Running Back

  I shook my head in disbelief. “I don’t even know what the point      of this is. Why am I talking to her?”

  “Because you always want the media on your side. And if you lay      out all the details, Ivernis won’t seem so mysterious and people will stop being      interested. ”

  I raised my brows at him. “Does that work?”

  “We’re gonna find out. ”

  Jane looked up when we walked into the restaurant. We sat, and      Jane smiled at me. “Now I can see it. ”

  “See what?”

  “The resemblance. ”

  “What?”

  “You’re Tamara Bucherov’s daughter, right?”

  I slowly swiveled to look at Mike. He raised his brows and      shook his head slowly.

  I looked back to Jane. “Yes. ”

  “But you’ve never modeled or anything before?”

  “No. ”

  “And how long have you two been dating?”

  “I’m sorry. Is this an article on Ivernis, or Mike?”

  She smiled brightly, teeth flashing like only American teeth      did. “Both. It’s a human interest story. ”

  “Well. ” I wanted to leave, but dinner hadn’t even arrived. “I      don’t really want my personal life written about. I’d rather talk about      Ivernis. ”

  Jane leaned forward. “Look. You have this academic character,      this Dr. Ceile, who’s trying to discredit you because of your personal life,      right? Because of your mom and your boyfriend. ” She nodded at Mike. “And that’s      offensive and ridiculous. If he discredits you, it should be because you’re      searching for the Irish Atlantis. ”

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  I raised a brow. Mike tapped his foot against mine under the      table, a clear indication not to be a smart ass. I mostly resisted. “Sounds      about right. ”

  “So my job is to make people like you. And if they think Mike’s      in love with you, it will be easier for them to love you. ”

  That was kind of weird logic, but okay. Still—”If you’re a      sports journalist, how is this going to help the archaeologists involved on the      dig? Everyone’s going to expect you to be on Mike’s side, which is my side,      which is not going to convince the academic community that we’re to be taken      seriously. ”

  She leaned forward. “Because I plan to write the story for our      sister site, which does mainstream news. And I plan to make sure people will pay      attention. I’m not a hack, you know. I’m not doing this as a favor to Mike, I’m      doing it because there’s a story here. ”

  My fingers knitted together. “There is?”

  “You’re a woman passionate about her career, and you’re being      mocked because it’s easy to make Ivernis sound ludicrous and you sound      frivolous. Mike told me about all the work you did to get your grant and prove      an Iron Age site existed here. I want to show the world you did that work. ” She      shrugged. “Also, it doesn’t hurt for the public interest that you ended up in a      relationship with the Leopards’ running back. ”

  Underneath the table, Mike took my hand and squeezed.

  Jane placed her recorder on the table. “Are you in?”

  I swallowed. “I’m in. ”

  * * *

  We kept digging. Sometimes, in the field, everyone      laughed hysterically and told stories and played mindless word games, but other      days there were too many hours of where you were entirely in your own head. Too      many repetitive hours of sticking the shovel in the ground, bending at the knee,      lifting, throwing, over and over. Nothing there. Nothing here. No Ivernis.

  On Thursday, I took a moment’s break and swept my eyes over the      land. A smile twisted my lips. Would it hurt if I came here, years later, and      there was nothing? Just sheep. Just grass and wind and heather.

  Not Ivernis, here. Just Kilkarten.

  I closed my eyes and breathed in the salt and earth.

  Maybe I loved Kilkarten more than I loved Ivernis.

  Maybe it wouldn’t hurt, coming back here.

  If I’d been asked four months ago for my reaction to not      finding Ivernis, I wouldn’t even have been able to consider the possibility. If      forced under pain of death to give that option thought, I would’ve guessed I’d      be utterly devastated.

  Thirty-one teams didn’t win the Super Bowl every year. And the      next season, they all went out and tried again.

  My heart would ache if I never found Ivernis. But even if I      never found it, even if my heart hurt, I would still come back here if it meant      I was with Mike.

  Because that was really all there was to it. I loved Mike. I      couldn’t promise that I would love him in two years, or seven, or twenty. But      right now, I loved him more than my lost city.

  And I knew that by the time it ended, we might be so entwined      that I wouldn’t be able to separate from him completely, and I would just have      to cut off a whole part of myself, and that I would bleed when that happened.      But right now I just didn’t care. Because I agreed with the poets, that it was      better to have loved. . .

  I kept shoveling. The sun moved; the mist came and went. We ate      and laughed and napped. Pete told me about the calf born that morning. MacCarthy      admitted he was considering moving to Dublin. Three-thirty came and went, and      people started to get antsy. I considered calling the day early. Mike was only      here two more days. Might as well spend every last second I could with him.

  Or maybe I’d go home with him.

  “Natalie!”

  Across the field, Simon Daly waved frantically, jumping up and      down and shouting my name. “Come look!”

  I dropped my shovel and started to run.

  His unit was a massive ten by five, and they’d shoveled about      two feet down. Most of the workers stood along of the edges of the unit, but I      jumped right in with Simon. Mike and Jeremy weren’t far behind me. “What’d you      find?”

