Page 147 of Burn Bag

“Honey, why are you still awake?” my father asked, slipping off his cot to sit upright in one of the chairs. He groaned as he stretched his back. “I don’t think I’m cut out for sleeping on those cots too much longer.”

“Old age catching up?” I grinned.

“That and too many nights spent just like this,” he said, glancing up at the sky with a sigh. “It is beautiful, though.”

“It is.”

“So, how does it feel to be back?”

I forced a smile as I sat up, hoping I could convince him this was the perfect family expedition. “It’s great. It really is.”

A low chuckle left his lips and his shoulders shook as he snatched the metal coffee pot. As he filled it with water and coffee, he eyed me from across the fire. “Why do I not believe you?”

“Sorry, I’m just tired. My body isn’t used to the long hours.”

He nodded as he set the pot over the fire to boil. “Well, time has a way of changing things. Perspective, wants and needs…our bodies,” he chuckled. “You know, it’s okay to decide this isn’t for you.”

“What? No, I love this.”

“Do you? Or are you doing this because it’s what we always hoped for?” His eyes met mine, twinkling with the flames of the fire. “You know, your mother and I just wanted to have this one last dig with you, but it would be understandable if your interests were elsewhere.”

“Doing what?” I asked, almost to myself. “This is all I’ve ever known.”

“That doesn’t mean it has to be the only thing you ever do.”

I heard his words and I understood them, but convincing myself that he was right was a different thing.

“But perhaps it’s not the job that has you conflicted,” he said, studying his empty mug. “Maybe it’s someone.”

“Why would I be conflicted over someone?”

“Maybe because you’ve fallen for someone, and the idea of being away from that someone for so long is making you sad.”

I didn’t answer him because I already knew he was right. I missed Bradley desperately, but I wasn’t raised to be one of those women who cried over missing a man. That was pathetic and weak. I was strong and I didn’t need a man to make me happy.

“No, that’s not it,” I lied.

“Really?”

“Not at all.” I continued to hold onto that lie. I didn’t want todisappoint my parents—or myself. I prided myself on being independent and living my life as I chose. Yet, from the moment I made the decision to fly out to Kansas and marry Bradley, nothing in my life had gone according to plan.

“Daphne—”

My mother’s steps hurried over, interrupting our conversation. She sat down with a grin on her face as she held out her cupped hands. “Look at what I found.”

“Scarabs,” I said in awe, picking up one of them to study. “I can’t believe they’re still intact.”

“Just imagine all the amazing things we’ll find on this dig,” my mother gushed. She rambled on for a good fifteen minutes about what her team found as they got to the antechamber. I tried to listen with the same enthusiasm as she was telling it, but my attention kept wandering, wondering what Bradley was doing right now.

“So, what do you think, Daphne?” my mother asked, taking me by surprise.

I looked up at her, smiling wide, but my father’s knowing grin said he knew my mind had been elsewhere. “Um…”

“Honestly, you’ve been away for too long. You’re far too distracted.”

I was and we all knew it.

“I just need a few more days to get back into the swing of things.”

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