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Maisie Lockwood took a deep breath, leaning against a brick wall. The sun shining down on her was making her feel even more nauseated. She could feel every bead of sweat on her face and back as she rested. She tried to steady her breathing as she closed her eyes.
Maisie needed to focus. Focus.
She reluctantly opened her eyes again to check the directions on her phone. She wasn’t lost, thanks to the technology in her hand, but was unfamiliar with the area. Maisie had a twenty-five-minute walk she’d have to squeeze to twenty if she wanted to be on time. If she was going to go at all.
Insecurity scratched at her neck, her back, her stomach. She would walk past her dorm on the way to the restaurant, but wouldn’t have any time to shower or even change. Knowing her mother’s habits, Claire and Owen were probably already sitting in a booth, waiting for her. Excited to see her. In her mind’s eye, she saw herself walking up to them, in her too short crop top with one sleeve stained from the beer spilled on her. Their smiles faded as disappointment filled in their eyes. The looks on their faces made her stomach clench. Would it be worse to go and disappoint them, or stand them up and disappoint them? If she called to cancel, there would be no way she’d make it through their questions in her state. She wanted to sink into the brick of the wall and hide.
She looked down at her phone again, zooming out of the map for a better idea of where she was. The house she’d been partying at was off campus, and she was still in the middle of streets and streets of houses. She searched her email app for something her mother had forwarded to her a day after she’d moved onto campus. An address, and an invitation for Maisie to come by anytime, for any reason.
It was in a different direction from the restaurant, not close to campus at all. But still walkable from where she was. She loaded the directions to it. Fifteen minutes away. She could walk that.
The street and sky spun as she pushed off the wall. She’d moved much too quickly, the surrounding colors blurring. Maisie gagged, feeling her stomach flip. She held a hand over her mouth to steady herself as she turned, determined to make it without throwing up. She was much more sober than when she’d initially left the party, but nowhere close to being normal.
Maisie set off walking. A full minute hadn’t gone by before she stumbled over an uneven piece of sidewalk, landing on her hands and knees. She stayed on the ground for a moment, before focusing every piece of energy into standing up. She wiped the dirt and gravel from her hands. No blood. At least she wasn’t injured.
She stared at the ground carefully the rest of the walk, until her phone told her that she had arrived. She looked up at the house. It was obvious to her now that she was no longer near campus. The small, dingy college houses she’d been by were a stark opposite to this neighborhood. She trudged up the driveway, feeling like it would be rude to walk on the grass.
When she got onto the porch, she rang the doorbell. Then again a second time because she wasn’t sure she’d actually pushed the button in all the way. Raising her arm to knock seemed like a waste of energy she didn’t have.
The navy door swung open a minute later.
“Maisie,” Ellie Sattler cried out. She smiled at Maisie. “Oh, it’s so nice to see you.” The cheerfulness in her tone dropped off throughout her sentence as she took in the stressed expression on Maisie’s face.
“Hi Dr. Sattler. My mom sent me your address,” Maisie said quickly, feeling like it was important to explain how she knew where the doctors lived. “You emailed it to her. A few weeks ago.”
“I know… are you okay, honey?”
“Can I please have some water?” Maisie didn’t want to look in the woman’s eyes. She could smell the bready, alcohol scent that the beer had left clinging to her body and clothes.
“Of course, Maisie. Please come in, come in.” Ellie stepped aside, holding the door open for Maisie to walk through. She felt dizzy, but at least the stumbling was under control as she passed over the threshold.
The house was nice. Large, much larger than the Grady cabin was. But it was much more welcoming and homier than her grandfather’s estate had been.
Ellie led her to the living room. “Sit down Maisie, I’ll bring you the water. Alan’s around here somewhere, I’m just not sure where.”
Maisie sunk into an armchair. She looked down at her converse, still sticky and wet from the party. If she’d noticed how dirty they’d been earlier, she would’ve taken them off at the door.
She heard Ellie’s voice from a distant part of the house. “Maisie’s here, in the living room. Go say hello.”
A moment later, Alan Grant entered the room, nodding at her with a small smile. He sat on the loveseat a few feet away from her. “Maisie. Nice to finally see you again.” Maisie hadn’t spoken to either of them since returning to the United States after leaving the Biosyn campus. She’d read about their Congress testimonies and seen pictures of them with Dr. Malcolm in the news. She’d seen pictures from their small wedding ceremony a few months after, but there had been no contact.
“Hi, Dr. Grant. Thanks.”
Ellie returned, carrying a large water bottle. She handed it to Maisie, and the teen greedily opened it and chugged some down. She could feel every drop of the cold liquid spread through her overheated body.
Ellie crouched down next to the chair. “Is everything okay, Maisie?”
