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“Good morning. You're here early.”
“Yes, well, I–I had some work to do.” He cleared his throat. “I need to discuss something with you.”
He smiled but appeared anxious, and she suddenly felt uneasy.
“Elizabeth, I…well, first I want to say that your work as the manager of the grant has been nothing short of exemplary. You’ve surpassed the expectations of the National Reserve System and NOAA. You’ve been on target with your deadlines, and you’ve received tremendous praise regarding your expertise in assisting the visiting research groups.”
Her heart pounded. “What’s going on? Why do I feel like I'm about to get some bad news?”
“Well, no, it’s not…it’s notbad, necessarily. It’s just that…well, we need your support on another project. But it’s just for the summer; you’ll be back on the grant by September at the very latest.”
“What? I'm the manager of the grant—a one-point-three-million-dollar grant, in case you've forgotten. How can you just move me?”
“I don't have a choice. There was a problem with some associates working on the eutrophication research. I was asked to recommend someone to take over, and I did, but a few of the project leaders and the higher-ups at the Oceanographic Institute specifically requested you.”
“You couldn't tell them I wasbusy?” She was precariously close to losing her cool.
“I tried, Elizabeth, IswearI did, but to no avail. They promised to get you back to the grant by the first of September.”
“Who do I need to talk to? I refuse to step away from the grant for two months.”
“You can't refuse. I'm sorry, but it's out of my hands. And yours.”
Without saying another word, she strode out of her office and headed for the building's exit. She needed to get a grip on her swirling thoughts, and she headed toward the marshy trail that followed the edge of the bay.
Eutrophication research?She shook her head. Of course it was a worthwhile study, but it wasn't her cup of tea. Technically known as the Coastal Eutrophication Project, it studied the accumulation of organic matter from the overgrowth of aquatic plants, algae and bacteria—an ecologically disruptive phenomenon that severely impacted water quality and, in some cases, harmed animals and humans. Unfortunately, eutrophication was driven by excess nutrient sources, which were introduced to water systems primarily by humans.
She understood the importance of it, she truly did, and since she knew she didn’t have a choice in the matter, she tried to pull something positive from her conversation with Bill. Important people, her peers and some superiors, recognized her work and specifically requested her. That could only be good, right?
After walking for ten minutes she’d calmed, and when she returned to her building she went straight to Bill's office.
“I'm sorry I stormed out. It wasn't very mature of me.”
“It’s fine. This is just as upsetting to me. I wasn't looking forward to telling you.”
“Well, I appreciate you going to bat for me anyway.” She offered him a halfhearted grin. “I guess I have some work to do. I better get started.”
He glanced at his watch. “I put some things on your desk. You have a meeting at the Oceanographic in an hour, so familiarize yourself with as much as you can before then.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
“Um, before you go… How–how is everything going?”
She frowned, not sure what he meant byeverything. “Fine.”
“Have you seen much of Charlotte and George lately?”
“No, but I think they may come over this week. George wants to use the darkroom.”
Bill had only asked her out one more time after she’d spent the weekend in Boston. She’d turned him down, of course, and told him she was seeing Will and had no interest in seeing anyone else.
Ever since then, he’d seemed a little obsessed with his cousin's relationship with Charlotte. He asked a lot of questions, and seemed to be particularly interested in whether Elizabeth spent any time with them. She never had much to tell him, as she rarely saw them together.
“Um, I should get to work,” she said.
He nodded. “Yes, of course. Thank you, Elizabeth.”
As she left his office, she couldn't help but shake her head.What an odd duck he is.
