Chapter Six.
Molly
I was wondering whether I should hide from Carmine when I woke up the following morning. The night had been wonderful, and I’d been buzzing when we returned to my house. I’d offered him coffee, but he’d declined and left after giving me a sweet peck. After shutting my door, my mind started working.
I’d unloaded on Carmine. Had I guilted him into asking me for a date? Yes, Carmine had given me a soft peck on the lips, but it wasn’t a kiss like I’d imagined. Had he felt sorry for me? Self-doubt flooded me. After all, Carmine was a famous baseball player. I’d researched him on the sly and heck, I could not understand why he was giving me the time of day.
Carmine had dated models and been seen with the rich and famous, and I was a disgraced scientist. Was Carmine playing with me? I certainly couldn’t match up to the women I’d seen him in pictures with. I wasn’t slim or pretty enough, and I wouldn’t know a Versace from a Ralph Lauren. And I certainly was not headed down a red carpet anytime soon.
Damn it. Perhaps Carmine had just been kind to a waif who’d no idea of social skills or what society expected. And my mind carried on until I finally wore myself out.
Now, in the cold light of day, my fears came flooding back as I stared at the door leading to the command centre. Harleys were all lined up neatly, and I spotted Carmine’s straight away.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and several people rushed out. Their urgency prodded me to get out, and I called out to Dr Dune, who was heading towards her vehicle.
“Dr Dune!”
“Follow us, Dr Balfour-Cherlyn! There’s been an incident in the Hills near Buzzard’s Roost,” Dr Dune shouted over her shoulder.
Quickly, I jumped back in and was surprised when my passenger door opened, and Carmine climbed in.
“Hey, Doc,” he said with a happy smile.
“Hi Carmine,” I replied, determined not to make this awkward. Carmine was such a nice guy and had performed a kind gesture for me.
“Seems Dr Jones-White got a report this morning that caused some excitement. Next thing we know, Dr Dune was heading out babbling about fish.” Carmine sounded confused.
“Fish?” I asked, puzzled.
“Yeah. Weird.”
I followed Dr Dune as she weaved her way towards Buzzard’s Roost and then parked up. She kept checking her phone, and I realised she was looking at the GPS coordinates. Without a word, Dr Dune set off, and I grabbed my bags. Something major had clearly happened, and the excitement was reverberating through the small group. There was me, Dr Dune, Carmine, three students, and another doctor I wasn’t familiar with, but he was from EROS.
“Shit. It’s true,” Dr Dune said, stopping suddenly.
Quietly, I moved up beside her, and my eyes widened. A small lake to the south-east, just before we reached Buzzard’s Roost, was before me. The scary thing was all the dead fish floating on top, they’d been boiled alive. The smell of sulphur was strong, and the water was still bubbling.
“Check temperatures now and wear protective clothing,” Dr Dune barked, and the students moved quickly.
“No tremor was recorded this morning.”
“Thank you, Dr Wains. As I thought, the last tremor documented was the micro one yesterday at eight-twenty-seven at night,” Dr Dune said.
“Dr Dune, I’m getting a temperature of ninety degrees Celsius,” a student called.
“This just happened,” I murmured, moving forward. My eyes raked the water’s surface, finding it a yellow-brown colour.
“Get your breathing gear on,” Dr Dune ordered, watching the bubbles. “You’re thinking the same as me.”
“Yes, I am. Magma heated the lake and killed the fish, but also leaked a little into it. I can smell hydrochloric acid alongside sulphur, but the water isn’t clear enough for me to check for flow.”
“You don’t need to, here,” Dr Dune said.
“Shit!” I exclaimed as I walked around the other side and crouched down. “Volcanic glass and fragments.” That only occurred when red hot lava hit cold water and fragmented.
“Congratulations, Dr Balfour-Cherlyn. Your theory has just been partially proved. There is indeed volcanic activity here. You lot collect the glass and rocks and keep taking those temperatures every five minutes. Dr Wain, I’m leaving you in charge. Dr Balfour-Cherlyn, please accompany me; we’re going to search for a fissure and any other evidence,” Dr Dune said as she ordered the team.
“I’m coming too. Nobody should be moving alone,” Carmine interrupted. “Both of you may become engrossed in science and overlook the surrounding danger.”
Dr Dune snuck a glance at me and Carmine before nodding.
