Frost Fire

by Emma Layne

  “Thanks.”

  Molly wrinkled her nose. “And I’m sorry about all the grunt work. I know what it’s like to plow through boring journal articles.”

  Most of them read like instruction manuals, only less fun. Last semester, she’d had a second job as a research assistant for one of her professors and she’d done a lot of tedious fact-checking.

  “No problem, it’s part of the gig.”

  “So, what’s new?” Molly checked the watch on her phone and then packed up her supplies. She needed to leave soon to make it to her first class.

  Zoe snapped her fingers. “Hey, did you hear about Dr. Samuel Richardson?”

  Molly shook her head. She knew of his work, though. Richardson taught theoretical physics at Harvard, and he had a once in a generation mind, like Albert Einstein.

  “It’s the weirdest thing. He up, and quit his teaching position at Harvard, said he was taking some time off.”

  “Why? Is he doing research?”

  “No clue. One of my friends is a grad assistant in the physics program, and she said he’d blown off classes the past three weeks. Apparently, he’s taking a trip, too, to China of all places. The rumor is, the professor told his wife he might never come back.”

  “Midlife crisis?”

  “No clue, but it’s odd.”

  Molly thought back to her mother’s story about the keynote speaker at her conference, and how he’d been acting peculiar. It could be a coincidence, but two leading scientists in their fields abruptly shirking their responsibilities seemed like too much of a coincidence for her.

  Or maybe I’m paranoid?

  “How’s the inn?”

  “We’re doing well. We’ve got a full house at the moment.”

  Molly thought back to her mother’s comment about inviting Zoe out. Guilt over lying to her pushed Molly into extending an invitation.

  “You should stop by some time. We do these Scrabble tournaments every night.” Molly frowned. “Although, I realize it’s the most boring invitation ever.”

  “No, it isn’t. Trust me, a quiet night in where I’m not falling asleep with a textbook on my chest sounds like fun.” Zoe pulled out her cell phone. “Give me your digits, and we’ll make it happen.”

  They traded numbers, and Molly felt proud of herself for making the effort. Maybe she’d make a new friend, and score some points with Leslie in the process.

  “Well, I’d better be heading out. I’ll return to gather the results in a couple of days.”

  Zoe glanced at the table. “I gotta say, I’m intrigued.”

  “Me too.”

  Although, a knot had already formed in the pit of her stomach. Molly wasn’t sure why, but she knew the results would be unusual, she could just feel it.

  ***

  “I want you to practice for your entrance interviews.”

  “Practice what?” Molly couldn’t process the question, because her thoughts were scattered.

  What’s wrong with me? It’s like my brain is all foggy, and fuzzy. Can you lose IQ points overnight?

  She was lying on her bed, with her laptop, Skype-ing with her mother once more.

  “Molly? Are you even listening to me?”

  “What? Oh. Right, I’m paying attention.”

  Leslie sighed. “I want you to rehearse.”

  “I will, but my to-do list is insane.”

  “Never lose sight of your goals, when completing tasks.”

  “I know, mom.” Molly had heard Leslie say those words countless times.

  “You’ve never had a real job interview. Have you?”

  Her mother had always been very involved. She had a lot of resources, and contacts Molly had taken advantage of and Leslie was grooming her for a job in the field. While Molly realized she was lucky, it could be annoying too.

  “No, Amy’s father hired me on the spot after asking me a couple of questions because she recommended me for the job.” It had basically fallen in her lap.

  “Exactly, so you’ll need to prepare.”

  “Can you give me an example?” All of a sudden, she was nervous.

  Leslie thought it over. “Let’s start with an easy one. Well, they’ll want to know why you’re interested in medicine. And what will you say?”

  Molly froze.

  She had no idea how to respond. Frankly, she couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t interested in learning about medicine. Growing up with her mother, it had been an organic part of her environment, something to be expected.

  Leslie left scientific journals lying around, all the bookmarks on the family’s computer centered on biomedical topics and when her mother discussed what happened at work, it was, once again, science.

  “How did you answer it?”

  “Stalling for time?”

  “Yup.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “I told them about my family’s history of schizophrenia, and how it took both my father, and my brother from me. Then I discussed my interest in the genetic component of the disease, and how, in the future, we might be able to find a cure. Of course, this was all theoretical at the time. Imagine how thrilled I was, when the Human Genome Project data was released. I knew sooner or later I’d have a chance to cure schizophrenia.”

  Molly bit her lip. “So you’re saying I should make this personal?” She didn’t like to open up to strangers.

  “Yes and I know it makes you uncomfortable, but it’ll help the committee get a better picture of your intentions. Remember when we talked about obtaining funding?”

  She nodded.

  “Having a good story goes a long way to making you a memorable candidate. Remember, there are hundreds of people vying for the positions you’re applying for. It’s crucial to impress the committee. It’s all about playing the game.”

  “I understand.”

  “Then let’s try it again. Why are you interested in this field of study?”

