Chapter Sixteen

As she opened her eyes, Nicky stretched her body and realized that she felt better than she had in days. Gone were the headache, the fever, and the pain in every joint of her body. It was time to get busy with the work she had come to do, and then she could head back to the States and her home. Home. Is that where I belong, or is there some place else I should be? Ever since her brief, intense encounter with Harry, Nicky had experienced a confusion of feelings of extreme joy and deep despair. Until that night, she had known exactly what she wanted for her life and how to get there. Now, she wasn’t sure of either. Nicky sighed. Right now, though, I guess I’d better get my teeth into some lab work, focus my mind on something other than Harry. I’ve got to do my part for the project.

Showered and dressed, Nicky arrived at the lab where she was greeted by Peter St. Clare, who looked as if he had been up all night. “Hi, Peter, are you the very early shift or the late one?” She smiled at him.

“Nicky!” His face was beaming. “It’s good to see you up and about. How are you feeling? To answer your question, I’m on the late shift. Jenson went to get some sleep about four hours ago.”

She grinned at him. It can’t have been easy for him to have his first major assignment as team leader and get the boss along as part of the deal. “Thanks for pitching in, Peter. Are you an expert we didn’t know about too?”

He smiled wryly at her. “No. I just didn’t like to leave the lab with all the stuff in the open. You can never be too careful.” Nicky laughed as she passed over her black coffee, and he drank gratefully from the mug. “Thanks.”

“Thank you, Peter, if I hadn’t been so careless, no one would have to be doing my job for me.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it, Nicky. It’s over and done with. Incidentally, Jenson said he would let you have this particular job anytime; it isn’t his favorite task. I don’t think he minded a bit of a change; but I know he’ll be glad to give it back to you. You sure you’re okay? I don’t want you to push yourself to come back too soon. We’ll manage.”

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little peaky, but my parents will see to it that I don’t overdo things.”

“The boss said she wants to leave in the morning; doesn’t give you much time.” St. Clare sat wearily down on one of the lab stools and sipped at the hot coffee.

“Yes, I know. If you’ll show me the last of Jenson’s notes, I’ll get to work and you can get some sleep.” After a ten minutes briefing, St.Clare left her to her task.

Two hours later, having been sitting for the entire time, Nicky stood up from her stool and twisted and turned her body to work out the kinks that had settled into it. It was still quite early, but she knew her hunger would be satisfied by something marvelous that Abula would prepare. The experiments were at a stage where they needed time to process, so she headed off to the main house to chat with her parents over breakfast. Before leaving, she secured Jenson’s notes and other pertinent information, more because it was protocol than because she thought that anyone in camp would sell them out.

Nicky inhaled a deep breath of wonderfully clear morning air after leaving the lab. She watched as the sun began to rise and start its leisurely trek across the sky. It’s really good to be here! So enrapt with her surroundings, she didn’t see a dark figure steal quietly into the lab.

“She’s not going to come with me, is she?” Harry speculated openly as she watched Nicky taking samples and talking animatedly with her father.

Eric was standing in for the exhausted Peter and briefing Harry on the progress of the experiments. “Has she said so?”

“No.”

“Then how can you know that? Only Nicky knows if she’s decided to stay a little longer,” Eric assured the woman at his side. “As for the tests, they are going very well considering we were without Nicky’s services for several days.” Eric smiled inwardly to himself, thinking of Nicky leaving her shyness behind her and winding up in bed with the boss. It was speculation on his part, but Manuel’s account of a particular evening and the sound effects that had come from the women’s tent had convinced him that it couldn’t be far from the truth.

“If she stays, it will be to the good, I believe,” Harry said absently, the thought making her stomach churn nervously.

Eric smiled at her with compassion. “Why not ask her and save yourself the speculation?” He left the pensive woman’s side, giving her the opportunity to speak with Nicky.

Balking at the last hurdle, Harry could not bring herself to ask. She needed the extra hours of hope that Nicky would return with her. If I were to find out now that she’s staying, then getting through the rest of the day would be next to impossible. She turned on her crutches and left the room.

Nicky looked up from her discussion with her father, expecting her boss to venture over and ask questions. When Harry left abruptly, Nicky felt her stomach clench. Just one more indication that Harry doesn’t want much to do with me. Damn! How did things get so out of control here?

Her father saw the look of sadness in Nicky’s face as she watched Harry leave. Damn woman! How dare she do this to another one of my daughters? He bent down and kissed Nicky on the cheek. “You’re better off,” he said before leaving the lab.

“Maybe you’re right,” she said miserably. Sighing heavily she went back to her microscope. At least she knew the work needed her attention.

Outside, Harry was annoyed at herself for not facing Nicky, but she just couldn’t face the rejection.

Hey, way to go, Harry, the voice said mockingly. Running away has never been your style, my love. Why do it now? Remember, you said no challenge was too big. Face the challenge, Harry, before it’s too late.

Shaking her head, Harry spoke quietly. “There never was a right time. Maybe back home, over time, we could have developed…I’m not sure…something.”

The voice spoke once again. Develop what exactly, Harry? Someone to go bowling with, or a bridge partner.

“No! More than that.”

Then why not face her, Harry, and tell her how you feel? The voice was soft and soothing.

“I can’t, Abby; I just couldn’t face the pain of losing someone I love again.”

Then you are a coward, Abby said defiantly.

Harry had no answer for that; she knew it was the truth.

From her vantage point on the porch, Eden watched knowingly as Harry seemingly had a conversation with herself. “You’re your own worst enemy, Harry.” As much as she wanted to take her daughter and Harry and shake some sense into the both of them, she knew she couldn’t. It was something they needed to do for themselves.