by Amalie Coles
Having pulled out my pyjamas and a towel from the suitcase, I went to the shower room. Today, my bandages were finally removed, and I no longer had to worry about doing any damage to my left arm. I quietly stepped into a shower cabin and let water ran over me. Feeling all fresh and clean, I slipped into my pyjamas and went back to the room, where I pulled out my BAR magazine and plopped on the bed. I was slowly becoming my old, normal self.
My phone rang. Up until this moment, it was charging quietly in a corner.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Becky! How are you feeling?”
“Jason, where are you? Why are you calling me?”
“I’m in Toronto for now. I just wanted to let you know that the Holiday Rentals contacted me about the refund.”
“Oh, that.” I completely forgot about the entire incident with the night almost spent on the stairs.
“They’re offering a complimentary stay for ten days.”
“All right.”
“I wanted to let you know in case you might be interested.”
“Thanks for calling. Bye.” Before he could say anything else, I disconnected.
I was beyond angry at Jason. I’d made so much progress in trying to forget him, and he ruined everything with one call. Now every single wound I’d managed to heal had been reopened. But the hotel was too nice to refuse, and I would definitely mention the deal to my parents next morning.
Chapter 30
“All the best to you,” Orit said, while signing me out from the hospital. “I hope you’ll want to visit Israel again, even after everything that happened to you.”
“I will definitely come back. I’ve got some unfinished work to get done.”
My family was standing to the side, marvelling at my Hebrew skills. Although they knew I was fluent in this language, they’d never heard me speak it.
“Can we stop by the ruins?” I asked when we were already walking to the parking lot.
“Honey, I don’t think it’s the best idea,” Erin replied candidly.
“Why not?” I pouted. “Don’t we have the entire day ahead of us?”
“That’s not the point, Becky. You’re forgetting where we are.”
“We’re in Ashkelon.” I shrugged.
“I agree with Erin.” My mother joined in. “Technically, we are still in the middle of the conflict.”
“You’re right. Maybe we should go.”
For the last few days, it had been so quiet that I almost forgot about those hectic times when our team had to be evacuated. Even if we weren’t stopping by the ruins this time, I would come back to them another time.
***
“We’re finally here!” My father wiped sweat from his temple. We were now parked next to the Deborah hotel, ready to get out.
“Come on, Dad. It was an easy drive,” I protested. We did have a couple of traffic jams at the entrance to the city, and a few motor bikers did try cutting us off, but by local standards, the road was very easy.
“Is it OK if I check the hotel’s office?” I asked while taking my baggage out.
This morning, I suggested that everyone stay at the Holiday Rentals apartment for no charge, but unfortunately, the hotel they had booked last night could not be cancelled.
Erin shook her head. “This place will only remind you of him,” she said. “Which will defeat the entire purpose of our stay.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve moved on already.”
“Well, it’s up to you, but I wouldn’t go there.”
“No worries! I’ll be back in a few.” I grabbed my purse and was ready to walk to the office when my mother stopped me.
“Wait, we’ll walk together,” she said.
Having dropped our bags at the hotel room, we walked to the Holiday Rentals office, which was only a few blocks away from the Deborah Hotel. Omer, who was working inside, immediately recognized me.
“Rebecca! How are you feeling?” He offered me a friendly hug.
“I’m better. Thanks for asking.”
“The entire country had been worried for you.”
“Really?” I still couldn’t digest the fact that my simple accident had made into the national headlines.
“Just look.” He grabbed a remote control and turned on a TV that was hanging from the wall.
“What?” I gasped.
The channel was broadcasting Netanyahu’s visit to the Barzilai Hospital. I was shown lying down in my hospital gown surrounded by a myriad of microphones and dictaphones. I was not in my best shape, but here I was on the national TV speaking to the Prime Minister in Hebrew. I was relieved to discover that the question about the terrorist threat had been edited out of the broadcast. If only I had known about my would-be fate at that moment!
The TV then showed various people from the Albright Institute, including the librarians, the IT team, and Ibrahim, all of whom wished me a speedy recovery. Minutes later, the channel also showed some local school at which a group of children were discussing my narrow escape from the terrorist plot and singing a song for me. Hearing their sweet voices nearly melted my heart.
Although my family didn’t understand the language, it was obvious to everyone that people here truly cared about me. It was equally obvious that this country desperately needed a national hero, and I happened to become one by a coincidence.
“Here is your new code.” Omer passed me a piece of paper with numbers.
“Wait, are you actually going to stay there?” Erin looked at me in disbelief.
“Why not?” my mother asked. “If she wants to stay at that hotel, that’s her choice.”
“Mom, you don’t understand. That’s the hotel where she and Jason were supposed to stay for their vacation. It will only remind her of him.”
“She’s a grown up woman now,” my father protested.
“Honey, we are here to support you, but if you don’t help yourself, no one else will.” Erin turned to me.
“Erin, I’ve already told you a million times that I’m over him. I simply want some space. Besides, that other hotel room might be a bit small for four people. Don’t you think so?”
