❝death is only the beginning.❞
Mara El-Masri's fascination with the long-ago world of ancient Egypt started with the stories her stepfather would tell her when she was a child. Her brother Talib El-Masri is missing, left after their mother's funera...
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THE TOMB OF KHAFRE and the secret room with his burial treasure were thoroughly examined throughout much of the day. While Alex, Jonathan, and Rick returned to the secret room to see if there was anything within the burial treasure that could give them any answers to the new questions they had, Mara and Evy remained with the sarcophagus and the mummy in an effort to locate answers directly from the source. Unfortunately, there wasn't much luck in either venture; Mara was unable to come up with even a working theory on cause of death and there was nothing new to discern from the burial treasure or the canopic chest. At about mid-afternoon, it was unanimously decided that there was nothing left for them to do at the tomb and that their questions, it seemed, might be better answered through research at the museum (Mara, Evy, and Alex made a plan to spend the following day in the library there) and they left Nefertiri and Khafre's tombs for the day.
When prompted again, Evy and Rick answered yes to the dinner invitation brought forth by Jonathan earlier in the day but didn't return with them to the Carnahan home, as they wanted to wash up and change first after being in the tomb for most of the day, a sentiment that was echoed by the others. It also meant there was some time to extend the same offer to Jamil and Talib, who did accept, and make dinner for eleven people—nearly twice as many as there usually was.
But soon the home was even livelier than normal when everyone sat down to dinner and chatted amongst themselves. Mara was the last one to the table and noticed at least one thing out of place—rather than the wine brought out for the adults that did drink (this being Evy, Rick, and even Alex), Jonathan had tea in his glass like herself, their children, and Talib and Jamil. It struck her as odd, as she'd thought he'd be drinking wine for the occasion of a full family dinner, and inquired quietly as she leaned down next to him, "Why aren't you drinking?"
Jonathan's answer was given at the same volume. "Because I have plans for later tonight I'd rather be sober for."
"What plans?" Mara said, and Jonathan's brows rose as he turned to look at her. Even then, it took her a second to realize what he meant. "Oh."
"How have we been together for nearly twenty years and you still never understand anything I'm implying?" Jonathan asked with amusement. Mara tilted her head at him, face burning half out of sheepishness and half from the implication (which, again, was said in the same room where the rest of their family sat, including their children, despite it being said at a low volume they wouldn't be able to hear). "I get all of yours straightaway."
Mara lightly laughed to herself and shook her head. "No, you don't."
"What don't I get?" Jonathan questioned as she took her seat beside him, setting her own glass of tea on the table. Mara just winked at him, content in letting him spend a few hours wondering what she meant. That ought to keep him occupied until later. "Mara."
