy. And then a friend of mine is having a party. Would you want to join me?”
“For which part?”
“Either. Both.”
She scrunches her nose as she thinks. “Handing out candy sounds fun. Count me in for that. And I’m a hard maybe for the party. Can I see how I feel day of?”
“Of course. You’ll need a costume, though.”
She grimaces. “Do I?”
I grin. “Yes. I’m not budging on that. It’s Halloween. You need a costume.”
Her eyes light up, and she smiles smugly. “Okay.”
“Not a scientist.”
She flings her head back against the headrest and groans. “Ugh, Jonathan! Why not?”
I laugh. “Youarea scientist. Halloween is about dressing up as something you’re not. It’s fun!”
“If you say so,” she grumbles.
We’re quiet for a few minutes, and I check the time on my phone. “It’s getting late. Time for you to go inside?”
She sighs. “I suppose.”
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
I circle the truck and meet her on the sidewalk. Catching her hand, I pull her into me. “By the way, I really loved sharing the parade with you tonight.”
She rests her head against my chest. “I had fun, but it also drove me a little crazy.”
I peer down at her in concern, pulling back enough to see her face. She’s smiling. “What do you mean?”
“You did such a great job of blocking out the smells around us that might have overwhelmed me.” Her nose crinkles. “The problem was being surrounded byyourscent all that time. It had me thinking … things.” Her eyes spark, holding my gaze.