She didn’t reply, but simply shook her head.
***
“This building doesn’t look like a hotel,” my mother noted once we got there.
“That’s what I had initially thought.” I recalled the night I had first set my foot on this tiny street. “Trust me, we are in the right place.”
“Well, as you say.” Erin shrugged.
Having looked ahead, I saw Roman and Svetlana walking together with Sarah, the scary aunt, and some man, presumably her husband.
“Wait! I need to hide. Please, wait for me here.” I quickly ran to the closest tree and hid behind it. I saw Svetlana approach my mother and ask her something, probably whether she needed help with directions, as my family definitely looked like a bunch of foreigners. My mother shook her head, and the two couples continued walking. I knew that hiding from people who had once helped me was a cowardly thing to do. However, I wasn’t ready to face the world just yet, especially when Dalia’s aunt was in the picture.
“What happened?” Erin asked as soon as I came out.
“Long story. I’ll tell you another time.”
I picked up my bags and started walking towards the building entrance. My family followed me.
“Wow, it’s a beautiful place!” my mother exclaimed, eyeing the kitchen and the living room. She couldn’t stop marvelling at its granite countertops and the large flat screen standing in the living room.
“That’s why I didn’t want to miss out on the deal.”
“You deserve a free stay after everything that had happened to you,” my father said.
“Becky, are you sure you’ll be all right on your own?” Erin asked. She was still concerned about my ability to stay in this unit without becoming maniacally depressed.
“Yes, Erin, I’ll be fine.”
I could stay with you overnight and keep you company.”
<
br /> “Thanks a lot, but I need some quiet time.”
“Let’s leave her alone,” my father suggested. “But let us know if you need any help with cooking. I still remember a few dishes from the restaurant days.”
“You’ve been always amazing, Dad.”
“Just please don’t be hard on yourself,” my mother added. “If you want, we can bring you groceries and cook together.”
“Let’s save it for another day. Tonight, I’ll just order a takeout.”
“No problem. We’ll leave you then.”
Soon, everyone left, and I was alone in the same place Jason and I had started our vacation. Those were the same walls, the same furniture, and the same trees outside. It felt as if I had somehow stepped back in time. Except for the fact that I was now alone. I tried to push the sad thought away.
On the living room table was a brochure with all the places in Tel Aviv from which I could order a delivery dinner. Having leafed through a few pages, I picked up my phone and ordered pizza with wings. Then I took out my laptop from the suitcase and went into a small terrace connecting the living room with the other bedroom.
Many friend requests were still waiting for me on Facebook. I decided to reject all of them, as they were mostly from random people who had read or heard about me from the news. As I was going through the list, I saw a familiar face. The girl strongly reminded me of someone I had met at the Albright Institute. Without any doubt, Zeinab Assaf was Ibrahim’s daughter, for she had the same eyes as her father, greenish-brown, sad, but also kind. She was online, and according to her music app, she was listening to “Ruah Yam,” by Ofer Levi.
“Hi,” I messaged her. “How did you find me?”
“Rebecca! I’m so happy to hear from you! My father has been talking a lot about you lately. Are you feeling better?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. Thanks for asking.”
“I hope we can be friends.”
“Me too.”
“I’m staying on the continent for another week.
“Wonderful! I think we should meet up for a coffee.”
“Sure. Would you be able to come to Tel Aviv?” I hoped this question wouldn’t sound ridiculous to her.
“I could, but it’s a bit of a hassle for me. You know, I hate checkpoints. Maybe you could come to Nablus instead.”
“Sure. Why not?” I typed back before even thinking. I knew my family would think I was insane when they found out. However, I wasn’t going to let fear stand in my way. What could happen to me now that the worst had already happened?
“Let’s meet sometime during this week.”
“Let’s do it,” I typed back and searched for Nablus on Google Maps.
“All right, I’d better go now. We’ll talk again.”
After disconnecting from Facebook, I went on Google and spent the next few minutes researching graduate programs in Near Eastern archaeology.
What have I done? I asked myself in panic while reading admission requirements for one of the international universities. Every single university I was interested in required an expensive fee to apply plus GRE tests, which I knew nothing of. The tuition fees and the living costs for all the universities looked astronomical. To top it off, there were virtually no guarantees that I would get a job after graduating from a master’s or Ph.D.
The reality hit me. I had traded a good marriage and a stable job for a path of uncertainty. Maybe it was for the best that Jason had walked away.
The door buzzed.
“Coming,” I yelled, feeling excited about the pizza delivery. I quickly got off my chair and ran to the entrance. “Please come in.” I opened the door.
“Rebecca...”
Time stopped when I looked into his eyes. He looked tall as usual and better rested this time.
“Jason, what are you doing here?” I asked.
“I came to see you.”
“All the way from Toronto?”
“Yes! Look what I brought you.” He pulled out a necklace with a turquoise stone and a silver bear claw. “Remember?”
