Part 3 (2/2)
”Happy to provide it,” I tell him. ”Do you need a ride from the airport?”
”No, I'm driving. I'll let you know when I arrive.”
We exchange goodbyes. I toss my cell back on the counter and pick up my empty breakfast plate.
”Who was that?” Liv asks, coming into the kitchen.
”Hans Klasen, director of the World Heritage Center.” I load my plate with scrambled eggs. ”He's planning a visit to King's next week. We've known each other for years, but haven't had a chance to work together until recently. He stepped in to help with the aftermath of the quake, and I'm hoping he can push the proposal through to the UN a.s.sembly.”
”Is that what he was calling about?”
”Partly. He's also working on an archeological dig in Novgorod and wants my opinion on some things.”
”Please don't tell me you're going to Russia now.” Liv slips her arms around my waist from behind.
”Nyet, lyubimaya moya.”
She chuckles. ”What does he want your opinion on?”
”Birch bark scrolls preserved by the unique chemical qualities of the Novgorodian mud.”
”Mmm. s.e.xy.” Liv reaches up to kiss the back of my neck.
I put my plate down and turn to face her. Liv's perspective has always made me see things from a different angle. She was the one who told me I had to go work on the Altopascio dig almost three years ago-and though I'd refused at first, the work has turned out to be one of the most rewarding projects of my career. And because it's expanded my professional reputation into areas beyond academia, it's also bringing up new challenges I haven't yet figured out how to handle.
”Hey.” Liv puts her hand on my chest, her forehead creasing. ”What's going on?”
”Nothing.” I slide my hands down to her hips. ”Just office politics. What time are you working today?”
”Morning s.h.i.+ft. Do you need to go to campus?”
”No. I'll spend the morning with Nicholas and go back to campus on Monday.” I kiss her nose, then pick up my plate and join our son at the table. ”Are Archer and Kelsey back from California? I need to drop off Archer's financial portfolio this afternoon.”
”They got back a few days ago, but I haven't seen either one of them yet.” Liv puts the milk back in the refrigerator. ”Kelsey emailed me that they're getting the Spiral Project ready, so they're both busy. I can take Nicholas for the afternoon, if you two want to stop by the cafe.”
”Sure. Call me if you need me.”
”I always need you,” she replies with a smile.
She heads upstairs to get ready for work. I leaf through some mail that acc.u.mulated in my absence, picking up a worn postcard with a photo of the Bronze Horseman statue in St. Petersburg. In scrawled handwriting on the back is the message: Liv, Candy-colored onion domes, painted nesting dolls, sour cream so thick you can stand a spoon in it. Serpentine ca.n.a.ls, wedding-cake palaces, the Bronze Horseman caught in a moment of impossible glory. History both grim and beautiful embedded everywhere.
My adventure continues.
North Northern Star Richmond-Liv's old friend from the California commune where she once stayed with her mother and later found refuge when she had nowhere else to go.
I look up at the sound of her entering the kitchen. She spots the postcard and smiles.
”Once upon a time, I thought North would never leave Twelve Oaks,” she says. ”Last month, he was in China, now Russia. No telling where he'll end up next. Hey, I need to get going. You okay with the tornado over there?”
”Sure.”
She reaches up to kiss me, the air around her fragrant with the sweet smell of cherries, before she gathers her things and leaves. I turn my attention to Nicholas. He and I spend the morning racing cars, watching a wildlife program, constructing tall buildings with blocks and pretending we're monsters knocking them down.
We break for apples and peanut b.u.t.ter, then head to the park for an hour to practice on the monkey bars before stopping at the Wonderland Cafe to see Liv as her s.h.i.+ft ends.
”Hey, cute stuff.” Allie Lyons, Liv's partner and close friend, emerges through the swinging doors of the kitchen.
”You've never called me cute before,” I tell her. ”I like it.”
She laughs and holds out her arms for Nicholas. ”Cute is not a word I'd use to describe you, Dean, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. You guys here for lunch?”
”Scarecrow Straws,” Nicholas says.
”Your wish is my command, captain.” Allie ruffles Nicholas's hair.
”Liv around?” I ask.
”Yeah, she's in the office working on the plans for the festival.”
”What festival?”
”The Mirror Lake Bicentennial Festival,” Allie says.
”Mirror Lake is having a bicentennial festival?”
Allie nods. ”Liv is in charge of it. Didn't she tell you?”
”No.”
”She took over the planning committee to celebrate Mirror Lake's two-hundredth year,” Allie explains, s.h.i.+fting Nicholas to her other arm. ”I'm helping organize the entertainment. It's going to be held in Wizard's Park. There'll be concerts, an art fair, a children's stage, tons of food, and a fireworks show at night. Liv is also planning a charity auction to benefit the Historical Society.”
I take in that barrage of information. ”When did she start all this?”
”A few weeks ago.” Allie shrugs. ”Maybe she told you, and you forgot.”
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have forgotten hearing that my already overworked wife is now planning a town festival and charity auction.
”I need to talk to her,” I say, gesturing toward the kitchen. ”Can you deal with Nicholas for a few minutes?”
”Sure. I'll get him set up in a booster seat.” Allie sets Nicholas on the floor and leads him over to an empty table by the window.
I go through the bustling kitchen to the offices in the back. Liv is sitting at the cluttered desk, working at a computer whose edges are decorated with scrawled Post-it notes.
”Oh, hi.” She looks up at me, her face blooming with a smile, and for a second my resolve falters.
I manage to frown at her. ”Hi.”
<script>