Godfrey was still thinking about calling Rodger that evening, or whether he should leave it until the morning, when Mack passed him Thomas. He held the boy happily, looking happily as the baby tried to grab his tie. He’d have to start wearing Bow-ties at this rate.

“Not cleaning out, studying.”

“Hmmm?”

“They want me back? There’s this dig…Armenia or somewhere.”

“That’s nice. No you cannot eat the small end either, Thomas. It’s bad for you. Not very good for the tie either.”

“They want to help out. They’ve sent me all the information.”

Godfrey glanced up at the parchment and was turning back to Thomas when the words re-organized themselves and he looked up at Mack.

“Wait… what?”

“They want me there as early as next week, though really they would happy if I got there tonight.”

“Hang on.. they.. Who? Your work? They want you..when?” He looked at the maps, letters, books and charts spread out on the dinner table. Thomas cheerfully sucked on the end of Godfrey’s tie.

“You can’t go,” Said Godfrey, bluntly. “You can’t. Not next week, and certainly not tonight.” He was seized with sudden panic. Without Mack he’d have to look after Chrissa and Thomas full time, just as he had, while Mack was in the hospital with Thomas. “I mean I can’t take any time off. Not now. You.. That whole time when Thomas was born just about wiped me out, and I’m barely starting to get some contracts now. I can’t drop everything now. I just can’t.”

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Not Getting Any Younger