Because This World is Loved

Chapter 10: The Doctor is In

Some days later, Noel spotted another e-mail from Nashir in her inbox.

Hello, everyone!

I'm writing to inform you of a great development. Dr. Eldiel has confirmed that his lab space is safe, and after some initial setup, has opened the lab to visitors. I, for one, am excited to see what incredible research he will conduct now that he has settled here in Medlia with the rest of us. Let us wish the good doctor godspeed!

One more item of note: our very own Caleb has agreed to be Dr. Eldiel's lab assistant, so if you go to the lab, you may see him there, too. We're proud of his accomplishments and hope he will​ reach great heights with Dr. Eldiel's help.

That's all for now. See you all around!

- Nashir

Noel sighed and patiently waited for the ticking time bomb that was her mother to go off. Soon, it did. "It's time for a family meeting!" Alea called out, going through the house. Noel tried not to roll her eyes as she dragged herself to the living room, where Alea was waiting with a charged patience. "Noel, why don't you sit by me?" she asked, and Noel obliged her. The little things would be important at this point, she figured.

Soon, Drea, Alves, and Kelves filtered in, sitting around the living room. "What's going on?" Kelves asked.

"Kelves, did you see the e-mail that came in about Dr. Eldiel's lab?" Alea asked, giving Kelves a look that said he should already know what was going on.

"Oh, right, that one," Kelves said. "What about it?"

"Drea, Alves, Noel, I don't want you going near that lab for any reason. It could be very dangerous there, and I don't want any of you getting hurt. Is that clear?" Alea's tone was firm, and the gentleness she was trying to put on was wearing thin. She meant business.

"Yes, Mommy," Drea and Alves said in an almost perfect unison.

"Jinx! You owe me a soda," Drea said, making Alves screw up his face in confusion.

"I can't even open soda," Alves whined.

"I'm kidding," Drea mumbled, giving her little brother a gentle nudge.

"Wait," Noel said. She felt bad about this one objection, but it was important. "What if I want to visit Caleb there? Or what if Melia wants to visit Caleb and I have to go with her?"

"Only if there's no other way to see him," Alea said flatly. "I'm sure you can work out better arrangements." Noel did not fight her mother on this point; it was true that there were ways to see Caleb that didn't involve going to the lab.

"Is there anything else you have to tell us?" Kelves said. Something in his gaze gave the feeling that he was looking for a specific answer.

Alea shook her head. "No. I know it seems silly to call everyone here to only say one thing, but it's a very important thing. I'll say it once again. Don't go near Eldiel's lab. Okay?" Everyone gave varying forms of agreement, mostly quiet nods and "okays." "All right, you can all go back to what you were doing."

Noel got up to go back to her room; she didn't see Kelves get up, but Alves and Drea most likely went to play elsewhere. She saw that a notification symbol was up on her phone; she had received a text during the family meeting. Some swipes later, she found that the text was from Caleb.

Yo, having molecular gastronomy party. Wanna come? At the lab. Alrai and Fenne are coming. You can bring Mel too. (Can't we just call it food science? lol.)

It was almost as if Noel had asked for this dilemma to end up in her inbox at that very moment​. She knew that her mother was dead serious about not wanting her to go anywhere near Eldiel's lab. Still, she was old enough to make her own choices, as far as she was concerned. Alea couldn't do much to stop her if she did go to visit Caleb. Sucking in a breath, she grabbed her phone and went downstairs.