Page 30

The young girl adjusted the chair and reached to the table at the side. All was quiet as soft fingers rubbed a cool cream into Gina’s face. She closed her eyes and the room went dark as the girl laid rounds of cucumber and thin slices of cotton gauze on her closed eyelids.

‘Your face is glowing and your skin is quite full and firm.’

‘Thank you. It’s called pregnancy.’ Gina smiled and settled more comfortably into the chair, relaxing as the girl’s fingers gently massaged her temples. The time passed slowly as her face was scrubbed, masked and exfoliated. For a while, she drifted off into a light doze when she was left alone with only the soft harp music surrounding her.

By the time Gina returned to the suite, her mood was much improved. But if David had to be in Darwin by five, they wouldn’t have long to talk.

She’d forgotten her security card so she tapped at the door. There was no answer. Gina frowned. ‘David?’ she called softly. ‘Open the door. I’ve left my key card inside.’

Maybe he’s gone to sleep with the children? He’d said they’d have a swim and then a nap.

She tapped again, more loudly this time. She looked down at her watch. It was almost two; he’d have to leave within half an hour if he was going to make Darwin by five o’clock. And she wanted to talk before he left.

She knocked loudly one more time and waited, but there was still no sound from within. Gina’s newfound calm splintered. A frisson of worry tugged at her; it was out of character for David to risk being late for a meeting. Finally, she gave up and walked along the front of the building to the main doors that opened to the corridor leading to the pool. Maybe the three of them were still there; but if so, they’d be waterlogged by now.

Squeals and excited chatter reached her as Gina stepped through the door and held her hand up to her eyes. She looked around the two pools and over to the grassed area but there was no sign of David or the children. A chill ran through her blood. She gripped the doorframe, fighting the tendrils of panic that threatened.

‘Are you okay, love?’ An older woman in a pair of hot pink swimmers with a large sunhat perched on her head stood behind her.

‘Er . . . yes. Thank you.’ Gina forced a smile onto her face. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself. ‘I was just seeing if my husband was still out here with our children.’ She raised a shaky hand to her brow.

‘Are you sure you’re all right? You’re awfully pale.’

‘Yes, yes, I’m fine, thank you. Just the heat.’ Gina’s heart picked up a beat, and she forced herself to take a deep breath. She was probably worrying about nothing. Maybe there was a playground somewhere. Yes, that was it. She turned and hurried back to their room, conscious of the woman’s concerned gaze.

Still no answer. Finally she headed to the reception building. Maybe David hadn’t realised she hadn’t taken her card with her. Maybe they were asleep inside the room. Maybe he’d taken them somewhere and left a note. She’d get another key card and check the suite.

As she crossed the garden to the covered walk that led to reception, Gina glanced at the car park. The hair stood up on her arms as she realised their rental car was gone.

Dio, where are they? Surely he hadn’t left for Darwin already. No, that was ridiculous. She ran the last few steps and pushed the reception door open. Heather, the pretty Aboriginal girl, was there and she looked at Gina curiously as she caught her breath.

‘Hello, are you all right?’

‘I’ve left my card in the room, and my husband is not around. You haven’t seen him, perhaps, have you?’ Then she shook her head, realising the girl wouldn’t know what David looked like. ‘No matter.’ Heather smiled and offered her a spare card, making a joke about guests locking themselves out of their rooms. Gina grabbed the card with a muttered ‘thank you’, and whirled on her heel and hurried out.

The rental car still wasn’t there as she crossed the lawn back to their building, but the noise of the television reached her as she pushed the door open.

Thank God.

‘David?’

The living room was empty and the blinds were drawn, the light from the television flickering in the dim room. Picking up the remote, she switched it off before hurrying down the hall to the children’s bedroom.

Empty. And the same with the master suite.

A chill crawled down her spine. David’s phone was charging on the table next to the bed. He never went anywhere without it. The whole apartment was cold. Gina rubbed her arms as she walked over to the control panel and switched the air-conditioning off. Only silence filled her ears as she crossed the living area to the kitchen.

The mess in the kitchen showed they had been there, and she reached for the sponge, automatically wiping up some milk that had been spilt on the sink. When it was clean, she braced her arms on the cold stone benchtop, trying to calm herself as the baby kicked.

There was no point getting in a state. It wasn’t good for the baby. She had to stay calm and work out what to do.

As she stood there, there was a noise at the front door and Gina’s shoulders sagged with relief as she hurried up the hall. She paused; there was a strange scratching noise coming from the base of the front door. She listened . . . there it was again. It was as though someone was rubbing a rough piece of sandpaper on the timber. She walked over slowly and stood by the door and the strange sound continued. Stepping back, she crossed her arms protectively against her stomach as goosebumps ran down her arms.

Silence. And then another louder scratch. The door handle turned slowly and Gina held her breath as the door opened.

‘Oink, oink. I’m a baby pig.’ Andrew crawled around the door on all fours. ‘Mummy, I can scratch in the mud.’

‘And me too.’ Binny crawled in behind him.