“The point is we both could use a vacation,” Wendy said. “And we’re both fascinated by this string of TB salpingitis cases but we’re stymied here. The way I see it, we’re killing two birds with one stone.”

“We might hear about some cases from the Memorial and the General,” Marissa said. “We haven’t exhausted our possibilities here.”

“Are you going to tell me you couldn’t use a vacation?” Wendy insisted.

“A little time away does have some appeal,” Marissa admitted.

“Thank you for your admission,” Wendy said. “You can be pretty stubborn.”

“But I don’t know how Robert will take it. We’ve been having enough trouble lately. I can just imagine his response if I suggest I want to go to Australia alone.”

“I’m sure Gustave will go for the idea,” Wendy said. “I know he could use the break.”

“You mean our husbands would go too?” Marissa asked, puzzled.

“Hell, no,” Wendy said. “Gustave needs a break from me! Let’s see if I’m right.”

Wendy shocked Marissa by shouting for Gustave. Her voice echoed through the high-ceilinged house. “I usually can’t get away with this kind of behavior,” she admitted to Marissa. She took another drink from her wineglass.

Gustave came at a run. “Something the matter?” he asked nervously.

“Everything is fine, dear,” Wendy said. “Marissa and I were thinking it might be good for the two of us to take a little holiday. What do you think of that?”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Gustave said. He clearly seemed relieved at the change in Wendy’s mood.

“Marissa’s afraid Robert might not be so agreeable,” Wendy said. “What’s your opinion?”

“Obviously I don’t know him well,” Gustave said. “But I do know he is fed up with the in-vitro protocol. I think he’d like a break. Where were you girls thinking of going?”

“Australia,” Wendy said.

Gustave visibly swallowed. “Why not the Caribbean?” he asked.

Later, when Marissa drove home, her mind was in disarray. It had been a strange day with roller-coaster emotions and unexpected happenings. Within minutes of leaving an excited Wendy, she began to question the reasonableness of going to Australia at the present time. Although the concept of getting away had a lot of appeal, the idea of considering such a journey was a fitting end to a mad day. Besides, she wasn’t sure she could manage Robert as handily as Wendy managed Gustave.

Marissa pulled into the garage, not sure how to proceed. For a few moments she sat behind the steering wheel and tried to think. Without a specific plan, she finally got out of the car and entered the house. She took off her coat and hung it in the hall closet.