“I’m with Bart. When I finish my PhD, I’m going to look for a lecturing job. One day I’m going to be the head of department at a uni. Maybe do a few years somewhere overseas. And I want to run digs too.”
“How do you know when you’ve never even been on one? Perhaps you’ll hate it,” Riley snips, never missing an opportunity to needle Sadie.
“Maybe. But I doubt it. So far, the idea of spending three months a year in Egypt seems perfect.” I couldn’t agree more.
Sadie lies back on the grass. Shade and sunlight play over her, and I have to look away.
“What about when you get married and have children? Are you going to trot off and leave them for months on end?” Riley’s tone is disdainful, which irritates me.
For the first time, I see real irritation spark in Sadie. She sits up and levels an annoyed stare at Riley.
“What makes you think I want to get married and have children? Family life is not for everyone, Riley. Maybe I have different ambitions.”
“Quite right,” Bart pipes up. He’s another one under Sadie’s spell. Join the club, mate. “Women don’t need to be constrained by that kind of life if they don’t want to.”
“Well,Iplan to get married and have children,” Riley replies.
“And that’s great. For you. It’s just not for everyone. And I’m not sure if it’s for me.”
“You don’t think you’ll ever get married?” Garret asks.
“Riley’s right. Running digs is not really conducive to family life,” Simon adds.
A fact I can attest to. This conversation has touched a nerve. Because maybe I should’ve thought more about whether it was for me before I married Jess, or more to the point, before I started to put off marriage. Maybe I should’ve let her go. Let her find someone who wanted the same things she did.
“I’m not saying never. But if I ever have kids, it won’t be for at least ten years. I have too much I want to do.”
It’s always fascinating listening to students talk about their futures. From a philosophical perspective, the turn of today’s conversation, touching on the roles of women and men, is surprising. These are young adults. All in their mid-twenties. Not one of them has questioned Bart’s ambition to run digs. Or suggested he might struggle to fit them in around family life. Yet they’ve questioned Sadie. I thought we’d moved on from those views, and I’m a little disappointed.
Of all the people sitting around our picnic, Sadie is the brightest, and the most driven. It would be a loss to the academic world if she chose not to pursue a career.
And yet, I have firsthand experience of how this particular career choice impacts relationships. Regardless of gender.
“Maybe Bart and Sadie can get married and run digs together,” Jeremy pipes up, causing everyone to fall about laughing, except Bart. And me.
“And why wouldn’t Sadie want to marry me?” Bart asks, faux offended.
“I tell you what, Bart, when we hit forty, if we’re both still unmarried, I’ll consider it.” Sadie wraps an arm around Bart’s shoulder.
“I’ll hold you to that.” He looks hopeful. I don’t like his chances.
It’s unfair and unreasonable, but I feel unsettled by the idea of Sadie being married to someone else.
“Right. Time to pack up. If you want to call in at the Papyrus Institute on the way back to the hotel, we need to get moving.” I stand and start to gather the plates.
While everyone is distracted packing up and piling onto the bus, I pull Sadie aside.
“I’ve noticed a bit of animosity towards you from Riley. Is everything okay?” I pitch my voice low.
“Yes. It’s fine.” Sadie’s eyes flick to where Riley is climbing the steps of the bus, her back to us.
“If you’d like me to have a word with her …” I raise my eyebrows. Managing this kind of thing is trickier when you’re dealing with adults rather than children. I prefer to tread carefully. But I want Sadie to know I have her back if she needs it.
Sadie shakes her head vehemently.
“No. That’ll just irritate her more. I’m fine. It’s just the way Riley is. I can ignore it.”
I search her face. She means it.
