My Journey

by Amalie Coles

  My Journey

  Amalie Coles

  Published by Amalie Coles, 2016.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  MY JOURNEY

  First edition. October 15, 2016.

  Copyright © 2016 Amalie Coles.

  ISBN: 978-1534623873

  Written by Amalie Coles.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  About the Author

  To all those who are still searching for themselves.

  Acknowledgements

  Special thanks to my family and friends who put up with me while I spent nights and days working on this novel. Apologies for all the missed calls and unanswered emails. Special thanks to Margaret Diehl, Rosa Sophia, and Cathy Morgan, my wonderful editors, who provided me with their guidance and feedback. Finally, special thanks to my husband, Nick, and our beautiful daughter, Maria, for continuing to fill up my days with light and joy. To all the readers, if you’ve enjoyed reading my novel, I’ll be happy to hear from you.

  Chapter 1

  I told myself not to fret. After all, it was just a misplaced invoice and nothing more. It will probably turn up at someone’s desk on Monday, I kept repeating to myself like a mantra while going through the filing cabinet for the hundredth time.

  “Did you find it?” Dave, my manager, asked.

  “Not yet. I’m sure it’s somewhere.” I started going through the files faster.

  “Rebecca, you need to stop being reckless,” he muttered. “It was a very important order for a client in Vancouver.”

  I’m not being reckless, you idiot! I wanted to yell. There was at least one other person responsible for filing, so it could’ve been her.

  “Rebecca, can I see you for a moment?” Rosa asked.

  “Coming...”

  “So, yesterday, I asked you to bring my docket to the shipping department,” she began.

  “Yes, I remember that.” I vaguely recalled carrying a large envelope with files on the latest client order.

  “Why did it end up in the embroidery department?”

  “What?” My memory must’ve been betraying me, for I clearly remembered handing it to Diego, the manager of the shipping and receiving department.

  Sensing my shock, Rosa softened. “All right, next time, please remember to put it in the right place.”

  “Sure. No problem.”

  I started packing for the day as soon as I returned to my desk. Since it was already four twenty-five, there was no point in staying longer. Surely this Friday didn’t end the way I had imagined it. However, I was still feeling excited. Tonight, Jason and I would go out and possibly discuss our summer plans. I smiled at the thought of escaping together to some tropical resort. Before anyone could catch me, I quickly grabbed my purse and left the building.

  On the subway, I took out my iPod and drowned in my favourite music, which was mostly made of the latest Israeli hits. I closed my eyes and tried imagining what it would be like to return to the land of our honeymoon. The desert, the sea, and a myriad of unexplored places came into my mind.

  I reached home in less than fifty minutes. Except for the times I was taking night classes, I usually came home earlier than Jason. His work hours ran until five, while mine were until four-thirty. It was amazing that even after four years of marriage and nearly five years of being together, I was still thrilled to see him every day after work. I ran to the door as soon as I heard the key in the lock.

  “Hi, honey! How was your day?” he asked.

  “Not too bad, thanks,” I replied. “How was yours?”

  “Well, I’ve got some exciting news you might like.”

  “Bring it on.” I wrapped my arms around him.

  “Our company is expanding, which means that new servers will be built. I will be working more hours and making a better salary.”

  “That’s great,” I said, secretly feeling a bit upset. Jason always looked for opportunities to work more, even if it meant compromising our time for each other.

  “But don’t worry. I promise not to work on nights or weekends.”

  “I hope not. Well, I’m really happy for you.” And I truly was.

  “At last, we can afford to take a vacation we’ve always dreamed about.”

  “True, Jason.”

  We both loved travelling. We had never been to Europe but believed there was still enough time. Nevertheless, we had visited a lot of places in the United States and stopped by a few Caribbean resorts. Throughout the year, however, we were so busy with our jobs that vacations felt more like a necessity rather than a luxury.

  “So, shall we get going?” he asked.

  “Do you mind if I change first?”

  “Sure! I’ll wait for you here.”

  He plopped on a couch and took out his new Blackberry, while I went to our bedroom and opened the closet doors. Feeling weary of the boring office clothes, which were mostly black and gray, I quickly found a pair of blue jeans and a pink denim shirt. Although I wasn’t a high maintenance type, I loved wearing bright colors. Having fixed my makeup, I emerged from the bedroom ready to go.

  “What do you think?” I asked, making a twirl.

  “You look great as always.” He got up from the couch and quickly retrieved jackets from our closet. “Here you go.” He offered me mine.

  Soon we were walking towards the Firkin Pub, inhaling the smell of grill mixed with odors of spicy food. The weather was quite cold for early May, and most trees were still bare of new growth. That year, we had had the longest winter in history, and everyone was fed up with ruthless wind, rain, and snow. Just a few weeks ago, there was the worst spring storm I could ever remember. (An exception would probably be one ice rain that had happened in April when I was still in high school.) Weary of the endless winter, many already started ditching winter coats for shorts and sandals.

