Chapter 5 Conference
Conference
Gray was going to get whiplash. He had arrived at the annual marine animal trainers conference that morning, and already, trying to soak it all in, he felt overwhelmed.
Achieving his goal of becoming the youngest researcher on staff had been a dream come true, but the reality of his meagre salary often brought him back down to earth.
"It'll get better. Put in your time, the raises will come," he muttered to himself for the third time that day. His yearly review was coming up soon, and he crossed his fingers for even a modest financial boost.
The conference had been on his radar all year, and he'd saved every spare penny to make the trip.
He could only afford to stay for two days, but when he realized it was being held one state over, within driving distance, he knew he couldn't pass up the opportunity.
The chance to network with actual marine mammal trainers and pitch his ideas was too good to ignore.
Gray knew how hard it was to break into the research scene working with cetaceans, because of course everyone wanted to work with dolphins, whales, and porpoises.
He didn't know a single person, trainer or researcher alike, that when he said he wanted to work as a dolphin researcher, all they heard was dolphin.
Then, a protective barrier went up, and Gray felt there was some force pushing him away from the path he had chosen.
Though he was new to this specialized field, he hoped face-time with the people working with cetaceans was a perfect reason to stretch his budget.
And making more professional acquaintances would be a good thing for his career.
As he hurried into the main lecture theatre, he glanced at the program in his hand. The next presentation was about to start. Spotting an empty chair in the back row, he made a beeline for it. But then his attention snapped to the stage.
A woman stepped into view, her auburn hair pulled into a high ponytail that shimmered under the lights. Her flowing blue dress swayed as she adjusted the microphone. Gray froze mid-stride, his gaze locked on her. She was radiant, confident, and captivating.
Someone abruptly shattered his reverie when they plowed into him from behind. The impact sent him stumbling forward into a tall man who was fiddling with a projector.
"Oof!" all three exclaimed.
"Sorry!" Gray whispered, backing away as the woman who'd bumped into him dropped into the very chair he'd been aiming for. He crouched down and slid into a different seat, grateful the commotion went unnoticed by the speaker.
Settling in, Gray focused on the presentation.
Checking his program, he saw the speaker was Riley Byrne from the Lagoon, a dolphin facility in the Caribbean.
She was presenting an unusual case involving a young dolphin that wasn't eating.
The problem wasn't a disinterest in food, but the dolphin's inability to swallow.
Riley explained how her team had worked tirelessly to retrain the animal, and Gray found himself enthralled.
This was the work he dreamt about—practical, problem-solving, and meaningful. For now, he was stuck assisting senior researchers on their projects, but one day he'd have his own work, and someone else would be in his shoes. He didn't resent the process, but he longed for the day he'd take the lead.
Gray had always found it disheartening that there was such a status divide when working with marine mammals, trainers working with pinnipeds–seals and sea lions, were on the lowest rung, dolphin trainers in the middle, and anyone that got the nod to work with killer whales was top tier.
He understood the animals were loved, but as the newest researcher at the lab, he also knew that getting his own dolphin projects would be a tremendous leap, and this conference would put him on the first big step he'd need to take.
As Riley spoke with poise and enthusiasm, Gray's thoughts wandered. Was there an opportunity to work alongside her? She made it all seem so effortless. Gray wondered if he could ever be in the same orbit as this remarkable woman, collaborating on projects that would make a difference.
"Amazing job, Riley!"
As Riley navigated through the bustling crowd toward Cam, who waited with her slide deck, she grinned.
The moment she'd stepped on stage and started speaking about Phoenix, everything else had faded.
She didn't need her cue cards as she spoke from the heart, and Phoenix had her heart.
That little dolphin with the mischievous grin was her pride and joy.
As people filtered out for the lunch break, the glowing compliments she received buoyed her steps.
"Riley, you made us all so proud!" Cam said, wrapping her in a bear hug.
"Thanks, Cam! Without your trust in us, this wouldn't have worked out."
She remembered her first few days at the Lagoon, brainstorming with the team as they raced against time to save Phoenix.
