Chapter 40: Being Supervised

“Well, I think you’re more than ready to submit your dissertation, your Highness.” said Catherine, two years later in Sharifa’s rooms where she had been checking the final version of her work. “Oh, I must go,” she said as she stretched her arms.

“Have you time for a glass of wine?”

Catherine looked at her watch. “Well, perhaps just one.”

Sharifa smiled and she gave an order in Arabic. A moment later a man entered with a tray carrying a bottle of wine and some glasses. He poured the wine before he withdrew.

Sharifa indicated the settee and they both sat beside each other.

“Nolan, that’s Irish, isn’t it?”

“Yes, my parents originally came from County Tipperary. I doubt if you heard of it.”

“As in the song?” answered Sharifa, “Is it a long way?”

“Yes. It is from here, and it was for the men who wrote that song,” replied Catherine with a smile, “Have you ever been to Ireland?”

“No. I know my father was in Dublin many years ago, but whether he went anywhere else ... wait a minute, he once mentioned somewhere called ... Buncrana was it?”

“Yes, everybody goes to Dublin, and Buncrana is up in County Donegal in the north of the Republic, but if you really want to see the beauty of Ireland you have to travel outside Dublin. Tipperary and particularly the southern counties of the province we call Munster are, I believe anyway, the most beautiful part of the country, with the green fields, glens and hills...” Catherine’s voice trailed off and she sighed.

“You sound like you miss it.”

“I do. If I could get a good position I’d move back there tomorrow. Well, I must be going.”

“Please, don’t go yet. There’s something on your mind, isn’t there? I’ve felt it all evening.”

“I’m sorry your Highness. I didn’t mean it to interfere with our work.”

“It didn’t. I just thought that after these almost four years working together you could talk to me.”

“Oh, it’s nothing really. You’ll think I’m been foolish.”

“Try me.”

“I just think Dan is having an affair with someone, probably an undergraduate student.”

If Sharifa was shocked she didn’t show it. “What makes you think that?”

“Nothing I can put my finger on. I know he has a drink problem and I know he screws around but lately his whole behaviour is different. He seems indifferent when I return from my parents. He never even asks how they are. It just seems strange, that’s all. Even now while he is at the seminar in Sacramento this week I can’t help thinking...” Catherine’s voice trailed off.

“You said he ‘screws around’. Haven’t you challenged him on it?”