ONE

Sydney, 1996

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Eva’s first marriage had nosedived over the decades, until she acknowledged that it had expired. It had been an awkward relationship right from the beginning. His connection with his domineering mother had been the problem. He never wavered in his claim of love for Eva, but his love for his mother had always been stronger. That love had led to a number of frightening incidents which had made Eva repeatedly fear for her life. The woman had dangerous powers of control over her son.

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She knew that, if she remained in the marriage, his mother would eventually win her game. There was a real chance Eva might not survive the next frightful confrontation. She had to overcome her pride and accept that the marriage was finished.

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Eva was a petite woman with a strong sense of determination. To cope with the attacks on her, she had maintained a strong control of her own destiny, both mentally and physically. This meant she would be able to control her future.

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In April 1996 there was a shooting spree at the Port Arthur historic site in Tasmania. Thirty-five people were killed and twenty-one injured. Eva had visited the site and felt for the community. The Port Arthur massacre had been solely perpetrated by Martin Bryant. After this horrific event Prime Minister Howard called for all guns in Australia to be accounted for, and to be handed over to the Government.

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Because of the massacre she began to think more seriously about the attempts on her life and how violence could affect her own family. Could her own family be caught in a similar treacherous position?

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She feared that her husband was capable of this. There was a gun in the house.

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Eva announced her decision to split in 1996, on their 26th wedding anniversary. It had been odd, telling her husband, “Why are we still married, when you are perpetually trying to kill me? You have no love for the children and yet, after the first two, you demanded and blackmailed me into more! On top of that, I found out that you have an additional daughter with another woman! Why don’t we either resolve our issues, or dissolve our marriage on this anniversary!”

He looked stunned! Was it a fake reaction?

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She left the table at the restaurant in The Rocks, she dashed out of the place to breathe. She knew she had hit a sore point, totally unexpected by him. Her action would give him time to process what she had just said. When she returned to the restaurant he was still sitting there, flabbergasted and perhaps feeling regret.

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They walked to their six-star hotel reservation, which had been arranged months before. He tried to smooth his issues over. He suggested they watch porn movies to set the mood for sex. She felt disgusted, because she would be making love with a man who could be planning another deadly attack on her.

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She played dumb and drank the champagne in the suite overlooking Sydney Harbour. She drew a bath full of froth and bubbles. She suggested he join her; he rejected the offer, but kept his eyes firmly on his wife.

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His head was spinning!

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The night continued with banter and some laughter, until it was time to go to sleep. They certainly could be friends! They had sex. Eva played the game which men play too, the game of pretence. The sexual activity did enrich them temporarily; eventually they said good night to each other. However, Eva knew their marriage was over!

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When they woke up the next morning, they looked at each other like lovers do. Happiness is an attitude! Eva thought she would try again, although she had tried forever to make good of her marriage. They understood each other, but one spouse cannot continue to abuse the other.

She was an unwilling victim!

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She no longer wanted this role. No one else knew the truth. She had kept their life story behind closed doors, sealed with the fear of what might happen if she told the real story to anyone.

Again, Eva told him she wanted a divorce. He did not accept this. He told her to wait a week while he would try and work through the quagmire. Because he looked traumatised, she indicated that she would let him stay in her home for the next twelve months. This arrangement would also give the children time to settle into their new reality. They would have to have separate rooms. He would not hear of this!

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Would he continue his life threats on her?

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Three weeks later Eva received an invitation to attend an expensive charity function in a private house on the water in Cremorne. She believed in the work of this charity and was willing to support the organisation. She was also encouraged by friends to attend.

Being separated, she felt awkward and disjointed. She felt shame, because her marriage had failed. Unfortunately, she had no one to attend with, she did not have an appropriate male escort outside her marriage. Feeling resourceful, she had a brainstorm to which she required a positive answer. She needed acceptance, so she took a gamble.

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She asked her separated husband to join her and offered to pay for his ticket. He told her, “No, I do not think going with you is appropriate!” But, due to the circumstances, he would do it as a friendly gesture to her. How unusually respectful, she thought! Never laugh at respect; she was grateful.

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Would he attempt to kill her at the party?

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She hoped not. He had a mind full of devious plots. But would he attend, or was he lying again? Their friends had often warned her of his massive lies. He was a master of perpetual deceit! He was clever at it, but she was aware of his tactics. Being separated, she was not going to accept his ridiculous deceitful lies any longer; he would need to switch to another deceptive approach.

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During the week before the party, there was a lull in his abusive behaviour. This made it easier for them to attend the upcoming party together.

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What was he planning?

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At the party they were introduced to many celebrities and there was a brilliant art exhibition in an upstairs loft. The organisers were hoping to raise funds from this. Purchases were made and then a silent auction would follow.

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As an outdoor event, the function was held right on the harbour, in the backyard of a popular local resident, whom she had met only a few months earlier. A lovely venue, with tents erected on the grass, and drinks and cuisine served by waiters.