  Two years ago, Jason and I had finally moved out from our ragged one-bedroom apartment on Jane and Finch and bought a two-bedroom condo on Yonge Street. Our place was not as upscale as other condos in the area, but we still loved our new place and the sense of freedom that came from living in uptown Toronto. In spite of our busy schedules, we would always find time to go out for a walk on a Friday night, watch a new 3D movie at Cineplex, or check out a new Chinese restaurant. It was our way of keeping romance alive.

  We quickly reached the pub, where a waitress escorted us to a table for two and asked if we would like something to drink. Jason ordered two light beers. As soon as the lady reappeared with our drinks, I requested a shepherd’s pie, while Jason asked for smoked salmon with baked potatoes. Soon we were left alone with nothing to do but to sip our beers and stare at each other.

  “So, where do you want to go this summer?” I asked after prolonged silence.

  “Hmm,
I was thinking about California.”

  “Sounds nice. I’d love to see Sequoia National Park.”

  “Me too.”

  “We could drive there from San Francisco and stay in a lodge overnight.”

  “We could also try parasailing over the ocean.”

  “No way, Jason! Just thinking about it gives me chills.” I playfully slapped his hand.

  “That comes from someone who wanted to go to Syria.” He gave me a wicked grin.

  “Why are you using past tense? I still want to go there.”

  “Here is your order,” a waitress said, passing two sizable plates. Judging from the look on her face, she overheard parts of our conversation.

  “Thank you,” Jason said, taking the plates from her.

  “I mean, someday,” I added.

  “Yeah, of course!” He rolled his eyes.

  “I just want to be sure I’m not going to Israel this summer,” I said halfway through our meal.

  “When will you get an answer?”

  “I don’t know yet. But even if I win the scholarship, I still can’t be gone for three weeks. I only booked off one this year.”

  Earlier that spring, I had applied for a scholarship through my favorite magazine (BAR short for Biblical Archaeology Review). I had also sent an application to the Leon Levy Expedition to volunteer for a dig in Ashkelon, positive that both applications would be turned down. Seriously, what chance did an average university graduate like me have at winning an international competition? Students from across the North American continent routinely applied for such programs and scholarships in hopes of winning a summer adventure.

  “But if for some reason, you end up going,” he added, “I’m thinking about spending a week together in Tel Aviv after the dig is over.”

  “Ah, that would be so nice.” I sighed. “I miss that city so much!”

  “Then we should go for it.” He smiled.

  “I’m sure my boss will fire me if he finds out.”

  “Well, I’m just making a suggestion.”

  We spent the rest of the evening fantasizing about other places we could visit this summer. I suggested visiting Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Colorado or Canyonlands National Park in Utah as alternatives to California. Jason, in turn, told me he really wanted to visit Florida, which wasn’t very surprising to me considering how much he loved beaches and swimming. Soon enough, the dinner was over, and we were headed back home. With the night approaching, the temperature was getting close to zero.

  “I’m so done with this stupid winter!” I exclaimed, my hands shivering from cold.

  “I’m sure the summer will be nice,” Jason said while trying to warm up my hands with his.

  When we got home, something prompted me to check my email, even though I wasn’t expecting anything on a Friday night. When I discovered the letter, I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to feel thrilled or terrified.

  Dear Rebecca O’Connor-Smith,

  Congratulations! You have been selected for the Annual Archaeological Dig Scholarship by the Biblical Archaeological Society. We will fund your proposed project with a grant of $1,500. In order to receive funds for this fellowship, we require you to fill out the attached acceptance form and liability waiver, and return both to our office as soon as possible.

  By accepting this award, you are agreeing to submit a report by the end of the season. The report should be 250–350 words in length and include an appropriate photo that illustrates your participation in the project for which you received funding.

  Best,

  Biblical Archaeology Review Team

  “Jason, I won it!” I burst out of our mini office.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I won the scholarship. I’m going to Israel this summer.”

  He moved towards me. “Does it mean we get to spend a week in Tel Aviv?”

  “Well, I still have to talk to my boss.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be cool about that. Haven’t you accumulated four weeks already?”

  “Yes, but we were booking off vacations a long time ago. I don’t think he’ll be happy to hear about our summer plans.”

  “Let’s not think about the bad stuff. I think we need to celebrate.” With these words, he strode to the kitchen and opened a bottle of champagne.

  “If only we could go there this year!” I exclaimed. “Then we could revisit all the sites again.”

  “Or just lie on the beach. We hadn’t done too much of it last time.”

