Chapter 4
Finn
A colorful spiderweb of galaxies floats across the dome of the planetarium overhead, and I’m lost in the view, swooping through
star clusters light-years away.
From my seat at the main control screen, I click a few spots to bring me to Clara’s favorite view: the Butterfly Cluster on
the tip of the Scorpius constellation. The planetarium delivers me fifteen hundred light-years away, and the small group of
stars comes into focus with a vague butterfly shape.
Sometimes, when there are no programs scheduled in the evenings, I like to visit the planetarium by myself. The butterfly
formation is hard to see, but that never stopped my sister from enjoying it.
She used to say, “When you work hard for something, you have more appreciation for the end result.”
It started one night when she was trying to convince me that my middle school math homework would be worthwhile one day. Then
I got to use the line on her when she was complaining about nursing school.
But the first time I brought her into this planetarium a few years ago, she asked to see this star cluster. When I told her
I could barely see the butterfly shape, she lectured me to try a little harder, promising I’d appreciate the view in the end.
Years later, I’m appreciating the hell out of this view because it reminds me of Clara, and her memory brings me a sense of
peace that has been hard to find lately.
Between the parking lot situation and sitting through five interviews throughout the morning and afternoon, I’ve had a long
day, and I’m forcing myself to relax here this evening before I need to get home.
The interviews ended an hour ago, and we have two great contenders. Millie’s passion and enthusiasm for her job were contagious,
and the entire panel thinks she would be a fantastic department director. But the other applicant’s work experience and motivation
would be a good fit for the position as well.
Sharon is going to think through a plan for choosing between the two of them, but after the shitty start to the morning, I
hope Millie left feeling like she did fine, because she did.
God, the flare in her eyes when she walked into the interview and saw me sitting there was so satisfying. The man she called
an asshole yesterday and crashed her car into today is one of the people deciding on her promotion. Priceless.
After she recovered from her initial shock, though, she did a good job. She was relaxed and conversational, and it seemed
like the entire panel was hanging on her every word.
Me included. Unfortunately.
She avoided looking my way for almost an hour, but when it was my turn to ask a question, she was forced to pull her gaze
to mine. And I loved watching her plaster on a big smile despite probably seething on the inside.
The door to the planetarium squeaks open, and Rachel pops through the gap. The wide smile on my assistant curator’s face is
visible in the light from the stars overhead.
“Thought I might find you in here. Need anything else from me before I go?”
I click a few controls on the planetarium. “No. I think everything is good for today.”
The room darkens as I shut everything down and walk toward Rachel. She helps me flip the last few switches by the door, and
I follow her out, squinting as the bright hallway lights hit my eyes.
“How did everything go getting ready for camp next week?” I ask as we walk through the front doors of the museum and toward
the parking lot.
“Great. I got plans settled with engineering about our rocket building, and I nailed down the supplies I need to pick up tomorrow.”
“Awesome. Sorry I was in interviews all day, but I should be free the rest of the week.”
We reach the misshapen bumper of my car, and Rachel winces when she sees it. “Shit. What happened?”
I shove my hands in my pocket and survey the damage. “Fender bender on the way to work this morning,” I grumble.
Honestly, it doesn’t look as bad as I thought. In my frustration this morning, it seemed terrible, but in the dim evening
light, it’s not too severe. Millie emailed her insurance information to me this afternoon, but I haven’t decided whether I’ll
do anything with it yet.
“What a way to start your day,” Rachel says, backing away toward her own car.
“Yep,” I mutter, turning to unlock my door.
As I drop into my seat and start the car, a small grin forms on my lips at the memory of Millie’s bright pink cheeks this
morning. And the way her green eyes turned fiery when she sassed me about watching her walk into work.
Then, fuck me , my next memory is dangerous. The perfect view of her curves in that tight black skirt as she bent over to check the bumper
flashes through my mind.
I bite the inside of my cheek to stifle the image.
She is my colleague. I’m on her hiring committee, for crying out loud. I need to be completely professional. Not checking
out her ass in the parking lot.
On my drive home, a sign for Maggie’s Bakery snags my eye, and I remember Millie’s coffee cup from yesterday. I’ve never been
there, but if her emotional reaction to spilling it a few days ago was any indication, it must be some good coffee.
Maybe I should try it tomorrow morning. Just to see if it’s worth her dramatics.