Read Lab Notes: a novel for Free Online

situation.
    Raymond could hear his wife still fawning over Gabriel as they descended the pilot house steps to the main salon.
    “You need a nice young woman to help you with an attitude adjustment, Gabriel,” Charlotte said. “There are a few unescorted ones here.”
    Raymond turned away from the stairway. Only then did he realize he had crushed the lit cigar in his hand.
    Charlotte plowed through the crowd. “Have you met my beautiful cousin? Do you remember my handsome cousin?”
    Gabriel allowed himself to be drawn along by Charlotte through the main salon where he was handed a flute of Dom Perignon. Then he was pulled behind her to the aft, covered deck and onward to the forward deck, all the while being subjected to Charlotte’s blandishments.
    The blue Christmas lights illuminated the fog, creating a surreal atmosphere that blended with the champagne to mesmerize Gabriel, rendering him uncharacteristically docile. On their trip back through the main salon, Charlotte traded Gabriel’s empty glass for a full one from a passing silver tray. Then she led him past a blur of strange faces to the bar, which held an assortment of seafood appetizers.
    Only then did Gabriel realize what she was up to. To one side stood his father Carlos Carrera, the great patriarch.
    “Stand and cheer! Look who’s here!” Charlotte clapped in rhythm to her chant. “It’s your Father, Gabriel.” Ignoring her, Gabriel began filling a small plate with crab-stuffed mushrooms.
    “If you won’t greet him, I will.” Charlotte spread her arms wide and gave Carlos a hug. He returned a reserved embrace.
    Father and son glanced across at each other without any sign of emotion, then back at Raymond’s wife. Poor Charlotte, thought Gabriel, she was so certain the combination of champagne and her Auntie Mame routine could cure all ills, bridge all chasms.
    Charlotte reached out and grabbed both men by the hand. “Come on y’all. Let’s get into the holiday spirit.”
    But Carlos and Gabriel Carrera ignored her supplication. They had become transfixed, staring past the crowd to the doorway where Diane and Vincent Rose stood.
    The Roses were a striking couple: Diane—long and lean in black, and Vincent—distinguished in his tuxedo and scientist’s trademark salt-and-pepper beard.
    Raymond joined the group now encircling the Roses and made introductions. Handshakes were distributed all around.
    From his vantage point at the bar, a step up from the rest of the main salon, Gabriel studied Diane’s face. As she brushed moist reddish ringlets from her forehead and temples, she made a quick, wide-eyed survey of the opulence surrounding her. She does not even attempt to conceal her wonderment, this steelworker’s daughter from the North. I would wager she does not even suspect that she is the most dazzling thing in the room.
    “Oh, those must be the Pittsburgh scientists, Charlotte chirped.” Having a new purpose, she bustled her way through the crowd.
    Gabriel found Charlotte’s crowd control methods entertaining. She insinuated herself into the group gathered around Diane and Vincent Rose, then dispatched people in all directions. One man was handed Diane’s satin jacket. As for the others’ assignments, who knew? At any rate, she managed to shrink the circle to Raymond, herself and the Roses.
    After much ado and pointing, Charlotte aimed Raymond and Vincent toward the pilothouse stairs. Then she led Diane, by the arm, back toward the bar. It was Gabriel’s observation over the years that, initially, people either loved or hated Charlotte Bellfort. All but the strongest personalities became irritated and even overwhelmed by her social maneuvering.
    As the women made their way toward him, Diane was subjected to more introductions and a hair smoothing by Charlotte—“the sea air will either frizz or flatten you, Darlin.’” Gabriel could see that Diane was truly enjoying herself.
    At last, she stood before him with a firm handshake and