“To one of the best traditional Egyptian restaurants in Cairo,” I reply as Mo takes off at speed, like most Egyptian drivers.
“Oh, wonderful.”
“Just pace yourself. Ethan always orders too much food,” Jeremy says.
“Ha. You’re a lightweight,” I lob back, even though he might be right. I have the Carter metabolism. I can put away more food than just about anyone I know. Other than my brothers.
Sadie laughs. “Noted.”
Dinner is delicious. Both the food and the company. Sadie talks about her afternoon at the Citadel as though none of us have ever been there, and her descriptions are so vivid I almost feel like I’ve never actually seen it before. She tries every dish that’s put in front of her, charming the wait staff into seconds of her favourites with her obvious delight.
All I can hope is her million-watt enthusiasm drops to within normal range in the next couple of days because if she keeps this up, my retinas are going to burn out.
“Hey, Ethan. What’s Sadie’s story?” Simon asks when she excuses herself for the bathroom. “Does she have a boyfriend?”
“Not that I know of,” I grind out between clenched teeth. “But if you make things uncomfortable on the dig, you know what will happen.” Not that I’ve cared about students hooking up in the past. That’s been their business. But I do have a strict no-drama policy. Not that I’ve ever had to enact it.
“Yeah, I know. Straight home.”
“And word to the wise. Don’t mention her father again. They have a difficult relationship. You might’ve noticed that it makes her uncomfortable.”
By the time I’m back in my hotel room, strategically on a different floor from Sadie, I’m wound tight after a night of watching her bewitch the room. The kind of long, hot shower that’s become all too familiar lately is needed if I have any hope of getting some sleep. Spoiler alert. It doesn’t work.
I go to breakfast as soon as the dining room is open the next morning in the hope I’ll miss Sadie. No such luck. There she is, plate in hand, hovering over the freshly laid out offerings. She doesn’t look like someone who’s flown from Australia, toured the Citadel, gone out for a meal and had maybe six hours of sleep. There’s no sign of jetlag. She looks rested and alert and far more luminous than anyone has a right to be. Not telling her that is like an itch in my throat.
“Ooh. Falafels. I love falafels,” she sings as she piles what amounts to a traditional Egyptian breakfast on her plate. Flat bread, labneh, falafels, boiled eggs, cheese and pickles.
It would be rude to sit at another table, since nobody else is around, so I follow her to a table for four near the window, hoping against hope that someone will turn up soon.
“This is delicious,” she mumbles through a mouthful of food.
I love that she didn’t go for the standard European offerings. No cereal and toast for this woman.
I cast about for a neutral topic. Before I find one, Sadie looks around as though checking we won’t be overheard and leans forward. I breathe in a waft of freshly washed hair.
“I’m glad we have a moment,” she starts. My heart rate picks up. I have no idea where this will go, but my imagination takes a wild turn. “I was wondering. Do you know if, well, if my father is in Egypt?”
My heart hurts for her.
“I’m sorry, I don’t. Although, I might know someone who will. I’m off to the Department of Antiquities this morning. I’ll make some enquiries.”
“Thank you. I don’t want to be a pain. I tried to find out myself but hit a brick wall, and I really don’t want to run into him. I know he’s part of a concession at Saqqara …” She trails off, looking heartbroken. Which galvanises me to find out for sure if he’s here.
“Don’t worry, Sadie. You’ll see Saqqara. One way or another.” At her look of relief, I think maybe it’s time to change the subject. Last night, it was decided they’d all spend the day at the Egyptian Museum. That’ll cheer her up.
“Are you looking forward to your day at the museum?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve seen the exhibitions that have come through Sydney, of course, but there’s so much I haven’t seen. A day is not going to be enough.”
“No, it won’t. You really need a solid three or four days to take everything in.”
“Could you recommend some must-sees?”
Half an hour flies by, and I almost forget how beautiful she is because I’m immersed in her questions. I give her some suggestions on what might be of interest to her, and she puts them in her phone notes.
Simon arrives at the table, trailed by a subdued Jeremy.
“You look like the wreck of the Hesperus,” I say with a laugh.