“Somehow, I sense he’s more worried about your health than mine, but we’ll take him,” she mumbled to me.
After searching for about an hour, we found nothing. But we were surprised to discover the small lake had only dropped five degrees since we found it.
“There’s an active flow underneath,” I murmured, and Dr Dune nodded.
“Dr Wain, I’m leaving you in charge; keep monitoring everything, but do not risk yourself or the students. Here, take my keys in case you need to make a fast exit,” Dr Dune ordered, handing them over.
“Sorry,” Dr Wain said to me, and I looked up, surprised.
“For what?”
“Because I laughed at you three years ago, and you were correct. And I’ve made fun of you since, even up to yesterday, thinking this was a crackpot theory. Even now, I can’t believe this is happening, but it is. Dr Balfour-Cherlyn, I owe you a huge apology,” Dr Wain replied, and I could hear the genuine remorse in his voice.
“Who knows, I might have reacted the same,” I admitted.
“Somehow, I don’t think you would have. You do not appear to have a mean bone in your body,” Dr Wain stated with a smile. “Be warned, Dr Flight made Dr White aware of what’s happening here. They both still don’t believe, but Dr White has called in your parents to remove you from here.”
“Dr White’s done what?” Carmine hissed from beside me.
“Phoned her mother and father, and they are coming running. Something about not further disgracing them,” Dr Wain said, looking sheepish.
“Let them come. Those assholes will deal with me first,” Carmine stated and glowered.
Wow, he really didn’t like my mother and father.
“Let’s go; we need to get this material down to the lab and get it checked and verified,” Dr Dune interrupted as she walked towards my car carrying the cases.
◆◆◆
I was neck-deep in running tests when there was a commotion. The results had confirmed volcanic glass and high levels of acid and sulphur in the water. I rubbed my forehead and looked up, and my stomach sunk. Standing there like their shit didn’t stink were my parents, and they both aimed their dagger stares at me.
“Susan, we can only apologise for Molly,” Father was saying.
“What are you apologising for, Dr Balfour?” Dr Jones-White demanded, crossing her arms.
“Molly’s completely unsubstantiated theory that was disproved three years ago. A volcano in South Dakota,” Mother snorted.
“I’m unsure of what Molly manufactured to get a team out here to—” Father began to rant.
“I’ll stop you right there,” Dr Jones-White said. “You clearly have your facts wrong. Dr Balfour-Cherlyn did not state there was a volcano in South Dakota.”
“I beg to differ—”
“Excuse me, I was talking,” Dr Jones-White verbally slapped my mother. “Molly didn’t theorise there was a volcano. What Molly did was report on volcanic activity she’d been recording for seven years and requested an investigative team be brought here. For her efforts, everyone ridiculed and laughed at her, leading to Molly being fired.
“Nowhere in her information did it mention a volcano. What was postulated was the fact the laccoliths may be becoming active. So please, before you dare lecture me, have your facts correct,” Dr Jones-White said calmly.
“Yes, but laccoliths don’t erupt,” Father argued.
“We are aware of that, thank you. However, if anyone had deigned to study the data Molly put forward three years ago, you’d have all seen something strange was happening here. You laughed her out of her job and disowned her. This put us at a disadvantage. I’m aware of your opinion of your ‘crackpot’ daughter, Dr Balfour-Cherlyn.” Mother straightened as Dr Jones-White addressed her directly.
“Instead of crawling away and licking her wounds and fading into obscurity, Molly headed here and set up her own tests. And what we’ve discovered is volcanic activity, and we’re trying to understand what is happening. We have several theories at the moment, but the most likely is magma is being forced through channels in the laccoliths and, therefore making them active. That was your daughter’s theory the entire time. Not that we’d missed a hulking big volcano.”
Dr Jones-White took a breath and continued, “Now, I’ve no idea why you’re here except to cause trouble, but neither of you is welcome. I have everyone I need on my side and do not need closed-minded individuals who’d changed evidence to suit their own. We are gathering evidence, and even this morning, we discovered a startling surprise. So, please take your attitudes and disappear and let my team work.”
“Damn, I could kiss her. The look on your parents’ face,” Carmine whispered in my ear.
Carmine wasn’t wrong. However, I recognised that expression. My parents were just gearing up.
“I have the right to speak to my daughter,” my father demanded.
“Dr Balfour, you do, but not on my time. Please go,” and with those final words, Dr Jones-White dismissed them.