  Molly took a deep breath before she began. “Because I love it. Science and math make sense to me. There’s always a correct answer for every question, and a method to go about obtaining the result. I want to use this knowledge to do research.”

  “So you intend to obtain both an M.D., and a PhD?” Leslie asked, playing the role of interviewer.

  “Yes, I need the medical knowledge to inform my research.”

  “And which line of inquiry piques your curiosity? There are many fields within medicine.”

  Molly flinched.

  I don’t know. Oh my God, I don’t know.

  “It’s all right, Molly, I didn’t mean to worry you. We still have a few months before your interviews begin so you can think it over between now and then, which is why I brought it up. You do your best work whenever you’re prepared for any given situation.”

  “Yes, I do. Maybe I should Google it, and see what results I come up with?” Surely, there had to be a collection of commonly asked questions she could peruse, and then practice with.

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  She scribbled a note for herself. “I’ll have a look.”

  “And how’s your secret project going?” Leslie asked.

  “I ran a test the other day, but I haven’t gotten the results yet.” DNA testing often took a while.

  “Keep me in the loop.”

  “I will.”

  “Sometimes, I wish Marshal could…never mind.”

  “Are you all right?” Molly could read the tension on her mother’s face. “What were you going to say?”

  “What?” Leslie blinked. “I’m sorry, this time I wasn’t paying attention.” She chuckled. “I guess we’re both space cadets today.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.” The reply came too quickly.

  “You want more for him, don’t you? You wish he could pursue his passions?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “For what, honey?”

  “I don’t know, for how
things turned out.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, despite the difficulties, I’ve been very lucky, although I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for Marshall.”

  Marshall had very vivid hallucinations, and delusions, which were common in schizophrenia. The condition was managed with medication, but not all people responded favorably. Unfortunately, Marshall was one of those people. As a result, he’d been institutionalized for years. He’d been unable to handle living in the outside world. Ordinary activities like holding down a job, and taking care of himself were extremely difficult, even with the help of social services.

  Leslie had lost so many people to the disorder, no wonder she’d made it the center of her career, especially after Marshall was diagnosed.

  It had been devastating.

  Molly remembered hearing her mother and father argue late at night, after they thought she’d gone to sleep. They’d argued about Marshall’s care, as well as the cost of it. Eventually, her father had filed for divorce. He lived close, and Molly still visited him on holidays and the occasional weekend, but they’d grown apart since he’d moved out. She was disappointed he’d bailed on them, although Molly understood his decision, even if she didn’t like it.

  After he’d gone, Molly had stepped up, taking more responsibility in the home. Maybe that’s why she didn’t have much of a social life. She’d grown up a long time ago, and being around immature people her own age could be draining.

  “I know you’re always lecturing me about being too hard on myself, but maybe you are, too? You’ve done everything you can, Mom.”

  “Perhaps, but it doesn’t feel like enough.” She sighed. “I think it’s why I push you so hard. Marshall can’t follow his dreams and I want to make sure you get everything you want in life. You should have a career you enjoy, a man you love at your side and children.”

  “I appreciate your help.” Molly hadn’t thought past finishing her degrees, and starting her career. It was a daunting task, which would take most of a decade to complete. She’d worry about the rest later.

  “I know, but promise me you won’t give up on your personal life, to pursue the professional.”

  Molly wondered if her mother had regrets.

  “Mom, I’m fine, I don’t—”

  “Promise me.”

  “Okay, I promise.” Evidently, it was really important to her.

  “And feel free to tell me to back off, if you need to.”

  “I will.”

  Leslie touched the screen. “I love you, honey and I miss you too. When I get back home, will order some take-in, and have a Netflix night. Sound good?”

  “Absolutely, I’m looking forward to it.”

  ***

  I can’t read this again.

  Molly poured herself another cup of coffee, and pushed her Latin textbook away. She’d been taking the language, because a working knowledge of it was useful for physicians, but it made her eyes cross. She couldn’t conjugate another sentence.

  “Okay, let’s change subjects.” Molly grabbed her trigonometry book instead, and could barely contain her glee. It was one of her favorite subjects and doing the homework would at least hold her attention.

  It was nearly 10 o’clock at night, and Molly was manning the desk all by herself. Her friends were otherwise occupied. The brothers had gone out for the night and the rest of the guests were already tucked into bed. So Molly had quiet time to study and she took advantage of it, pouring through her books over a cup of coffee. She was on duty until midnight, since it was the weekend.

  The front door swung open, and a blast of cold air made her shiver. When Molly turned, she saw Blaze striding toward her. His eyes twinkled with mischief, and judging from the slight sway in his gait, he was intoxicated again.

  Uh oh.

  She flashed back to the other night, when she’d helped him to his room. Molly didn’t want a repeat of it.

  “We meet again, Molly.”

  “Yes, it’s bound to happen because we live in the same place.”

  She winced as soon as the words left her mouth. Molly knew she shouldn’t be snapping at him, but he got on her nerves, under her skin, whatever you wanted to call it.

  And she couldn’t do anything about it. While she didn’t like him, per se, Molly wasn’t immune to him either and she found the attraction troubling.

