part0021

Archaeology Professor Laura Palmer gave her husband a look. “You think? You’ve been giddy for a week. Frankly, I’ll be happy when this trip is over and I can have my husband back.”

James Acton stuck out his lower lip at her, feigning a pout. “You’re so mean.”

She threw a pillow at her man-child. “Don’t make me spank you.”

He grinned. “Ooh, kinky.”

She laughed, wagging a finger at him. “Don’t you get randy on me. I don’t want to be late for our flight. Just because it’s a private jet doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences to being late.”

James frowned at her. “Yeah, yeah, I know.”

They both resumed packing, and as she thought of what they would see tomorrow, she became more excited, though mostly for him. “If it’s anything like the Codex Amiatinus, you’re going to be gobsmacked. I saw it when it was in the UK a few years back. Thanks to my position at the British Museum, I was able to get a good look at it. It’s an incredible, awe-inspiring creation. When you think of what went into it, and the fact something from so long ago could be in such good condition thirteen-hundred years later…” She sighed. “You’re right to be excited.”

He gave a schoolboy bounce then winked at her. “I just can’t believe there’s a fourth copy that no one knew about.”

“I guess it explains that document they found referencing two-thousand cattle being raised. I had always dismissed it as the poor recollection of an aging man, or that the document was fake. Most thought it was a fake and unfortunately dismissed the entire set of documents as questionable in provenance.”

“Well, I guess there’ll be a little egg on some faces. Hopefully, those documents will now be accorded the attention they deserve.”

“I’m sure they will.”

“Yves said it was in near perfect condition.”

“That’s the beauty of vellum. It can last for millennia.” She zipped up her carry-on. “It was generous of your friend to give us a private viewing.”

James nodded. “It was.” He frowned, sitting on the edge of the bed, his shoulders slumping. “I’m a little worried about leaving, though. Mom’s not feeling well. She’s in a lot of pain.”

She rounded the bed, concern on her face as she knew how worried he was. “She’ll be fine. Didn’t your dad say they thought it was just side effects from her new medicine?”

A tear rolled down his cheek as he gasped. “Yeah, but…it’s heartbreaking to hear it.” He squeezed his eyes shut as another tear escaped. “I just wish there was something I could do.”

She sat beside him and wrapped an arm around him. “There’s nothing you can do. You just have to trust that the doctors will do the right thing.”

He sniffed, drawing a deep breath. “I know, but…it’s my mother.”

She checked her watch. “If we’re going to catch our flight, we have to leave now, but if you want to cancel this, I’ll understand.”

He squared his shoulders, shaking his head. “No. She wouldn’t want me to put my life on hold because of her. You’re right. This is just side effects from the meds. Once she’s off them, she’ll be fine.” He stood. “Let’s go. It’ll help take my mind off things.”