worked at.”
“Why do you think some people feel the urge to kill?” Jill asked, hitting uncomfortably close to home with her innocent question. “Although, I tell you, there are days when I come close to an act of violence myself. Brian and I had a massive row yesterday,” she confessed.
“What about?”
“He’s been offered an amazing new job,” Jill said, the corners of her mouth dipping.
“Is that a bad thing?” Quinn asked.
“It is when it’s in Beijing. The contract is for three years. The company will cover the cost of the move, provide us with a three-bedroom house rent-free, and even cover the cost of Olivia’s school. At the end of the three years, Brian has the option to extend the contract for another three years.” Jill sighed. “It’s an incredible opportunity for him, but I don’t want to go. My life is here, Quinn: my family, my friends, my own career. I mean, if this was somewhere in Europe, I might be persuaded to give it a go, but this is China,” she moaned.
“I take it Brian really wants to take the job?”
“He does. He says the money we’ll save while there will enable us to buy a bigger house once we return, and if I don’t work for the next three years, it would be the right time to have another baby.”
“Do you want another baby?” Quinn asked.
“I do, but the thought of being cut off from everything and everyone I love frightens me. What would you do if Gabe suggested such a move?” Jill asked.
“I don’t know. I was reluctant to agree when he wanted to move us north to be closer to Phoebe,” Quinn confessed. “Berwick-upon-Tweed is not that far, but it might as well have been on the moon. I was so relieved when Phoebe decided to sell the house and move into a retirement community. My home is here. In fact, I’m working on a new case for Rhys.”
“I thought you were done with all that.”
“I was, but I’m doing it as a special favor to Rhys. The skeleton was found on his property in Hertfordshire.”
Jill laughed. “And I bet there’s an Echoes from the Past special in the works.”
“There is. It’s to be a Christmas episode.”
“That wily old devil,” Jill said, still chuckling. “He always knows how to reel you back in.”
“It didn’t take much persuading. I enjoy teaching and doing research, but there’s nothing like an archeological site to get me going. To unearth a skeleton that had been buried for hundreds of years and have the opportunity to learn about the person’s life and death is like nothing else in the world. It’s magic,” Quinn finished.
“So, why not do it?” Jill asked. “Why not go on a dig like you used to?”
“Because we have three children,” Quinn replied with a grin. “Can you imagine dragging those three along?”
“Maybe you don’t need to,” Jill replied as she tucked into the grilled salmon salad the waiter had placed before her.
“What do you suggest I do with them?” Quinn asked, picking at her own salad.
“Your parents would love to have them for the summer. Leave the kids in Marbella and go off on a dig, just you and Gabe. Rekindle the romance,” Jill suggested, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
“What makes you think it needs rekindling?” Quinn demanded with mock severity.
“Aw, come on, Quinny. When was the last time you and Gabe went away for a romantic weekend or an actual holiday? When did you last go out for a meal without the kids?”
“We went to Rhys’s house and dug up a skelly. That was plenty romantic,” Quinn replied, grinning. “But you’re right. It’s been a while since we’ve done anything for ourselves. I do miss spending time together without having to constantly cater to the needs of the children. I’m not sure my parents can handle them for that long, though. It’s a lot of work.”
“Ask them,” Jill suggested. “I bet they’d love it. There’s only so much tennis one can play and so many boozy lunches one can have on the veranda,” she quipped.
“You know, you might just have something there,” Quinn replied. “There’s time enough to make the arrangements before the end of the school term. And what about you? What will you do?”
Jill looked thoughtful, her earlier amusement forgotten. “The selfish part of me wants to refuse outright, but maybe China will be good for us. We both work long hours, Olivia barely sees us, and we’ve been putting off having another baby