  Simon moved aside and gestured. “Practically broke my shovel.      It’s rock. Big, solid rock, but I don’t think its bedrock yet, because look      here, I hit the edge and it curves real nice. ”

  I looked at the other corners of the unit, which didn’t show a      hint of stone. “I don’t think it’s bedrock, either. But the survey didn’t pick      up anything here—oh, of course. ” We were in the north-west quadrant of the site,      where the soil make-up had been moist enough that the radar had only penetrated      a few centimeters. “It wouldn’t have. All right. It might just be a boulder.      Still—Colin, get a whiteboard and write down the time and date and longitude and      latitude and add an arrow north. Anna, get the camera. ” I arranged the      whiteboard with trembling fingers and then stepped back and took several      snapshots.

  I took one of white-faced Jeremy for good measure.

  And then I jumped into the unit and started digging, and so did      Jeremy, and then came Grace and Duncan. And slowly, slowly, the dirt vanished      and a capstone appeared, and then, layer by layer, more stones, backstones,      purposefully placed to hold the first, a subsurface burial tomb.

  I met Mike’s eyes.

  And then I sat down and started to laugh and cry.

  * * *

  That night the rain hammered down like the seventh      Chapter of Genesis. But our floral room was cozy. The lamps cast warm pools of      light and the room smelled like Earl Grey and bergamot.

  Mike and I stayed warm and cozy under the blankets. I      leaned against him and let out a content sigh. “I’m so happy. We’ll have      funding, we’ll have thing
s to excavate. . . ” It shocked me, how much the weight      disappeared. Now we didn’t even need the reporter’s article—we’d saved      ourselves. “And thank God, because everyone kept talking to me about all their      plans—about catering business, and Eileen about expanding the inn, and O’Malley      wants to get a set dinner done, and Tim’s brother, the carpenter, wants to build      protective structures. ” I laughed. “I’d tried to resign myself to finding      nothing—I’d pretty much done it—but now I feel like the whole world has      realigned and everything is right again. ”

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  “And you know what the best part is?” Mike murmured.

  “That we found Ivernis?”

  He pulled me closer. “That if you’re not out searching for      other sites that might be Ivernis, you’ll be able to come back to New York in      the off-season. ”

  My chest fluttered. He wanted me with him. I wanted to be with      him. “Hey. ” I propped myself up on my elbow and looked down at Mike. “Something      I want to tell you. ”

  He traced my brows, my cheeks, my lips, his forefinger brushing      lightly over sensitive skin. I caught my breath and he smiled. “What?”

  I pressed a kiss to his finger, then to the skin behind his      ear. With my hand resting on his chest, I could feel the shudder that ran      through him, and I smiled and drew back.

  An arm’s length away, my phone buzzed. I glanced at it,      hesitated, and then sighed. “It’s my mom. ”

  “Resist. ”

  “No, I should see what it is. ”

  And the odd note in Mom’s voice made me glad I’d picked up, as      did her almost timidity when she asked if I had time to talk. “Of course. Just—”      I glanced at Mike, and then grabbed at my sweatshirt, making an apologetic moue.      He waved his hand and gathered his things instead, and quietly shut the door      behind him. “Okay, tell me what’s wrong. ”

  She led up to it with all the little lines about how irritating      Dad was, lines that I thought meant nothing, and finished with, “So I’m moving      out. ”

  The entire world blanked. I forgot how to breathe or see, and      then I wanted to babble in overtime to make up for the seconds I’d lost. “Are      you sure? When did you decide?”

  “About ten years ago. Honey—I know this is going to be hard for      you—”

  I tried not to let her hear me hyperventilating. “Me? No. I’m      an adult. Are you okay?” Of course she wasn’t okay.

  Oh my God, I couldn’t believe Mom would leave Dad.

  She sounded like she doubted my adulthood. “I know, but it’s      still hard for children—even grown ones—to handle divorce. ”

  Divorce? Whoa, I’d been thinking      separation. “Have you—have you tried couple’s therapy?”

  “Yes. Honey—this has been a long time coming. ”

  I knew that. I just didn’t think it would ever actually arrive.      “But why didn’t you do it years ago?”

  She sounded like her heart was breaking. My heart was breaking. “I don’t know. I didn’t want to until you      were out of the house. Until you’d found your feet. And—maybe I’d forgotten      about being happy. ”

  “And—what. No. Mom. Paris? That’s just rose-colored glasses. I      mean, it was Paris. And you were eighteen. Of course      it’s beautiful in hindsight. ”

  “Well, I want it back. I think I deserve it. ”

  Shit, I was a crap daughter. “Of course you do. You do. ” I      swallowed. “Will you be okay?”

  “Of course! I’ll be fine. Cheryl’s letting me stay with her      while I look for a place. ”

  My eyes widened. “Wait, when are you leaving?”

  “That’s why I wanted to call you. This weekend. ”

  I went silent for long enough that she had to say my name. I      took a breath and forced out the question. “Did you ever think this would      happen? In the beginning?”

  Her silence almost rivaled mine. “Never. ”

  I watched the rain.

  “Because you loved him. ”

  “So, so much. Don’t doubt that, Natalya. I loved him with every      part of my soul. ”

  * * *

  Mike knocked and walked back in while I sat curled in      the window seat, staring out at the drizzle. “What’s wrong?”

