Page 40 of Love in the Lab (Delaneys in Love #2)

Chapter thirty-three

Molly

T he next few weeks are a whirlwind of decluttering and organizing as Jonathan and I try to combine two households while simultaneously getting ready to move to another state, now with a week-long trip to Ohio in the mix.

I’m proud of how Jonathan is handling the issues with his dad, though.

Even before his mom’s revelations, I felt like he needed to make the trip.

I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to interfere.

The week after Thanksgiving, I call Almay Jones and formally accept the principal investigator position at the Hollings Lab.

I negotiate my contract to include moving expenses—with enough to cover packing both apartments and unpacking in our new apartment in Charleston—and a position for Jonathan on the ecological assessment team in a different lab within the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.

It’s easier than I thought it would be. As soon as I send over his CV, Dr. Jones provides three options for open positions.

The ecological assessment team conducts a lot of fieldwork, so it’s a perfect fit.

They even have someone who can help us find housing, since we won’t be able to get to Charleston to scope out apartments before the move.

One of the most difficult tasks on our list is talking to Dr. Gantt and putting in our notice.

We’ve kept quiet about the job offer, and our marriage, until all the details were worked out.

The day after I sign the contract, which is the second week of December and about two weeks after Thanksgiving, we ask to meet with her in her office.

“What’s going on, you two?” Dr. Gantt asks as we sit in the chairs across from her desk.

We’ve all still been working with the glider data from Hernando, and Dr. Gantt is working on a grant application for additional funding to continue data collection during future tropical systems that come near New Orleans.

Jonathan and I glance at each other. “There’s no easy way to say this,” Jonathan begins. “We wanted to let you know about our plans to leave this lab, and NOSU altogether.”

Dr. Gantt's eyes widen. “What’s going on?”

“First, I want to say how grateful I am for the experience you’ve given me here,” I say.

“Watching my research ideas become reality has been amazing, and the opportunities you’ve given me here directly correlate with me even having an option of leaving.

” I take a breath. “After the CERA presentation, I was offered a PI position heading up harmful algal bloom mitigation research at the Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina. I’ve decided to accept it. ”

Dr. Gantt clasps her hands together against her chest. “Molly! That’s an amazing opportunity. Of course you have to accept. Oh, I’m thrilled for you!” Her forehead furrows. “Wait, though. You’re both resigning?”

In a synchronized motion that must look like we practiced it, though we didn’t, we both raise our ring-adorned left hands. Jonathan shrugs. “We got married while we were in Vegas. So, she’s stuck with me. I go where she goes.”

Dr. Gantt’s eyebrows nearly hit her hairline. “You what?” She looks at me for confirmation, and I nod. “Well, that’s wonderful news! Congratulations!”

“Thank you.” Jonathan beams. “I also want to tell you how much I appreciate you, Dr. Gantt. When you recruited me to your team, I know you planned on me staying more than nine months, but life had other plans, I guess. This has been a dream job, even more so because it gave me an opportunity to finally get to know Molly. Turns out she’s the woman of my dreams.”

Dr. Gantt blinks rapidly, as if trying to hold back tears. “Thank you, Jonathan. What’s next for you in Charleston?”

“I’ll be working on the NCCOS ecological assessment team, so fortunately, my days of piloting boats are not over yet.”

“Sounds like you’ll both be in good situations.

I won’t try to pretend that losing you isn’t a blow to this research team.

I don’t look forward to trying to replace you.

I’ll be hard-pressed to find two better scientists, especially who work so well together, despite the occasional prank war.

” She gives us a knowing look, and I drop my eyes guiltily to the floor.

I can hear the grin in Jonathan’s voice as he asks, “How much did you know about?”

“Oh, I know about much more than you might think, Dr. Stanch.” She smiles. “I’m thrilled you’ll both have the opportunity to continue building your careers and your life together.”

At this moment I know that my new career goal—well, one of them at least—is to aspire to be as kind and insightful a PI as Dr. Gantt someday.

Jonathan’s family is ecstatic when we tell them we’re coming to Ohio for Christmas and Pete and Sharon’s wedding two days later.

Jonathan’s dad sounds suspiciously choked up when we talk to him on the phone.

If he’s getting emotional now, I can only imagine how he’ll take it when Jonathan initiates their long-overdue heart-to-heart.

Tamara texts us every day with another dish she or one of the other relatives are planning to make for Christmas dinner. I guess she figures that if Jonathan’s tempted to back out, having the food he’d be missing fresh in his mind might stem the tide.

The list of foods Jonathan assures me are Midwestern delicacies rolls in.

HoneyBaked Ham. Green bean casserole. Homemade yeast rolls.

Fruit salad. Buttery mashed potatoes with brown gravy.

Not to mention Dutch crumble apple pie, homemade fudge, and an excessive assortment of cookies. Plus, something called a Kringle?

I’m looking forward to meeting everyone in person, especially Tamara.

She reminds me of my sisters—or, what I imagine it might be like if I had an older sister instead of always being the older sister.

And Jonathan’s nieces. We don’t have kids in my family, so I’m nervous about interacting with them.

I haven’t been around little kids since Olivia was a little kid.

“Oh my gosh.” I don’t realize I’ve mumbled this out loud until Jonathan looks up from the suitcase he’s packing.