  “What are you doing this chilly evening?” Blaze leaned against the counter, fixing her with a puckish look.

  “Working.”

  “On what?”

  “I’m doing a little schoolwork, while I’m on duty. Do you need something?”

  He leered. “Why, yes, I do.”

  Sorry I asked.

  “Towels? Maybe a work order? Is something wrong in your room?”

  “No.”

  What is this? Twenty questions?

  “I need to know more about you.” And then he sauntered around the corner and went behind the desk, to sit beside her.

  Molly stood. “You aren’t supposed to be back here.”

  “Yes, but I enjoy doing what I’m not supposed to.” He winked. “And I won’t tell, if you won’t.”

  She closed her eyes. Was this about the blasted feather ruffling?

  “You should go.”

  He ignored her. “Tell me about yourself.”

  She shrugged. “There’s not really much to tell. I’m a college student, and I work at the inn part-time.”

  “What are you studying?” He paged through her trig book with a frown.

  “Medicine, eventually anyway.”

  “Oh, so you want to be a healer?”

  “Yes, although I’m more interested in medical research.”

  He nodded. “A noble profession, I approve.”

  “Great.” She gestured to him. “So, you can see I don’t have time for this.”

  “For what?”

  “For you and whatever’s going on here.”

  He leaned toward her, eyes sparkling. “Hmm, I like the sound of it. And what do you think is going on here?”

  Molly counted down from ten in her head.

  “Nothing.”

  “Mere moments ago, you said something was afoot.”

  Fine. “I’m not sure, but I think your flirting with me.”

  “Allow me to remedy the situation. I assure you, I am flirting with you.” He raised one brow.

  “Why?”

  “Why not?”

  “You can’t like me, because you hardly know me.”

  “Well I’m attempting to remedy the situation, but you’re being rather difficult. You should give me a chance, Molly, you’ll find out I’m quite a lot of fun.” Blaze sat back in his chair, and crossed his arms over his chest.

  Somehow she doubted it. “You’re annoying.”

  “You wound me.” He gasped, as though stricken. “I’m charming.”

  “Um, okay.” He seemed impervious to her lack of interest, which was unnerving and oddly endearing.

  “Why are you bothering me?”

  He frowned. “Because I find you fascinating, vexing even. I truly can’t understand your lack of interest, women normally clamor for my attentions.”

  “And you think repeatedly asking me out is going to change my mind?”

  He raised a brow. “Perhaps I’m wearing you down.”

  “More like wearing me out.” An old Shakespeare quote popped into her head.

  Perhaps the lady protests too much.

  Shut up, internal judgmental chick.

  “Look at you, all flushed, and flustered.” Blaze chuckled, as though he’d read her thoughts. “I knew you weren’t immune to my charms.”

  Molly could feel her cheeks burning.

  Blaze chuckled. “See? Were already having fun. Imagine what it’ll be like to go out on a date with me? Unless you don’t trust yourself?”

  “And what if I’m not looking for a good time?” She raised her chin a notch.

  “We covered this the other night, dove, and don’t be r
idiculous, everyone is. And from the look of things, you could use some. However, I have a proviso.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I don’t believe in pretty lies. Full disclosure now, I’m not the sort of a man, a woman marries and settles down with. I’m the kind of man a lady has a fun, passionate fling with, and then forgets.”

  Hmph. It almost sounded as if Blaze didn’t like himself very much, or think he was worthy of love.

  “Well, don’t worry, I have plenty of fun.”

  “Like what?” His eyes narrowed, as though he didn’t believe her.

  Molly drew a blank. “Well, I can’t think of something on the spot.”

  “If you have to ponder it, then a distraction is in order. See? You need me.”

  Molly didn’t know what to say.

  He seemed to sense her hesitation. “All I’m asking for, is the opportunity to spend a bit more time with you. That’s all you’re agreeing to. I’m not a man who forces myself on women.”

  A thought occurred to her. “Is that what this is all about? The chase?”

  “Perhaps.”

  Molly knew she should probably turn Blaze down, but she couldn’t. Part of her didn’t want to, which was unexpected. Nor could she agree, so Molly was left in limbo, hoping he’d walk off, and she wouldn’t have to decide.

  What’s wrong with me?

  “You didn’t really answer my question.”

  “Because I’m still waiting for an answer to mine. What do you say? We’ll have a few laughs, maybe a drink or two and who knows what happens next?”

  Molly bet he thought she’d fall into bed with him. She hadn’t missed the look he’d given her last night.

  And then she remembered what her mother said, about pursuing both her career and a personal life. If he isn’t looking for a commitment, Blaze won’t interfere with my goals.

  Or am I talking myself into this insanity because I want to go out with him.

  “We’ll see.”

  “Well, it isn’t a ‘no’, so I’ll take it.” Blaze leaned forward. “Can I trouble you for a goodnight kiss?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  Blaze chuckled. “I had to ask. Goodnight, dove, until next time.” And then he headed up the stairs whistling a jaunty tune.

  What did I just agree to?