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Like Rick’s team coming in last? Hardly something she’d consider “serious,” yet Grant had deemed it worthy of the professor’s attention last week.
Compared to the harsh conditions at Camp Kouklia, the field house felt like an idyllic vacation retreat. The inside of the home was old and rustic, with thick wooden beams, arched doorways, and whitewashed walls. Woven rugs in muted blues and grays covered the stone floors. Along the walls, ceramic plates and tiles provided vibrant splashes of color.
Dr. Roth called out to them. “I’m in the kitchen.”
Despite the traditional design of the house, the kitchen was tricked out with gleaming appliances and granite countertops. Dr. Roth stood beside a shiny Italian coffee maker, holding a ceramic cup. “Would either of you like some coffee?”
“That’s not necessary,” Grant said. “We don’t want to waste your time.”
Dr. Roth turned to Olivia. “Are you sure? It’s no trouble.”
So far, the professor didn’t seem upset that she’d invaded his solitude. She flashed him a grateful smile. “Thanks. I don’t suppose you have any iced coffee? Or anything cold to drink? I’m still kind of dehydrated.”
“You poor thing. Of course.” He opened the fridge and brought out a glass pitcher. “Vietnamese iced coffee. My housekeeper makes it for those mornings when it’s too hot for cappuccino.” He poured her a glass.
Olivia took it with shaky fingers. The first sip was a taste of heaven, the bitterness of the coffee cut by the splash of sweetened condensed milk.
“Let’s go onto the back patio,” Dr. Roth said. “Then, Olivia, I’d like you to tell me what happened.”
Grant sputtered. “But I—”
Dr. Roth shook his head. “If you insist on involving me in the day-to-day drama, we’ll do things my way.” He led them out the back door to a paved stone patio. A vine-laden pergola shaded a wicker table and four matching chairs. Beside it, a worn stone fountain burbled softly, adding to the tranquil ambience.
After a few life-giving sips of iced coffee, Olivia told Dr. Roth what had happened on the survey. At first, her voice shook with nerves and exhaustion, but she gained strength as she went on. In describing her ordeal, she didn’t downplay the mistakes she’d made. If she hadn’t overreacted to a harmless greeting from a local villager, she wouldn’t have dropped her GPS. And if she’d placed her inhaler in her daypack after using it the first time, it wouldn’t have tumbled out of her pants pocket.
Even as she admitted her failings, she also emphasized the physical peril she’d been in. Had Rick not found her inhaler, the afternoon could have taken a dark turn. Recounting the story, however painful, allowed her to paint Rick in a heroic light.
When she was done, Dr. Roth regarded her with compassion. “Are you sure you’re all right? There’s a clinic in Paphos if you need medical attention.”
His concern eased the stress weighing on her shoulders. “I’m fine. A little dizzy, but I’ll take it easy this afternoon. I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused.”
Dr. Roth stroked the end of his beard. “You found your way with just the topographic map?”
“That’s right. I love maps.”
His smile crinkled the corner of his eyes. “When I was a student—back in the Dark Ages—we didn’t use anything except a map and a compass when we were surveying. It was more of an adventure then. I place more value on an archaeologist who can read a map than one who relies solely on technology. You never know when you’ll need your map-reading skills.”
She released a pent-up breath. Who knew Dr. Roth was as passionate about maps as she was? “I still use one when I have to drive long distances.”
“As do I.” Dr. Roth fixed Grant with a cool gaze. “Quite honestly, I don’t see what the fuss is about.”
Grant’s mouth gaped open. “Are you serious? After all the times her team has disrupted the schedule by coming in late? Not that Olivia is entirely to blame. Most of the problem lies with Rick’s inability to keep his group on track.”
“From what I understand, his team only lagged during the first few days of the survey,” Dr. Roth replied. “Obviously, we want to make sure the students are back in time to do their lab work, but this incident wasn’t Rick’s fault. If anything, he went above and beyond in his determination to help Olivia.”
His praise made her heart swell with happiness. She couldn’t wait to share it with Rick.
“That’s it?” Grant demanded. “No one gets to be punished? If nothing else, Olivia should pay for the GPS unit she broke. It belongs to the school and cost over three hundred dollars.”
“I’m not convinced we can’t fix it. Juno’s remarkably good at salvaging troublesome tech. At this point, Olivia has been through enough already, and Rick did nothing wrong.” Dr. Roth stood, effectively dismissing them. “If you don’t mind, I’ve got work to do. Olivia, make sure to rest this afternoon. If you’re still dizzy tomorrow, I’d suggest you stay back at camp and work in the lab. We don’t want to take any risks.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll see how I feel in the morning.”
Even if she was weak and bone-weary, she felt vindicated. Not only had she defied Grant, but she’d also told Dr. Roth her version of the story, and he’d supported her. As long as she stayed on his good side, she still had an excellent chance of securing him for her dissertation committee. She couldn’t wait to tell Frida. Her friend would be proud as hell that Olivia had stood up for herself.
As they left the field house, she slowed her pace, hoping Grant would go on ahead. She wanted to bask in her moment of triumph without him stewing beside her. When he didn’t leave her side, she decided to push him a little further. For over two weeks, she’d tolerated his dismissive behavior without fighting back. That ended now.
“Grant? Can I ask you something?”
