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Jonathan nodded. “She’s still requiring a ten-page scientific paper with perfect APA citation by the end of the first week. Newbs still walk out of her first class with the same dazed expression.”
The memories of being one of those newbs pulled at the corner of his mouth. Those were good days.
Jonathan continued. “And the undergrads still show up thinking a major in marine biology means they’ll be hanging out at the beach and drinking mai tais for the next four years.”
“You mean that’s not what we do all day?” Grant joked. Memory after memory of the seven years he’d spent at what could arguably be considered his favorite place paraded through his mind. “It’s good to know some things never change.”
The server slid a basket of steaming fried pickles between them, and Grant thanked him before grabbing one and popping it in his mouth.
“Jennifer left,” Jonathan said, his voice a little quieter, a little more serious. “She took a job with the EPA down in Miami.”
“A government job, huh?” He popped another fried pickle in his mouth and chewed slowly, savoring the tangy taste as his memories shifted to his ex-girlfriend.
“She’s heading up a research team. We were sad to see her go, but she’s a great choice for the job.” Jonathan took a sip of his drink. “You know she and her husband had a baby last year. A little girl.”
“Good for her.” It was a statement he meant from the deepest part of his soul. Jennifer was a great person and one amazing marine biologist. Maybe things hadn’t worked out between them the way they’d thought they might, but life had a way of changing even the best-laid plans. Although, it had all worked out for the better, hadn’t it? She’d gotten to marry the true love of her life and start the family she’d always wanted. Not to mention she’d snagged a job that sounded like it was designed for her. And he’d gotten…
Well, he’d gotten to come home at a time when he needed to be here and the chance to take care of what needed to be taken care of. Plus, he’d built a pretty cool pool for the turtles, so there was that.
Which brought him back to the reason he was sitting here, across from his old buddy. “I’ve considered your job offer. I gotta say, it’s tempting. Really tempting. But coming back to the university as an adjunct professor isn’t what’s best for me at the moment.”
There. He’d said it. Of course, it was a conversation he’d assumed they’d have over the phone and he wouldn’t have to look his friend in the eye as he delivered the news, which was making him second-guess his decision. Maybe it would be…
But no. This was the right choice. He nodded once, hoping the decisive movement would trigger the decisive parts of his brain. Of course there was the familiar tug pulling him to the place he loved, especially after reminiscing with an old friend. It’d be ridiculous to think there wouldn’t be. They were offering him a chance to return to doing what he was passionate about, like research and creating positive change, not to mention finally finishing what he’d started before life had gotten in the way.
But that had been a long time ago, and like he’d said, life had caused his priorities to shift. He was ninety-nine percent sure he was making the right call.
Okay, fine, maybe the percentage wasn’t quite that high. But it was at least in the seventy percent range, which made it statistically significant.
Jonathan stared at his hands as if he was considering his next move. “I had a feeling you’d say that.”
Silence fell over the table. Grant shifted in his chair, not quite sure what else he needed to say. He’d addressed the elephant, hadn’t he? Why was it still standing there?
“But Jennifer wasn’t the only one to leave this year.” Jonathan’s words were soft, but he looked up with the sort of confident expression of a man throwing down all four aces. “Stan also left.”
“The director of research?”
It’d been a while since Grant had been involved in all that was going on at the university, and plenty had changed, even if it wasn’t Professor Ford’s choice in swimwear. But Stan used to be the head of grant-funded research projects. Grant knew the position well, because it also happened to be his dream job. Of course, now that things had changed, it was a lot more dream than any sort of real-life possibility.
Jonathan picked up a couple of pickles and casually dragged them through the sauce. “Not only that, he was three months from starting a five-year study we worked forever to secure the grant for. One we’re calling the Intricacies of Ocean Habitats.”
The announcement caught Grant off guard. That was his project. He’d come up with the idea while working on his master’s degree and the project he’d wanted to focus on for his doctorate before…well, before a lot of things. “You’re finally doing it.”
The hint of wonder in his voice didn’t even come close to describing the wonder welling up inside him. And, if he was being completely honest, there was a tinge of jealousy creeping in as well, but who’d blame him? He’d been dreaming about that particular research project for a decade. Still, the project wasn’t about him. It was about marine animals everywhere, and whether or not he was part of it, he was thrilled it was getting done. “Good for y’all. But will losing your head researcher put you in a bind?”
Jonathan nodded. “But we’ve got a replacement in mind.”
“Who are you looking at?” Grant flipped through the Rolodex in his mind of biologists he knew could handle that kind of job. Biologists he trusted with his project.
Jonathan folded his hands in front of him and looked straight at Grant. “You.”
Grant froze, mouth hanging open and hand hovering midair above the pickle basket. “Me?” Surely he hadn’t heard him right. Grant was nowhere near qualified enough for that job. Since he’d never finished his doctorate, he didn’t have his PhD. And that was only the first reason on a very long list.
Jonathan shrugged. “Dr. Ford thinks, and I agree, that you have a unique set of skills that make up for not having a PhD. No one else knows the background of this study the way you do.”
“I…” Grant was at a complete loss for words. Him? The Director of Research?
“Not exactly why you thought I was here today, huh?”