They were both staring at her, and now that she could sit and focus, she felt embarrassed. Three weeks into the school year and she had already drunk past her limit. And on a day she had such important plans. And now, Maisie looked stupid and dramatic in front of two people she admired. She could tell her face was turning red from the attention of both Alan and Ellie. She felt awful. “I just kind of… drank too much. At a party. It was stupid.” Out of nowhere, she felt tears prick at her eyes. “And some guy spilled his beer all over me and didn’t even apologize. And I completely lost track of time because I was supposed to meet my parents for dinner in five minutes, but I—” She sniffed. “I don’t want them to know I did all that. They’re going to be so mad.”
“Oh, Maisie.” Ellie reached out to grab the teen’s hand. “I don’t think they'll be mad at you. You’re young, you’re in college. These things happen.” Alan grunted his agreement from across the room. “You said they’re expecting you at dinner?”
Maisie nodded, rubbing a tear from her cheek. “We were supposed to get dinner. I haven’t seen them since they moved me in.” Her voice broke, and more tears slid down her face. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I’ve just really missed them. And I ruined this whole night. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Ellie squeezed her hand. “It’s so hard starting school. Especially after everything you’ve been through.”
Suddenly, Alan was right there too, holding out a small tissue box to her. She hadn’t seen him get up or move, but Maisie took the box from him.
“How about I call your mom and talk to her?” Ellie asked. “At least let them know you’re okay and not coming to meet them. I don’t want her to worry.”
“Okay.” Maisie didn’t want Dr. Sattler to call, but she didn’t want her parents to sit waiting, worried, either. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Ellie squeezed her hand again before standing. “Of course. I’ll be back in a minute, honey.”
“How’ve you been doing?” Alan asked, his voice soft, when Ellie had left the room. He had settled back onto the loveseat, watching Maisie.
Maisie shrugged. “I’m fine.”
“How’re, uh, classes going?”
“They’re fine.”
Alan nodded. “Good fine or bad fine?”
“They kind of suck,” she admitted.
“What do you mean?”
Maisie took a deep breath. “I don’t want to study biology. I don’t really want to be in school at all. I just want to go back to the sanctuary to work. But Mr. Cole said I’d need a degree first if I wanted any kind of shot at a job there.” Maisie twisted a piece of thread from her shirt around her fingers. She’d made the shirt with her roommate the night before, and it was already coming apart. “And there’s nothing undergraduate for paleontology, so. Nothing for the newer paleo-physiology programs, either.” She looked up at the doctor. “So I’m just stuck waiting. It’s annoying.”
“Well, you’re only eighteen. You have plenty of time to get started on a career.”
“Doesn’t make the waiting any easier.”
“There are plenty of paleontology classes here, even if you can’t get a full degree yet.”
“But they’re for people getting their master’s or PHDs. Undergrads can’t take them.”
“Sit in on a lecture, then. Just listen.”
“I don’t think that’s allowed.”
“Well, you have permission to come to mine. Come this Thursday. They’re only once a week, in the afternoon. We can have dinner with Ellie after. Find somewhere to eat by campus.”
“You really want a freshman in your class?”
Alan laughed. “Apart from me, I think you’ll have the most relevant knowledge in that room.”
“I can try to go.” Maisie’s voice was nonchalant, but she felt her spirits lifting. Finally, she would be able to do something interesting. Something she cared about, and had passion for.
“Okay. I talked to your mom,” Ellie said when she reentered, carrying a small bowl filled with pretzels. “She said they’ll be here to pick you up in about fifteen minutes.”
“Did you tell them I was drunk?” Ellie handed her the bowl. Maisie’s stomach rumbled, not from stress this time but hunger. She bit into the snack, grateful for them.
“I said you weren’t feeling well.” Ellie folded herself onto the loveseat next to Alan. Her arm moved to grab one of his hands. “She didn’t sound mad, I promise.”
“Thank you,” Maisie said quietly. She glanced at Alan. “Both of you. I mean it. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Ellie gave her a warm smile.
“Maisie’s going to sit in on my class,” Alan said to his wife. “And have dinner with us after. Starting next week.”
“That’ll be lovely.” Ellie’s face lit up. “What do you like to eat? There are plenty of places around here.”
“You guys really don’t have to do all that,” Maisie said. “I know you’re both busy and stuff.”
“Oh, we have plenty of time. We each only have one class at the university this semester.”
“We’re too old for much more than that,” Alan grumbled, and Maisie laughed.
Ellie asked if she liked her roommate, if there were any clubs she’d been thinking about joining. Alan listened silently as they talked, content with rubbing Ellie’s hand as it rested on his leg. The two women discussed upcoming campus events, and the football games that were starting the following week. Ellie reminisced on how she and her friends had spent more time getting ready for the games than actually attending them. This reminded Maisie that she probably didn’t look too put together at the moment.
“Um, can I use the bathroom please?”
“Down that hall, first door on the right.” Ellie gestured and Maisie followed her instructions.
