Robert reached for his reading glasses and slipped them on. Looking away from Marissa, he turned his attention back to his computer screen.

Seeing that he really didn’t intend to discuss it any further, Marissa turned and walked out the door.

The problem with going to Australia was that for the most part Marissa thought Robert was right. It seemed an extravagant idea, in time as well as expense, not that finances were her top consideration. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling: it seemed unreasonable to suddenly fly halfway around the world.

Reaching for the phone, she called Wendy. Wendy answered on the first ring, as if she were waiting by the phone.

“Well?” Wendy asked.

“It doesn’t look good,” Marissa said. “Robert is very much against the idea, at least of going to Australia. He likes the vacation part.”

“Damn!” Wendy said. “I’m disappointed. I was practically packing my bag. I could just feel that hot Australian summer sun.”

“Another time,” Marissa said. “Sorry to be such a drag.”

“Sleep on it,” Wendy said. “Maybe tomorrow you and Robert will feel differently. I’m sure we’d have a ball.”

Marissa hung up the phone. Suddenly sleep sounded good to her. She climbed the stairs, wishing that Robert would surprise her and join her for a change.

Marissa opened her eyes and immediately knew she’d overslept. The light in the bedroom was brighter than it should have been. Rolling to the side, she glanced at the clock. She was right, it was almost eight-thirty, an hour later than usual. She wasn’t surprised. Having awakened at four A.M. and unable to fall back asleep, she’d taken a piece of one of Robert’s Valiums.

Pulling on her robe, she went down to the guest room and peered inside. The bed was empty and unmade. Going to the top of the stairs, she called down for Robert. If he was there, he didn’t reply.

Descending the stairs, Marissa made a quick tour of the kitchen, eventually checking the garage. Robert’s car was gone. Going back inside, she looked on the planning desk for a message. There was none. Robert had just left for work without so much as a note. Every time she’d thought their relationship had reached its nadir, it sank a little lower.

“Thanks for nothing,” Marissa said aloud as she fought back tears. Then she shook herself. “God, I’ve only been awake for ten minutes and already I’m crying.” She made a cup of instant coffee and carried it upstairs to drink while she got dressed.

“A note wouldn’t have been asking too much,” she said as she stepped into the bathroom to shower.