  I looked up, but it took a moment for Mike to come into focus.      “My mom’s moving out. ”

  He stopped. “Wow. ”

  I stared at the murky green mess. “It’s surreal. I guess since      they were unhappy forever—it was the status quo. I      didn’t think it would ever change. ”

  “Then I guess it’s brave of her. ”

  “Yeah. ” I straightened. “Oh my God. How is she going to      survive? She’s always had someone to take care of her. ”

  “Well, she is an adult. ”

  “Yeah, I know. ” My gaze went back to the rain and then I      sighed.

  “What had you wanted to tell me earlier?”

  The rain was no longer friendly; the lights no longer warm. Or      at least I couldn’t feel it. “I don’t know. ”

  “I thought—I thought maybe you wanted to talk about afterward.      Since I’m going home on Sunday. ”

  No, Mike. Not now. I didn’t want to talk about afterward      because there was no afterward. Because things ended. They ended, and they were      buried, and they were lost forever. That was the      only forever.

  I heard him take a step closer to me, and the ghost of his      reflection showed in the darkened window. “I wanted to tell you something      too. ”

  I shook my head, my arms holding my knees against my chest.

  His hand curved over my shoulder. “Natalie, look at me. ”

  I closed my eyes.

  “I’m leaving tomorrow. Training camp starts soon. ”

  “I know. ”

  “Natalie. ”

  Slowly, I turned and looked at him. He knelt before me and took      my hands between his. His eyes were warm and bright and steady, just like they      were every time he looked at me. I felt muddled—my heart felt so full, but like      tight vines constricted it, and I couldn’t breathe.

  He traced the counters of my cheek and jaw. His mouth crooked      up in my favorite smile. “Natalie. I love you. ”

  My chest felt like it exploded, like there were shards of metal      and air and everything was dizzy and messy. I kept my eyes on his like they      anchored me, like I’d spin away if I let go, carried off until I vanished from      existence.

  He loved me.

  And I loved him. I loved him with every part of me, just like      my mother had loved my father.

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  My breathing came faster, and Mike must have known something      was wrong by the furrow of his brows. “Natalie?”

  The words broke out of me, the wrong ones. “But it doesn’t      last. ”

  The furrows increased. “What?”

  I clutched his hands, desperately trying to make him      understand. “Love doesn’t work. It just never works. ”

  I could feel him draw away. His face shuttered, the mask I      hadn’t seen in so long falling back in place. He shifted his balance so his      whole body leaned away from mine. “So you don’t love me. ”

  “No, Mike, I—” My throat convulsed and I had to pause and work      back tears. “Mike—nothing lasts forever. ”

  He stood slowly. “I should finish packing. ”

  I followed him to the door, still unable to make any words come      out. I couldn’t process. I couldn’t think. This was going too fast. I needed
to      make him understand that I did love him. But my throat wouldn’t work and my lips      wouldn’t move, and when they finally did, nothing useful came out. “Mike, stop.      I’m not saying—we’re still—This isn’t it, right?”

  He stopped, his shoulders ram rod straight, and then he turned.      The smile had vanished, and his eyes were so bright I almost believed it came      from a sheen of tears. “I don’t think you get it. I didn’t want to date you. I wanted. . . Forever. Which you don’t believe      in. ” He took my face in his hands, and pressed his lips to mine. He tasted like      salt and wind. Mine.

  Then he walked out the door.

  And I slumped to the ground and said to the wall, over and      over, I      love you.      I      love you.      I      love you.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  It’s not exactly easy to say goodbye to someone you’re utterly, madly in love with, especially after they’ve given up on you.

  I went with the O’Connors to the airport, except for Anna, who was staying to work on the dig. Kate was very sweet, and Lauren left me with strict instructions. “Don’t let Eileen’s granddaughter hook up with Paul. Or if it happens, don’t tell me. And tell him that I’m leading a wonderful, happy, fulfilled life. ”

  Mike and I lingered off to the side for a moment. I cleared my throat and smiled. This wasn’t supposed to be tearful or heartfelt. I leaned up on my toes and kissed him.

  It was supposed to be a quick goodbye, but his hands slid around my back, around my head, holding me to him as he deepened the kiss. His tongue swept into my mouth. He was hungry and demanding. His hands clenched my body. I clutched him back, gasping, pressing ever inch of my body against his, wanting everything. Wanting him.

  And then he stepped back. “So. ”

  I didn’t want him to leave me. “So. ”

  He started to say something twice. And then he stopped, and gave me the real smile, my crooked smile, and then he left.

  * * *

  For the next two weeks, I drowned out my negative emotions by surrounding myself with the euphoria of success. Each day brought a new discovery. A bronze box with carbonized human remains. Dozens of beads. A kiln. Everything was carefully photographed and washed and categorized, while we sent off samples for radiocarbon dating. If we were lucky, they’d come back with dates around the turn of the millennia.

  So for two weeks, it was like I had imagined this summer would be. Digging and discovery, joking with the crew, soccer games and visiting small towns on the weekends, nights at the pub with Jeremy.