  “OK, let’s deal with one thing at a time. I’m going to try getting clearance at work.”

  “Please do so as soon as you can. I really want to find a good flight and a hotel.”

  “I’ll try.”

  “In the meantime, I want to spend some quality time with my wife.” He smirked.

  “Let’s do that!” We put down our glasses of wine and went straight to our bedroom.

  I loved being close to him, especially after such a busy week. Even after so many years, he could still ignite passion in me like no one else.

  “I’ve missed you so much!” I whispered between the kisses.

  “Me too, Becky.”

  Afterward, we took a long, lazy shower, allowing water to wash away all the stress and uncertainties of daily life. Once we were dressed in comfortable clothes meant to be worn only at home, he looked at me and smiled.

  “What?” I asked, brushing my hair in front of the mirror.

  “Becky, I’m not sure about you, but I’m tired.”

  “Do you mind if I read a little bit?” I was feeling too jittery from the news to sleep.

  “Sure. I’m going to bed then.”

  “Goodnight. I’ll join you soon.”

  I walked back to the living room, where I sat on a couch, sipping my glass of wine and browsing through the latest issue of the BAR magazine. It featured a long article about the true location of the Mt. Sinai. Some claim the actual site is located in Saudi Arabia, which seems a bit hard to believe. Unable to concentrate on the text, I flipped through the pages, which contained lists of newly released books, images of antique jewellery, and ads of products for elderly people. Then I tiptoed to our bedroom and lay beside Jason, who was already soundly asleep.

  Chapter 2

  Jason and I had met at the beginning of my third year of university. I was standing in a long line at the Robarts Library cafeteria, waiting for a microwave. I felt something special as soon as I saw him, the one who was standing in front of me. When his turn came, he looked at me with deep brown eyes and told me to go ahead.

  Somehow, we ended sitting together and striking up a conversation. I learned that he had already finished his bachelor’s degree in computer science and was working at the library providing IT support. I was a bit uneasy about mentioning my major, anthropology, because too many people made comments about its lack of value in the real world. Jason, however, expressed strong admiration for my choice.

  “Not too many people have courage to be who they want to be,” he said. “It’s so amazing that you chose to study something you truly enjoy.”

  “Do you like working with computers?” I asked in hopes that my question would catch him off guard. I already knew that most people got IT training simply because it promised a decent salary and job security.

  “To some extent, I do,” he replied. “But it takes a lot of hard work and energy, just like everything else.”

  After our lunch, we exchanged emails and phone numbers. We met in the cafeteria the following day and the day after. Then we started seeing each other regularly. When the weather was nice, we would take a walk around campus and explore the King’s College Circle.

  Soon, I discovered I had feelings for him. Everyone at home began noticing subtle changes, like my constant singing or frequent distraction. Erin, my older sister, even asked me if I was in love. Eventually, I told her everything.

  “Don’t get too attached,” she often advised me. “We are still too young to be tied down
.” Her words sounded a bit harsh. Although I wasn’t thinking of marriage yet (Who does at university?), I was tired of dating just for the sake of dating.

  I’d had a few boyfriends before, but they’d never lasted longer than two months. One of them was Matan, an Israeli guy who majored in life sciences and took a Mesopotamian archaeology course as an elective. We went to movies a few times, worked on a project together, and then he disappeared. Another one was Miguel, a Spanish exchange student who came to Toronto to study engineering but decided to switch to anthropology. We went out on a couple of dates and even shared a French kiss. That was probably the most serious thing I’d had before meeting Jason.

  Erin kept telling me to ditch my comfy Eccos and cozy hoodies for more elegant outfits to attract guys, and I did try putting more effort into my appearance. One time, I even managed to make it through a whole day of running from one class to another across the campus wearing three-inch pumps. At the end of the day, my feet were in so much pain that I accidentally tripped and spilled an overpriced latte on my new Kensie dress. Mind you, I didn’t attract anyone. Next day, I went back to my usual wardrobe.

  I often wondered if my weirdness was part of the problem. I wasn’t like a typical Canadian, for I hardly cared about the Maple Leafs or the Blue Jays. Instead, I was obsessed with Biblical archaeology and ethnic music. Whenever I revealed something about myself to a guy, he would feign enthusiasm and walk out of my life.

  With Jason, I could be completely honest about myself. During those afternoon walks, we talked about everything, from our favourite artists and pastimes to our future plans. Back then, I didn’t have a concrete plan figured out, except that I really hoped to find a job in a museum after graduating.

  During the Christmas break, Jason invited me to a movie. On our way to the cinema, his car broke down. When we got outside, it started snowing so heavily that we could barely see anything.

  “Are you cold?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I replied, trying to warm my hands. He moved closer and hugged me. Then we shared our first kiss, which became one of the most magical moments of my life.