“Excuse me!” Mother exclaimed.
Dr Jones-White turned back to face her.
“I asked you to leave Dr Balfour-Cherlyn and Dr Balfour. We are performing important research here and trying to understand what is happening. Because, despite as much as everyone wants to disagree, there is volcanic activity, and it is a concern. Now, I have wasted enough time on you and have work to accomplish. I’ve told you once to politely leave, I will not ask a second.”
“I’ll get the funding for this fool’s errands pulled!” Father exclaimed.
“Please do try to. I’m sure Phoenix Michaelson will listen to you,” Dr Jones-White replied.
“How is she involved?” Mother inquired.
“Phoenix Michaelson is funding this. Take your concerns direct to her, now, excuse me,” Dr Jones-White answered and headed in my direction.
Father began to follow when three hulking bikers got in his way.
“You were told to go. Now you can leave under your own power, or I’ll throw you out,” the middle one said.
“You have no right! We were asked to come here by Dr White!” Father yelled.
“And Dr White, while head of the GS, has no authority to interfere with a privately funded field team,” the guy replied with a smirk. He stepped forward, and Father took a step back.
“We’ll be back!” Mother warned.
They looked miffed when nobody came to their defence and stomped out.
“I’m sorry, they’re going to cause trouble,” I said to Dr Jones-White.
“Molly, it’s time you called me Susan. And how you came from those people, I’ll never understand,” Susan responded with a warm smile. “You’re doing good work, keep it up.”
I basked in her praise and gave Carmine a grin as Susan walked away.
“Dr Jones-White asked me to call her Susan,” I whispered with glee.
“I heard,” he replied as I wriggled in delight.
Carmine
Shit, something as simple as the other doctors asking her to address them by their given names sent Molly into reels of happiness. Molly lit up like a Christmas tree at Susan’s request. They’d all been very formal, but as time progressed and Molly was proven to be genuine, they relaxed. I’d no doubt that her parents were going to cause trouble, but for now, Susan had chased them off.
Checking the time, I noticed lunch was creeping up, and I kept an eye on the door for the old ladies arriving. Molly needed to eat. As soon as Ali-kat, Casey, and Artemis arrived, I was at the table helping them unload and set up.
“Hungry?” Artemis teased as I grabbed a plate and began filling it.
“Molly needs food,” I replied.
The three women froze and stared.
“She your one?” Ali-kat was the first to ask.
“Yup. Mine,” I said, frowning at the buffet. Molly had learned long ago to eat what was put in front of her. But I wanted her to enjoy her food.
“Carmine Michaelson, look at me right now,” Artemis demanded, and I stopped and looked.
If Artemis gave an order, we kids obeyed.
“Are you claiming Molly?” Artemis asked.
“Yup,” I said, shoving a mini sausage into my mouth.
“Does your mom know?” Casey inquired.
“Think so. Mom has seen me watching her.”
“Carmine!” Artemis hissed.
“What?” I complained.
“You just told us you like Molly before you even formally told your mother. What do you think Phoe will do to you?” Artemis pointed out.
I blanched. “Shit. Mom’s gonna kill me.”
“Yes, she is.” Ali-kat nodded. “However, we three can forget you said anything, but you better get Molly to Reading Hall tonight!”
“Roger,” I replied, dumping slaw on Molly’s plate. Nobody could resist Penny’s slaw.
“Drake is going to be beside himself,” Artemis exclaimed as I hurried away. I could still hear them, though.
“The first of his kids to fall? Shit, yeah. Drake’s going to have to let them go, and that’s going to be hell on him,” Ali-kat replied.
“Do you think he’ll be as protective of the boys as the girls?” Casey asked.
“Are you joking? Drake ain’t gonna like letting any of his children go. He struggled with Micah heading to Hellfire, but Carmine settling down? That’s going to mess with Drake’s head. It doesn’t matter how old they are; Drake still acts like it’s his role to protect them. Drake is nowhere near ready to admit his babies have become adults,” Artemis said with a chuckle.
I found I couldn’t disagree.
Molly.
Carmine was at my elbow at six on the dot. He had told me when he’d brought me lunch that we were going out to dinner again. I’d got all excited inside but kept a cool front. I didn’t want to misread his signals.
“Ready?” Carmine asked.
“Yes. Should I go home and change?” I questioned, looking down at my functional work outfit.