“What?”

“I’m an aunt now. Your nieces will call me Aunt Molly because I’m married to their uncle.”

Jonathan grins. “Don’t worry. The girls are the best. I just give them whatever they want and roughhouse with them, and they love me.”

“What are their names again?” I’m not sure why I ask, because five minutes from now the names will have already leaked out of my brain like water through a sieve.

“Charlotte is the oldest, then Hannah, and then little Mia.”

“How old are they?”

“I don’t know. Charlotte and Hannah are, like, elementary school age, and Mia is not yet.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s not helpful at all.” I gasp. “Oh my gosh, we need to buy them presents! We still need to get everyone presents!”

Jonathan smirks. “Do we, though? I kind of figured our presence was present enough.”

I groan. “Absolutely not.” I pick up a notepad from where I’ve left it on the bedside table.

I’m trying out list-making to help me keep better track of all the tasks that need to get done.

I have notepads all around the apartment, so there’s always one close at hand when I need to write something down.

“We only have two days before we leave. Let’s see .

.. Tamara and her husband. The girls. Your dad and Sharon.

” I tap the pen against my chin. “Do we need to get them two gifts? One for Christmas and one for their wedding?”

I feel the panic and overwhelm brewing in my chest as my brain tries to keep hold of all the tasks looming over the next few weeks.

Between traveling for Christmas, moving to a new state, changing jobs, and being recently married, I think I’ve hit most of the life-change events they tell you to watch out for on those stress tests.

My old routine is so far gone at this point that it wouldn’t be able to see me with binoculars.

Jonathan shrugs. “It’s really not that big of a deal, Mol. Nobody’s expecting anything, except probably the girls.”

All of a sudden, Jonathan’s laissez-faire attitude irks me in a way it hasn’t for months. The annoyance flares into rapidly-igniting anger, and before I can even identify why I’m upset, I’m a raging wildfire.

“Is this my life now? Really? I have to take care of all the little details because you don’t think it's a big deal and won’t do anything to help?” I hear my voice shouting, but I don’t feel like I’m in control of the words or volume.

While the thought Stop, you don’t want to do this , surfaces in my brain, the words are quickly drowned out by sensations hitting me hard and fast from every direction.

I can’t reach the place of logic that produced the warning.

Everything in my body feels all wrong all at the same time.

My skin is too warm. The room is too small.

The waistband on my leggings squeezes my stomach uncomfortably.

“I thought I was getting a partner, but I guess it’s just more work for me to figure out alone!

” I shut my eyes against Jonathan’s stunned expression.

Turning, I escape into the bathroom and lock the door behind me.

I crumple onto the fluffy rug and release sob after sob in giant convulsions.

Bit by bit, the softness of the rug and the cool fiberglass wall of the bathtub next to me lull me out of the meltdown.

I sit up and cover my face with my hands in embarrassment.

A freaking ADHD meltdown. I haven’t had one like that in years.

On the one hand, the fact that I expressed what I was feeling instead of bottling it up is a big step.

On the other hand, I know I absolutely need to find healthier ways to express those feelings.

Love or not, he shouldn’t have to put up with scenes like the one I just caused, especially when I know how stressed he is about this trip and talking to his dad.

A quiet tap sounds on the bathroom door. “Molly?” Jonathan calls in an equally soft voice. “I’m sorry.”

I heave myself up from the bathroom floor with a sigh. I catch sight of myself in the mirror—my eyes are puffy and red, the skin on my face blotchy. I open the door, letting my hair cascade over my face to hide myself.

Jonathan’s face is a study in concern. His eyes flit from my face to the rug imprints on my knees. “I’m sorry,” he repeats. “Of course I should be the one to figure out gifts for my family.”

I shake my head, causing my hair to swish back and forth over my cheeks. “No, I’m sorry.”

Cautiously, he reaches out and puts his hand on my arm. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I just—” I suck in a wavering breath.

“Hey,” Jonathan soothes. “Come here.” He tugs me against his chest, wrapping his arms around me.

“I never wanted you to see me like that. You don’t deserve emotional ambushes. But listen, it’s rare, okay? For me to have a meltdown. It’s been years. I guess with everything changing right now, I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’ll keep working on healthier ways to express my emotions.”

Jonathan pulls away from the embrace enough to comb the hair out of my face. “If it’s a part of you, I want to see it. I want to know. Life is overwhelming right now. We made our choices, and they’re all good changes for the most part, I think, but there’s still a lot going on.”

“I just don’t … don’t want you to think you made a mistake, tying yourself to me. I tried to warn you; I’m a lot to deal with.”

He holds my gaze, his fingers still in my hair. “Stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not perfect either, if you haven’t noticed.” His lips tip up in a tentative grin.

I sniffle. “I haven’t noticed. You seem pretty perfect.”

“I’m not.” He smiles sadly. “Just ask my dad.”

I squeeze him tighter. “Your dad loves you. He’ll go easy on you.”

He sighs. “Maybe, but he shouldn’t.”

I stretch onto my tiptoes, aiming my lips at his nose. At the last second, he lifts his head, smirking, and I land on his lips instead.

“Hey!” I laugh. He pulls me back to him, and everything else—the tension with his dad, the to-do lists, the upcoming move—fades away.