If only it wasn’t weird to high five yourself, I would have done it right then.
* * *
CASSIE
What the fucking hell?
Why didn’t I say anything when Dickhead Doc, my newest nickname for him, decided to pop in and drop his daughter off with me for however long it took him to get through his work call? Normally, I always knew what to say. With my friends, I was the one who kept creepers away. I was the one who told people like it was, and now, I just sat there, mouth open, watching as he smugly smiled and left a cute little girl with a backpack standing in the doorway.
I was embarrassed too. The other scientists looked at me, and then they looked away, leaving me to deal with this youngster on my own. So, here was the thing. I was not good with kids. I didn’t like them, and I never wanted any of my own. Too much trouble. Too many tears. Plus, my own mother’s skills left a lot to be desired, so I’d had no example, whatsoever.
What am I going to say to a little girl who has a dickhead father? Sorry about your Douchebag Dad?
“Um, hi,” I said, coming off my stool and walking toward the girl.
She was just standing there with big eyes, looking around the place. When I got closer, I saw they were the same deep blue like her dad. And on her tiny face, they were huge. Like she hadn’t grown into them yet.
“Hi,” she said, smiling. “I’m Camilla.”
“Yeah, I heard.” I gave her a flat, thin smile. “So, your dad wants you to hang out here?”
“Yeah, I guess so. I have off school today, so he told me he would take me to the lab. I love science. I want to learn all about it.”
“Oh really?” I asked, entertained despite my anger at the doc. “That’s cool. Science is the best. What do you like about it?”
“Well. Everything. Plants and animals and blood and books, and everything! I know all the elements on the periodic table.”
“Oh?”
“Yep!” And she started singing them.
The other scientists started looking around, and I smiled at them, watching as Camilla sang her heart out until she got to the end.
“Well, that’s pretty incredible, Camilla,” I said when she was finished. “Want to see what I’m doing?”
“Yes, please!” her big eyes got even wider, and I laughed.
“Great. Let me just get you some safety glasses.” I went to my desk and grabbed a pair and brought them over. “They just might be a bit big.”
I settled them on her face, and they were big, but she looked about as cute as could be. Despite her father, this kid was a nice one.
“Come on.” I took her hand, and I helped her up on the chair next to mine. “So, what’s in the backpack?”
“Lots of stuff. But most importantly…” She pulled it off her shoulders, and unzipped it, revealing a stuffed Tiger. “This is Tony. He wanted to come with me today.”
I reached for him, but she pulled him back. “But my Daddy says that he also has to wear safety gear. Can Tony have some glasses?”
The thought of Doc Fox saying that to his daughter put him in an odd light. A strangely good, cute light.
No, not cute. Mean, terrible, illogical.
“Here you go.” I handed Camilla a pair of glasses, and she held them on Tony’s face. “All ready to go. So, what I’m doing here is testing out some different treatments on blood cells which have a certain disease.”
Explaining HIV to a six-year-old was not something I was interested in, so I kept it simple. “Do you want to look through the microscope?”
“Yes!”
I jumped off my seat and pulled hers closer. “Here, you put your hand right here, and then, you look down through here.” I tapped where I wanted her eyes to go, and she leaned over and looked in.