Chapter 9: Urgent

Anxious about her new situation, Clara spent the entire day at the diner across the street, where she sat with her laptop and applied for jobs online, updated her résumé, and sent copies of it to a few ads she spotted before she returned to Dana's place. She also took the long route home and decided she'd walk for a bit because she didn't want to keep herself indoors while Dana was still not at home. She didn't want to be alone. She needed the spirit of New York City, the one that never sleeps, to keep her from imagining the worst-case scenarios that her head would keep nagging her about when she overthinks.

To save some money, she planned to ask Dana if she was willing to split the rent on their flat with her for the coming month. Since she lost her job, that's obviously not going to work out.

She didn't like to admit it, but she knew that if it were just her, she could easily sit there for a few days or weeks before getting up and finding a new job. She might visit her parents upstate for a few weeks to relax and catch up, then head back to New York and look for work again, but knowing Joe and Lidia, they won't put pressure on her getting back to work and instead enjoy the time she spends with them.

That's the classic, chill, and go-with-the-flow attitude of Clara Beaufort.

This Clara, unlike the old one, is sitting in the diner and carefully perusing the entire job search engine because she's no longer just living for herself.

She's expecting her first child. She is no longer preoccupied with herself alone. She has a child whom she must safeguard and give the best possible upbringing. In the next few weeks, she should be able to find work. She doesn't want to put undue strain on Dana, even though she understands that Dana will want to help.

But Clara Beaufort 3.0 is no helpless princess. She is enjoying the transformation she is witnessing in her life, albeit one that is terrifying.

She laughed as she sipped her tea. Normally she has coffee any time of the day, but since drinking more than a cup of coffee a day seems to bring her heart to hyperdrive, she'd have to limit her coffee cups and switch them with tea for the time being.

She reminded herself and her mind that transitions are positive. Changes should be welcomed. After all, they are the only constant in this life.

Dana scowled as she checked her phone for the nth time today. In the middle of meetings and important calls, her phone has been buzzing nonstop for the past hour and a half, and it's always the same damned number.

Dana and Dr. Nate Mathers went to the same elite university. A couple of times, they engaged in hookups, but they both knew it was nothing serious, and they always kept it that way. Dana had no trouble finding a new lover after her freshman year when her roommate turned out to be dear Nate's one and only fated mate, and soon after college, they became married. They did keep in contact and remain friends. Pricilla, Nate's mate and Dana's former college roommate, thankfully understood that nothing ever came out of their casual hookup, and it was just one time when they both got into the haze.

It was Nate who called Dana to inquire about the available insemination slot, which she then gave to Clara.

Nate was relieved when Dana responded to his call.

"Thank the gods of the moon, you picked up!" remarked Nate, frustrated.

"Tsk. " She said it without fanfare: "You were insistent, contacting me early in the morning, and it's already late in the afternoon. I was hoping you'd give up, but no such luck, you frustrating canine." She teased.

"If it wasn't an urgent matter, I wouldn't be calling," Nate replied, obviously perplexed.

"Fine, sorry I didn't return your call right away," Dana replied while placing another vial containing blood in the centrifuge. "What's up, Dr. Mathers?"

"Way to apologize, Cortez," but his tone suggested he was more at ease. "I need to talk to you about some serious business, but I'd rather talk about it personally and not on the phone. I don't want anyone listening to what I have to say," he said almost in a whisper.

"I'm not sure if your wife will approve of us getting together, Dr. Mathers." She teased again.

He was silent for a few minutes before replying, "If she were here, she'd know that this is a matter of life and death." He finally stated it, his voice trailing off somewhat. "As it is, I don't have much of a choice.

This isn't merely something insignificant or out of my whim, Cortez. It's not something you should take on so lightly, either." He said it with an air of authority. "It's related to your research in some way. You know, the one that you kept in our facility for storage?"

Dana knew he was dead serious. After all, he wouldn't joke around with a topic such as this.

Dana's attention was obviously piqued. She then asked, "What about it?" Dana felt like slapping Nate over the phone since she could practically make out his smirk.

"Visit us at the laboratory. I think this is the best time, but of course, that's up to you. With other people in the lab and everything, any other time is no longer acceptable." Nate said, corroborating Dana's sense of urgency.

Dana completely understands Nate and what he means by "everything." Because of the sensitive nature of the study she has been supervising, keeping it under wraps has been given top priority. She is fortunate in that her studies and data are safe from prying eyes and nosy noses, but when working with humans like Nate, confidentiality is of the utmost importance.

After checking the time, she decided she actually had some. In any case, the timer on her computer indicated that it would take around five hours to process everything, so she would have complete data for her analysis after she had placed several samples in her database.

Let's just get this done already.

"Give me ten minutes. I'll be there." Dana said to Nate before he could object, "Get me that fantastic avocado slushie that they sell across your lab while you're at it." She then ended the call. Dana said under her breath, "Geez, you'd think this guy would eventually chill now that he has his mate, but it looks like that really doesn't change a thing," as she locked the entire building and drove away from her lab in her convertible with her lab coat still on.