Page 19 of At First Flight
“Oh, he is. Engineer. The best part is that his parents are professors at Williams and Mary.”
To most people, that knowledge wouldn’t mean anything, but growing up in this area, we know how quickly military families and singles move in and out.
“So that means his family is local. Well, local to the area.”
“Exactly,” she beams, and I can’t help but reciprocate her enthusiasm. Soon, she’s gripped my hands, and we’re spinning around my room as we screech loud enough to scare a neighborhood cat.
“Ashvi, I’m so excited for you. When are you seeing him again?”
“Tomorrow night. At first, I thought he was going to play that stupid game where they wait a week or longer to call, but I literally had a message from him right before you walked in the door.”
“Wow, I’m so excited for you. This one sounds promising.”
“I know, right? So now that I have shared something. It’s your turn.”
Ah, I knew it was too good to be true. Ashvi has always held on to the notion that one bit of personal news requires the other person to share something.
“Prescott is off the table.”
Nodding, she swipes her fingers through the ends of my ponytail, draping it over my shoulder. “At least until wine.”
“Um…” The blanks scroll repetitively like I’m a bill counter until nothing comes to mind.
“What about work? Any luck trying to find a research position here?”
I’d spent my life working up to getting my PhD in microbiology, researching new preventive treatments for food allergies after a close call with my first date and his undiagnosed allergy to strawberries—one of the crops harvested on my family farm. While the close call could have been tragic, it still shaped who I am. That incident set me off on the journey and I was not ready to jump off ship yet. Unfortunately, our small town didn’t have opportunities for biological and immunological studies.
“I’ve been looking around all the research facilities and colleges in the state, but nothing with what I’d like to do specifically.”
“I hate Prescott,” Ashvi barks, and as I snarl at the mention of his name, she backtracks. “Sorry, your ex. I hate your ex and what he’s done.”
Prescott and his family were the major beneficiaries of the research facility where I worked. The center was named after them, for goodness’ sake. So when he paid attention to me and my work, I assumed it was because they wanted to know what their grant money was being spent on. Little did I know it was all to groom and mold me the way they thought was best. And removing me from my position was the last phase in their arsenal.
“Well, I was naive enough to let him do it. But it’s okay. I’ll figure things out. I can always reach out to Wellington University and my old advisor to see if they have any leads. Mr. Shaver helped me land my internship.” I’d been recruited by Stanford and Michigan to join their doctorate programs, but Wellington University had been the only to offer a full scholarship. It helped that I adored the school and campus. And their research facilities were top-notch.
“You can always work for your mom. I know it’s not your dream job, but it’s only until something better comes along.” Just as I try to argue, Ashvi holds her perfect hand in the air. “Look, I know this isn’t what you want to do for the rest of your life, but you’re so great with kids, and they adore you.”
It was the same argument my siblings made time and time again. Not that any of them were jumping at the chance to work with Mom and her local nanny service. We were all good with kids, brought up that way, but Mom never pressured any of us to follow in her footsteps. But unlike my siblings, I had the knack for the business that they didn’t. Before we moved to Coral Bell Cove, it had been just me and my dad. My mom ran off and never looked back. He’d tried to give me a Christmasto remember when I was four, and that was the same holiday we met Claire, my mom, for all intents and purposes. She ran a nanny service and assigned herself to my dad when all her other employees were designated to other families.
It all worked out in the end, considering they fell head over heels in love during that two-week vacation, and we moved here permanently that same year.
“I know. I’m just not sure if I want to even open that Pandora’s box, you know?”
“Yeah, I get it. But the money never hurts, and with the summer tourist season about to start, maybe you’ll luck out and find yourself a hot single dad. Crazier things have happened.”
Laughing, I push us out of the spare bedroom I’m borrowing and back into the living room. “My mom already won the jackpot with that one. I don’t think it happening twice is all that probable.”
“I think you should talk to her about it, anyway. When you’re ready.”
Reaching into the cupboard, I pull out a glass and start filling it with tap water. “I’ve been here for like half an hour and I feel like you’re already trying to get rid of me.”
Hopping onto the counter, Ashvi swings her long legs from side to side. “I’m not. I just know my best friend and how she gets bored in five seconds flat if she doesn’t have a schedule or a job to keep her busy.”
Swallowing the last gulp of water, I set the glass in the sink and turn to face my friend. “I hate that you know me so well.”
“Duh, that’s what best friends are for. And to tell you that you can’t stay hidden away for long.”
I flinch at her insinuation of hiding away from my problems.