Of course I did. How could I forget that day? Driving to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. Leaving at six in the morning after a night of dancing in hopes of arriving by the afternoon, but spending the entire day on the road simply because we took a wrong highway. Six hundred miles, to be exact.
Ironically, it was the Carmel Junction at the Zion National Park where we missed our turn. Talk about name coincidence. When we finally got to the destination, it was getting late, and the canyon’s lodge was overbooked. So we had to spend the night in our car. It was the first time I realized how unpredictable life can be.
On our way back from the canyon, we stopped at a shop selling the most beautiful Native jewelry I’d ever seen. The masterpieces included dangling earrings, bracelets, anklets, and pendants with petroglyphs of Kokopeli tricksters. The necklace we chose was supposedly an amulet to be worn for protection against evil spirits.
“Thank you.” I took the souvenir from him and lifted it up in the air. To me, it always symbolized nature, freedom, and unpredictability. The latter of the three recently became the culprit for my misfortunes.
“You’re most welcome,” he said. “I brought it to remind you of the happy days.”
From a corner of my eye, I saw a pizza man walking up the stairs. “Shalom,” I said to him. “Let me get my wallet.”
“That’s OK. I’ll pay.” Jason pulled out a plastic card from his pocket.
“You must be hungry, too. Come in.”
We ate our pizzas quietly until he finally spoke. “Becky, I know you’re young, and you’ve got the entire life ahead of you. If you want to leave, I’m not going to hold you back.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but he stopped me.
“Before you can say anything else, I want you to know that your confession about that other guy obviously devastated me.”
“I know, Jason.”
“But having you gone from my life devastated me even more. I’m so sorry for leaving you at the hospital. I only did it because I believed that’s what you wanted.”
“What? Why?” I felt lost for words.
“I thought you needed space, Becky. I was convinced you hated me for causing this accident. But the entire time, I didn’t want to leave you.”
“Look, the accident wasn’t your fault at all. In fact, it saved me from something far more serious.”
“I know. But I still felt like a piece of shit for having shut you down that night.”
“It was my fault, too. It was I who betrayed your trust.”
“If only I’d listened to you, nothing would’ve happened.” He put his hands over his face.
I came closer and hugged him. “Please don’t be sad. Look, we had five wonderful years together. No matter what happens from now on, we can still stay friends.” Maybe we did need to have one last talk before each one of us could move on.
“I want us back together,” he declared. “I really do, Becky.”
Back at the hospital, I was eager to win him back. Now that I had all the hard facts about my future plans laid in front of me, I wasn’t sure if taking him back would be the right choice.
“I doubt you’ll want the life I can offer.” I sighed.
“Why so?”
“Look, I have no job. I’m planning to start something that entails a lot of risks and little guarantees. I’ll probably never have children. I doubt you’ll want to be part of this craziness.”
“What makes you think that I don’t want to be part of your new journey? Haven’t we always dreamed about a better life for us?”
“Yes, but I’m so scared.”
“What are you scared of?”
“I’m scared that someday, you’ll wake up and realize that you don’t want to be with a woman who’s into her early thirties and still in school, a woman who’s away for conferences all the time, and who’s gone every summer for a month or more. Will you want such a life?”
“
It certainly won’t be easy. It will be challenging. But the challenge part is what makes life so exciting.”
“Are you sure you won’t be disappointed later when the reality of my grad school hits us hard?”
“No, I won’t be. I’ll be more disappointed if we miss out on a second chance to be together.” He gently wrapped his hands around my waist. I, in return, wrapped mine against his. Then we stood there, holding each other tight for the longest time I could remember.
Chapter 31
Two Years Later
“Yes, we’ll see you all in May,” I tell my mother over the phone. “How are the wedding preparations going?” I add.
“Wonderful,” she replies. “Erin is glowing. You should’ve seen them yesterday. They kept chirping about the venue they’ve just found.”
“How nice!” I can’t believe my sister is finally getting married.
“How is your program, by the way?” she asks.
“Oh, I’ve just met with my supervisor. He wants me to focus on the Philistine burial customs and material culture dating to the Iron II for my research.” As I’m holding the phone with one hand, my other one moves the cursor across the article about the Philistine cemetery discovered in Ashkelon this year.
“Well, it doesn’t tell me too much.” My mother laughs. “How is Julia?”
“She’s great. We’ve just learned a few new words.” I hear my daughter’s laughter in the other room.
“Oh, that’s wonderful! I can’t wait to see her.”
“I know, Mom. I’m sure time will fly fast.” When Julia was a baby, my parents would visit us every so often. It must be hard for them now that we’re miles away.
“Well, Becky, have a great year and keep us posted.”
“Thanks, Mom. Say hi to Dad and to Erin. I love you all.”
“Bye, sweetheart.”
As much as I love Chicago, I can’t wait to go back to Toronto and see my entire family. Everyone, in turn, misses Julia, who will be two years old by the end of this spring. For the past few months, my mother has been extremely excited about Erin’s wedding. After all the anguish my family had gone through, we all deserve a little bit of joy in our lives.