Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Brooke
I inhaled the scent of books, that familiar essence that settled me, and held back a smile. In another life, I would have been a librarian. Being surrounded by books soothed me, whether they were fiction, nonfiction, reference, or something unique.
I wasn’t a librarian, though. No, as of today, I was a physics professor at Denver State University, DSU.
Nuclear physics was my expertise, something I had gravitated towards in undergrad at this very university.
I graduated here with my bachelor’s in physics.
I then had ended up at MIT for my doctorate before heading to the California Institute of Technology, also known as Caltech, for my postdoc and eventual job.
I had been a Pasadena girl for the past couple of years and enjoyed my job as a professor, researcher, and nuclear physicist, but it was nice to come home.
I had walked these hallowed halls as an undergrad, a teenager, and a young twentysomething, trying to figure out my place in the world.
And now here I was again, thirty years old, a single mom, and feeling slightly more lost than I had been when I first took the job in this tenure-track position.
“We’re so happy that you’re here,” Patrice said as she smiled at me.
The older woman with dark hair, a kind smile, yet shrewd eyes nodded at me. “Not only is it nice to have another woman in the physics department, but your breadth of research is also quite illuminating.”
I looked over at Dr. Patrice Robbins and smiled softly.
“I’m glad that there is another woman in the department, as well.
Whenever I work with the chemistry department, I usually get to work alongside more women, and with each passing year, there are more and more women in science, but you’re right, there is a lack in most physics circles. ”
“Well, you’re not alone here. And now it is not just me at this level, though there are many women in the associate track, postdocs, and students. We’re all happy to have you.” Her eye twitched for a second, and I wondered if she truly meant everyone was happy to have me.
Because it was my experience that not everybody liked when a younger woman stepped into such a high-powered job in academia.
I was younger than most of my counterparts and had finished my degrees in fewer years than some.
I was good at what I did, and I was smart.
I was also very blessed with my childcare opportunities.
When I lost Luke’s father before Luke was even born, I hadn’t been forced to put my dreams aside while caring for my infant son.
I had still somehow been able to do it all, although I don’t remember sleeping those first two years.
“I’m excited to get started. I know I’m the newbie, so any help and advice you have, I’m here for it.”
“I know we’ve been talking about lesson plans, and physics 102 you will be teaching this semester starting next week, so you’re already ahead of the game on that. And the head of the department is excited to hear about it, too.”
“I had a meeting with him just before this. I know he’s off to speak with the President of the University for one of their board meetings, so he’s a very busy man.”
“He does the work of two people, but I so appreciate him. He listens to what his professors need, and more importantly, he listens to the students.”
I smiled at that. “That sounds like a great place to start.”
“Glad to hear it. Now, you can set up your office however you want. You know how to do office hours and what classes you will be teaching this semester. We can discuss next year’s classes soon, as well.
I know you are going to want to get started on your research team, any grad classes that you’re working on next semester, and postdocs and graduate students you plan to take on. ”
I nodded, knowing the drill. I had done similar work at Caltech, though now I was in a more prominent position.
“I’ve been working on those plans and speaking with everyone through email and phone calls for the past three months, so I’m ready to go.”
“Good, and of course, there’s the social aspect of our job.” She rolled her eyes and I held back a laugh, even as tension slid into me.
“Social aspect?” I asked, suddenly afraid that because we were the women in this position, we would be in charge of setting up parties and dinners for faculty.
She held up her hand. “No, not that.”
“Was it all over my face?” I asked, laughing now.
“A little bit. I thought the same thing when I started here a few years ago. But you were here as an undergrad, though I was in the chemistry department then, so I don’t remember teaching you. I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think we crossed paths. So, what do you mean by social?” I asked, knowing that I had a few things to do, and I wanted to get home to see Luke soon. Not to mention I was going to do my best not to think about Leif Montgomery and that kiss.
No matter what happened, I could not think about that kiss.
Even if I could still taste him on my lips, feel the tingling sensation that wouldn’t go away.
No, I would not think about him.
“Our department chair wants us to be more of a ‘family’ than a workplace.” I wasn’t sure if Patrice agreed with what she said, but she wasn’t rolling her eyes as she said it, so I figured it might be a good thing.
“Okay? What does that entail?”
“That means if you have a problem or need to talk to someone about anything, work, students, paperwork, anything related to that, you go to your department chair or anyone you feel comfortable with within the department. We don’t want you to feel like you’re all alone and new at this.
We’ve all had a few more years of experience than you, but that doesn’t mean what you bring isn’t beneficial.
” She let out a breath. “I’m saying this all wrong because there’s the party line of wanting you to feel comfortable, and me as a person telling you that I’m excited that you’re here.
And that if you have a problem with anyone in the department, come to me, and I’ll help. ”
I froze, a little worried about what she was saying.
“Am I going to have a problem with someone in the department?” I asked, my voice low.
We were in my office now, a smallish rectangle of a room with bookshelves, a desk, and a couple of chairs. I would spruce it up and make it my own soon, someplace I could work, study, and bring students in, but right now it just felt like an empty box.
Patrice closed the door behind her, and trepidation filled me.
“You were the best candidate for the job, and every single one of us, bar one, is excited that you’re here. You are in a tenure-track position, and this university will do great with you.”
“But?” I asked, my voice a little sharper than intended.
“There is another associate professor named Landon Cunning who might make trouble.”
I froze; that name sounded far too familiar for my own liking. “As in President Cunning? The former president of the university when I was a student?” I asked, pieces clicking into place.
Patrice cringed. “Yes. His son’s an associate professor now and wanted your job.”
I rubbed my temples. “Great. Let me guess, Landon has made it known that he wanted this job and isn’t happy that I’m here?”
“Pretty much. He’s very smooth about his desire for it as well. He’s not going to do anything to damage your reputation or the reputation of this school. But he is going to be an asshole. Sorry for my language.”
“Don’t be sorry about your language. I curse more than that.”
Patrice’s eyes filled with laughter. “I have a feeling we could be good friends, Brooke.”
“It sounds like I could use one. I have to ask though, if you don’t think he will hurt my reputation or this school, why are you warning me?”
“Because he can be intimidating and a jerk. And I don’t want you to be blindsided because he wanted your job and didn’t get it.
You were the one who was more qualified.
You have the better research grants and the broader ideas for the university.
You know just as well as I do that Harvard and MIT are ranked number one and two in physics in the United States.
You left Caltech, which was ranked third.
You could have done extraordinary things there.
I know you could have. But you came here, and we are tied with Stanford at fourth in physics.
” Patrice gave me a grin. “It is my goal to beat Stanford, so we will no longer be tied, and maybe one day hit third while we’re at it. ”
“That would be nice.” I let out a breath.
“I didn’t leave Caltech because I didn’t think they were as good as here or wanted greener pastures.
I came here because the department gave me what I needed and will need, and this is where I grew up.
I wanted to come home. Meaning I want this university to thrive with me here.
And I want to thrive as well. It’s good to know that I will have some bumpy roads ahead, but at least I know where they’re coming from. ”
I didn’t think it would come from the woman in front of me.
She had warned me right off the bat that somebody had wanted my job, especially because this Landon was the son of the former president of the university.
The president had retired because he had felt like it, rather than being pushed out for some scandal or something.
So at least I counted that better than an issue that could have arisen.
However, I was still worried. I had enough on my plate rather than worrying about some guy who didn’t like that I got the job he wanted.
Worst case, he thought I got it just because I was a woman and I was needed to reach their “quota.” Best case, he would get over it once he realized that I was a hard worker, good at what I did, and was going to bring good things to this university.
I just hoped I was given a chance.