Page 2 of Her Alien Matchmaker
“M ommy,” yelled Aaron as I walked through the apartment door. “I got to pet a lizard at school today. Also, Tommy brought a package of gum to school and got in trouble, and Ms. Jenkins said…”
Myra smiled, patting him on the head as he continued reading off the day’s activities. “He’s already had his dinner, and I left yours in the oven. Will you be needing anything else before I leave?”
I tossed my briefcase onto the foyer table and kneeled, holding out my arms. “No, thank you so much, and thanks for working overtime tomorrow. I’ll bring him to your place so you can at least be home. Plus, he loves hanging out with your older kiddos.”
Aaron barreled into me, his red curls bouncing against the dark skin of his face. “Did you save someone’s life today, Mommy?”
“Not quite.” I gave him a squeeze, then stood, trying not to think of Jetarin’s— no, Subject Forty-eight —accusations.
“Sounds great, and the overtime is truly no problem. It helps us both out.” Myra ruffled Aaron’s curls. “Stay out of trouble, you little monster genius.” She grabbed her purse and breezed through the door.
I’m so glad I found her through the XVU nanny service two years ago. Without her help, I couldn’t have handled raising a child alone.
Turning the deadbolt and the regular push-button lock, I set the apartment alarm with a series of beeps.
“Did you at least help someone?” Aaron turned and hopscotched to the living room, where one of his books lay open on the couch. “I told Tommy you have a super important job as a doctor, which means you’re sorta like an angel, helping people get better.”
I rubbed my temple and followed him to the couch, collapsing onto the soft brown cushions and pulling him into my lap. “I…I do help people, but sometimes the path to betterment isn’t always easy.”
A frown crinkled his nose, making the scattered freckles stand out. “Did anyone die?” His little face turned serious.
“No, thank goodness, no one died.” I hugged him to my chest. But someone will die soon, probably tomorrow, once the lab confirms we have everything we need. I swallowed burning bile, trying to block out the image of his pleading face, the words cutting through me as easily as a scalpel.
I do what I do to make the world safer. Besides, I have only another year of my contract and then I can go into the private sector. For the first time in a long while, the idea of serving others, the entire reason I’d pursued a medical career, appealed to me.
Aaron snuggled next to me, pulling his legs close to his chest and flipping through his book, Science for Kids! .
My phone buzzed,, and I fished it from my pocket. Nelly Coombs, the only colleague I considered a friend, texted. She worked in the lab and had a dry sense of humor that rubbed most people the wrong way.
Nelly: How’d today go with your patient?
Me: It turned into a nightmare. He woke up and tried to escape. I think Kincaid messed up the math on his anesthesia dosage.
Nelly: Well, can’t say I blame the alien. I mean, we’re like a Nazi internment camp with all the experiments we perform on the poor bastards.
Me: It’s not that bad. We give them anesthetics and sedatives so they don’t feel anything. Most of the time.
Nelly: Well, I’m glad you’re still in one piece and he didn’t escape. That would’ve been bad for all of us.
Me: Yeah. Tell me about it.
Nelly: How’s the little genius? Still consumed with all things science?
Me: You know it.
Nelly: One day, he’ll be the one running the show at our facility.
The notion of Aaron emulating me didn’t seem as good as I had imagined.
Me: Meh. We’ll see. I’m hoping he’ll choose an entirely different path in life, ya know?
Nelly: I hear ya. If you’re not busy for lunch tomorrow, hit me up. The lab is doing an in-service and then getting a longer lunch break. We can go to the cafeteria and see what kind of slop they’re offering to their elite XVU Research Unit staff.
Me: Lol. Sounds risky, but I’m in.
Nelly: Good. I really worry about you sometimes, being cooped up with your research and putting in such long days. You need to get out more and enjoy life. XVU may be our job, but it shouldn’t consume our life, too.
Me: I know, I know. I’ve actually been contemplating doing something different when my contract ends. Maybe my own practice or getting a teaching position.
Nelly: I think those are great ideas. I’m sure Aaron would love more time with you, too.
Me: I’m sure he would. See you tomorrow! ??
Aaron thought the world of me, and it felt as if I’d let him down, that I wasn’t doing as much to help mankind as I’d thought.
Between Subject Forty-eight and Aaron’s innocent questions, a deep sense of unease rolled around in my belly.
What would the younger me, the person I was right after med school, think of what I’m doing now?
Stop thinking about the past and focus on the present. It was a long day. Why second-guess the work…my job?
Following my own advice, I locked the doubts away and began reading to Aaron, who followed along, already grades ahead of other children his age. I whispered, “Everything I do, I do for you, little guy.”