“You’re fine. Where we’re going is casual.”
“Okay.” I smiled as Carmine took my hand, and we weaved our way to the doors, saying goodnight to everyone.
As we got outside, we headed for my jeep, and Carmine put his hand out. With a laugh, I handed him my keys, and he walked me around to the passenger side. Just as he unlocked the car, an unwelcome voice made me stiffen.
“Molly!” Mother said from behind Carmine. Tensing, he glanced down at me.
“Do you wanna talk to her?” he murmured.
I shook my head and then sighed. “I have to.”
Carmine stepped aside.
“Mother. Father.”
“Is that all the greeting you have for us?” Mother demanded.
“You disowned me. I very much doubt hugs and kisses are appropriate, not that they ever were,” I said boldly.
Carmine growled lightly from behind me.
“You’re dismissed. This is a private family matter,” Father informed Carmine.
Carmine’s eyebrows hitched. “Did he just dismiss me?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes.” I wanted to let Carmine loose on them, but it wasn’t worth it. I laid a hand on his arm and turned to my parents. “You can say anything in front of him. I don’t have any secrets from Carmine.”
“No? We’ll see. Now, Molly, we need you to pull the plug on the foolishness you have going here. It’s not viable for South Dakota—”
“Enough. Do you know how many times I and others have said South Dakota hasn’t a volcano? How many times we’ve said laccoliths don’t erupt? I’m not crazy or a crackpot. I’m not running around spouting unsubstantiated theories. Believe me, I’m well aware of the geological structure of South Dakota. I’m a fucking expert on it now. Nevertheless, the situation is escalating rapidly.
“EROS was recording the same data as me but not acting on it. We wasted three years not studying this phenomenon, thanks to Dr White’s agenda. I never claimed there was a volcano under South Dakota. But that is what Dr White heard, and he saw an opportunity to tear me down and took it.
“And now you’re here to do his dirty work? Why? My theory was based on facts, not fantasy, but neither of you gave me a chance to explain. You both immediately believed Dr White’s report without talking to me and acted. Why? I was your daughter; you should have given me the courtesy of hearing me out,” I cried.
“The rubbish you were spewing would have damaged our reputations too!” Mother stated.
“And that’s all you care about. Well, what about your careers when it comes out you ridiculed and disowned your own child? When the community learns that no matter what is said, there is fuckin’ volcanic activity here, what then? And learning you chased away the person who recognised that? That you had your head so far up your own asses you were willing to risk hundreds of lives rather than listen to your daughter’s theory.
“The glory from this discovery will go to Molly, Dr Jones-White, and their team. You’ll be the ones laughed at for being closed-minded. Idiotically, you threw away the chance of a lifetime. And as for being Molly’s parents? The fuck you are. You’re a sperm and egg donor. You’ve never been a family, I know about the Christmases she spent alone, unloved. How you farmed her out to boarding school and forgot about her. Call yourself a mom and dad?” Carmine snapped.
I stared at Carmine in surprise. There was emotion behind Carmine’s words, and the hateful glare he sent at Mother and Father was genuine. Damn. A slow feeling snaked its way through me, and I realised that’s what it felt like to be cared about.
“How dare you talk to us like that!” Father exclaimed.
“Tell me it’s not true,” Carmine taunted. “You can’t. You look at Molly as an extension of yourself. Neither of you care what hurt and humiliation she suffered. All you worry about is yourselves. Well, get on with it. You threw Molly away. That means she’s mine to keep, and she now belongs to my family. Take your asshole attitudes and walk. There’s nothing here for you.”
“Is that your last word?” Mother asked me. “Are you going to let him talk for you?”
“Why not? You let Father speak for us. If Carmine’s wrong, answer me this. When is my birthday?” I inquired.
Father’s face went blank, and Mother gained a stricken look.
I let out a bitter laugh.
“You can’t even tell me when I was born. Something any parent would know, but if I asked when Stromboli erupted…” “Twenty-nineteen,” Father stated instantly.
“Wow. Seriously?” Carmine asked with pure derision. “Babe, we’re done here.”
Carmine opened the door, and I climbed in. I didn’t bother looking at my parents. They didn’t even know when my birthday was. Carmine shut the door and walked around to climb into the driver’s seat.
“Okay?” he asked.
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. Yeah, I was fine. I always was.