It had bonded them all. The moment they discovered his swallowing problem, everything fell into place.
Now, Phoenix wasn't quite the size he should be for a five-year-old, but he made up for it with personality and attitude.
Riley never liked to be away from him, but she was sure he was enjoying his vacation. She marvelled that when the dolphin's primary trainer was on a day off or vacation, their dolphin was also on vacation.
"I wish we could contact the Lagoon and share how the presentation went."
Cam laughed. "Perhaps a direct call to Phoenix?"
"You know me too well," Riley grinned.
"How about we grab lunch? The hotel restaurant's a madhouse, but one of the local aquarium curators told me about a place nearby with the best brisket sandwiches in town."
"I'm in. Let's take everything to the room first."
As they made their way toward the elevator, a man in a too-formal suit approached, fidgeting nervously.
"Hi, um, Riley," he said, his voice catching. "I wanted to say I loved your presentation." He extended a hand, then abruptly pulled it back, wiping it on his pants before awkwardly offering it again. "I'm Gray. Dr. Gray Whittal, but just Gray is fine."
Up close, she was even more stunning. There was a pattern of freckles across her nose and cheeks, and she had hazel brown eyes; he wasn't expecting that. Gray looked at Cam like he needed help, but Cam and Riley were staring at him.
Riley blinked, taken aback by the flustered introduction. Beside her, Cam raised an eyebrow.
"Hi, Just Gray, I'm Cam, and as you've mentioned, this is Riley."
"Right, of course." Gray's cheeks flushed. "I, uh, feel like I know you, Cam! I did some work for Dr. Miranda Sanger, and she told me about the Lagoon. She said if I ever got a research project funded, I should try to work with your team."
Cam and Riley exchanged glances as Gray continued to babble, his enthusiasm both endearing and slightly overwhelming.
"Miranda's great," Cam said, cutting in. "Good to know she's spreading the word about our team and the extensive work we do."
Gray was now regretting the suit. He wanted to look professional, but he was at a conference with people who spent their day in bikinis, shorts, and flip-flops. Yes, the suit was the wrong choice.
Before Gray could respond, an exuberant voice interrupted.
"Riley, dear! You've got to come with us!" Mary-Jo burst onto the scene, grabbing Riley's arm. "Jake got us a backstage tour with the belugas, and we have an extra spot with your name on it."
"Mary-Jo," Cam said, pretending to be offended, "you're always taking my best trainers!"
Mary-Jo laughed and kissed Cam on the cheek. "You can't fault me for wanting the best. Besides, Riley sees you too much, and who can pass up the belugas!"
Cam turned to Riley. "New plan. Go see the belugas—it's not every day you get that opportunity. I'll take Dr. Gray-but-just-Gray for a sandwich and let him keep telling me how amazing I am."
Riley hesitated for a moment. "Fine, but you have to bring me back a sandwich."
"Deal," Cam said with a grin. "Come on, Just Gray. Let's leave the ladies to their whale whispering, and you can tell me about your research ideas. Also, did you want to ditch that suit jacket? You must be baking in it?"
As Cam and Gray headed off, Mary-Jo leaned in closer to Riley. "I feel bad about the ruse."
"Me too," Riley sighed. "And when Cam joked about you stealing his trainers..."
"Oof, yeah," Mary-Jo said, wincing.
The two women shared a look before Mary-Jo took Riley's arm. "No time to overthink. Let's go before we lose our nerve."
Riley nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision ahead.
Mary-Jo wasn't taking her to see the belugas, but she was interviewing for a job with them.
She loved the Lagoon, but they hadn't been able to get researchers to come to the island in the two years she'd worked there.
Her entire goal had been to start a research program, but circumstances out of her control had stopped every project.
Could she leave her life at the Lagoon—the friends, the dolphins, the family she'd built? There was no use in worrying about it now. Shaking off her doubts, she straightened her shoulders, held on to Mary-Jo's arm and left the hotel for what might be her new life.