Maisie studied her face in the mirror. Her eye makeup was smudged, and she tried wetting her finger with water to fix it. It barely made a difference. She finger combed her hair, forcing it to lay flat again. She didn’t look great. But without the beer stained clothes, maybe she would just look sick. She washed her hands, then brought the soap and water up her arms to attempt to remove the sticky residue. She decided to ask Dr. Sattler if she could borrow a sweater to hide her shirt. Maisie was still washing herself when she heard the doorbell ring. Her stomach dropped. How fast had they driven to get to the house that quickly?
Maisie gave herself a minute to take a few deep breaths, hoping to maintain some kind of composure. Then she opened the bathroom door and walked back to the living room.
Maisie heard her mother’s voice. “Thank you both, so, so much.”
“Not a problem at all! Seriously, we never have anything going on.” Ellie responded.
All their voices trailed off as she reentered the living room. Owen Grady and Claire Dearing were standing there with Alan and Ellie. They were all looking at her. She halted at the very edge of the room.
Owen’s arms raised in her direction. “What? No hug?” Avoiding eye contact with him, Maisie crossed the room into her father’s embrace. She wanted to cry when he wrapped his arms around her, grunting a little as he squeezed her.
Claire pulled her into a hug right after. “It’s so good to see you, Maisie.” Claire squeezed her. “Maisie, your back’s all sticky.”
“Sorry,” Maisie mumbled. Even with the washing she’d done to her arms, she could still smell the beer soaked into her clothes. There was nothing she could do now to mask the scent. No way to hide what she’d been doing before this. It was nothing short of obvious to her parents.
Owen put his hand on Maisie’s head when her mother finally released her. “You ready to go?” Maisie nodded in response.
Ellie beamed as they all walked towards the front door. “We’ll have to all get dinner together the next time you both are in town. You can tell Alan and I all about how the round up efforts have been going.”
Since Maisie had started school, Owen and Claire had been traveling across the United States. They were helping various government and law enforcement agencies round up the more dangerous, carnivorous dinosaurs. The ones that the United Nations had deemed too dangerous to survive outside the Biosyn sanctuary.
“That would be great, Dr. Sattler. We’ll definitely reach out next time.” Owen smiled. “Truly never a dull moment, you have no idea. Last week, a bunch of compies tried to take my foot off. Claire and our friend Zia had to knock them off my boot with sticks. We weren’t even out there looking for them, either.”
“That’s awful,” Ellie said. “But it’s so great of you guys to help out with all that.”
“Just trying to make up for what we can,” Claire said. The two women shared a smile.
“Well, thank you both.” Owen said as Claire hugged both the doctors. Owen shook their hands. “See you.”
Maisie waved goodbye awkwardly. They had all said their final goodbyes, when Alan looked down at the girl.
“I’ll see you on Thursday,” Alan said to her, with a small smile. “3:15. Okay?”
“Okay.” She returned the smile. Her gratefulness for the invitation made her heart squeeze.
Maisie, Owen, and Claire stepped out into the sunlight. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone out. And I know I shouldn’t have been drinking,” Maisie said meekly as soon as Ellie had closed the door behind them.
“It’s alright kid.” Owen opened the backseat door to their SUV.
“Why didn’t you call us?” Claire asked.
“I didn’t want you to be mad.” Maisie didn’t get into the car. “And you guys are. Aren’t you?”
Claire and Owen were both looking at her. Neither responded for a moment. Then, the two shared a glance. Owen snorted, and Claire smiled at him.
“No one’s mad at you,” Owen said as he looked away from his wife. “Let’s go get dinner. You need to eat something.”
Maisie still didn’t move. “You’re not disappointed?”
“Nope.” Owen responded. Claire shook her head.
“I walked all the way here because I was scared of this conversation. You’re telling me I’ve been freaking out over nothing?”
Owen shrugged. “Evidently. Get in the car, kid.”
Maisie looked between her parents. “Are you two kidding me?” Her voice was high-pitched and incredulous. “There was a four-year period where I wasn’t allowed outside a half mile radius of the cabin.”
“Exactly. Which is why we’re glad you’re making friends.” Her father looked confused.
“I think it’s good you found some girls to hang out with,” Claire gushed. “That’s so important.”
“A few guys, too,” Maisie said over her shoulder as she finally got in the car.
“Oh, if there were boys at the party, you’re grounded.” Owen’s face was serious when she looked at him.
“Good luck enforcing that,” Maisie said, leaning out to grab the car door and close it.
Owen shook his head at her through the window, and Claire shoved his arm. Claire got into the passenger seat, while Owen walked around the car to enter the driver’s side. As they pulled out of the driveway, Claire turned around to look at Maisie.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Claire whispered, a hopeful smile on her face.
“Oh my god.” Maisie shut her eyes and pushed her head back against the seat. “I’ve been here three weeks.” Annoyed as she was, Maisie couldn’t fight the smile on her face as her parents started bickering about whether she should date while in school. Maisie watched the trees and houses fly by as they drove. It was fine. Everything was fine.