Samantha was bubbling. The bridge-climb was just what she and her husband Dennis needed. She’d seen the daily tourist processions across the arch while taking a break from the Sydney conference. Why not? She called and booked tickets for the following day. Dennis was to fly over from Adelaide, to share an indulgent weekend. The fug of the conference room evaporated—this was something to look forward to. Her life needed a lift and so did Dennis’s. Busy in their separate company businesses in SA they hadn’t seen much of each other lately and this escape for a weekend away would be a circuit breaker. Her suggestion, but he’d been happy to go along with it. Now with a bridge-climb thrown in.
Dennis was at Samantha’s hotel at 6 pm. They embraced as soon as she opened the door. Or was it reciprocal? Samantha felt a coolness, but, well, it was the end of a busy and stressful day for him and, as he explained, he’d only just got to the airport in time for the flight. Rush, rush, rush. It seemed to be the pattern for their lives. But now they’d have a weekend away from work pressures, with an elegant dinner tonight and then a mid-morning adventure. The bridge-climb was her secret. She would surprise him over dinner.
The restaurant was within walking distance so walk they did, each step releasing a brick of the wall of pressures Samantha’s intense day at the conference had built. Now a weekend with just the two of them! She expected Dennis to feel the same sense of release but as she looked sidelong at him in the restaurant it seemed he had things on his mind. He had been working long hours, often until near midnight, and, she rationalised, would need to ease into this mini holiday.
By the time coffee was served Samantha was concerned. Dennis had picked at his food, whereas she had attacked her steak with gusto. ‘Is everything all right?’ she asked as a gloomy silence invaded their table. He brightened, seeming to wave away what had been on his mind.
‘Sure, Sam, no problems. Just still a bit caught up in that Anderson contract; can’t get it out of my head at the moment.’ His gaze met hers, and then he looked away. Something was definitely not all right. Samantha’s mood cooled. It was time to expose her secret.
‘Darling, tomorrow morning we’re going to do the bridge-climb. I got the tickets this morning and kept it secret—as a surprise. They say you can see for miles…’
Dennis looked at her blankly. ‘Sorry Sam, it won’t happen. I have a secret of my own to share. At 10:30 tomorrow I’ve arranged for us to meet with Oberglade and Co lawyers in George Street. Those late nights at work haven’t been at the office. I’ve been seeing another woman…you don’t know her…I’ve briefed the company’s Sydney lawyers about separation leading to initiating divorce procedures.’
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