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She appeared confident but was inwardly emotional. The sun had shone all day, and then out of nowhere the rain poured down, as it does on some evenings. What was she to do? She looked around for shelter, but all the tents seemed to be occupied. When a nice-looking friendly couple asked if she would like to take shelter under their tent, she felt relieved. They also asked if she would like to join them at their table. Her husband was nowhere to be seen. She knew she could not stand up for hours. Nervous, but appreciative, she accepted.

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The urbane man with a distinguished beard stood up from his chair, then introduced Eva to his long-term friend, Carol. Carol smiled and co-operated with the proceedings; they shook hands. Eva thought Carol’s heart had not been in the action. She was of a demure appearance and seemed bemused by her partner’s actions. He introduced himself as George, and indicated Eva was welcome to sit and stay at their table for as long as she wanted to.

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It was a pleasant situation. The three of them found they had much in common. Art and travel were the main subjects. Then George quizzed Eva. Who was she? Where did she live? By the time he had got around to asking her these questions an hour had passed, and the rain was still pouring down.

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Eva tried to explain her marital status in a few words, but somehow, she was caught up in a conversational merry-go-round where these people wanted to know too much. She was glad to put a stop to that conversation, thinking, less is better!

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Carol talked spasmodically, but then suddenly buttoned up. George took over, and asked Eva if she would like another drink. She nodded and he requested the waiter to bring her a glass of French champagne. “Thank you,” she said. He smiled back cutely. She could see he was interested in her life-story, or was it in her?

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The bubbles arrived and they celebrated the rain, as Sydney had needed it. Half way through the bubbles, embarrassingly she almost told him her entire history. That is what alcohol does to you! The important part was that she was separated and her husband was in the next tent. She pointed him out to them. He hovered around, fully absorbed in her every move! Every time she turned around or looked straight ahead, he was there watching her. This made her edgy!

Her new friends noticed his actions too. They had not known he was her husband and said they were going to point out to her this handsome man in the next tent, who very much looked like he was infatuated by her!

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How funny!

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Eva thanked the couple for being interested in her. Time seemed to disappear, and she spent almost two hours getting to know them. Then she got up for a minute and looked back at George. His beady, intelligent eyes played games with Eva and her mind. His entanglement with her was obvious to her and to anyone who could see what was going on. He wanted her to stay a little longer.

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She suddenly felt awkward after divulging so much personal information, so she pulled herself away from them, and stretched her legs with the thought of viewing the art exhibition in the loft.

Before Eva could walk away, Carol quickly grabbed her and whispered in her ear that George was very fascinated by her and invited her to stay. She added that, if Eva was also attracted to him, it would probably last only two years, like all the other women in his life!

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Surprised, Eva stood still like a marble statue! Her body reacted slowly as she eased her way into accepting Carol’s invitation and she sat down again. George whispered to her that he had seen her from the back, on arrival at the function. He had fallen for the mysterious aura around her, her profile, her dark shiny hair and her elegant black tuxedo jacket.

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When she had turned around, he said he received a beautiful jolt. Seeing her pretty face and smile, he was instantly smitten, attracted, hooked, all from one glance!

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Eva and George connected with strong chemistry; their minds danced together in harmony - or was it danger? Carol seemed amused and said nothing, but she had given him a feminine hint, “I have had enough of your flirting!”

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Eva had to escape from this twisted saga, and she did. George needed to escape from her, he had to please Carol. Eva wanted to view the art and told him that she had not seen it yet. They already had, and suggested she take a peek.

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She walked up the steep stairs to the gallery and treasured what she saw. She felt George’s beady eyes following her legs with every step. She felt as if her body was being viewed through a telescope or a magnifying glass. Her movements, every detail of her, were on display for some reason, was it approval or a voyeur’s game?

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The feeling put a spin of abundant excitement in her mind and lifted her energy levels. It gave her a positivity which had been missing since the separation. It made her feel free and she enjoyed that, but it also had its complications. Her diabolical marriage nightmare was still with her!

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She talked and smiled to the guests, and just prized the art space. She saw an exquisite painting and thought she might like to purchase it. It would be a treasured memory from this extraordinarily different adventure, but then she reconsidered. What was the point of spending money when she did not know her future? She just admired the magnificent work and asked questions of the artist, who took an interest in her comments. She felt she should do more with her own art one day. Eva talked to other guests, and discussed the uncommonly bright colours and style of the works. She scanned the room and relished the art space.

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After thirty minutes of conversation, another glass of French champagne arrived. Her third, she never drank more than one! She might soon be tipsy! The waiter said it was from a prominent man down at that table in the tent.

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She looked down and could see it was George. The waiter said that the man wanted to meet with her before she left the party. An automatic response came to her lips. She felt compelled to say to the waiter, “Yes, that is fine.”

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Fifteen minutes later, she slowly walked down the stairs, into the arms of this prominent man whom she had already spent far too long speaking with. It was an inexplicable feeling! She felt comfortable with him! It was outlandish, how could she be so at home with a stranger?

She had no experience with this type of feeling!

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George hugged her tightly and surreptitiously gave her his business card. He was calm and indicated his private number to her, this was the one she should call. Eva contemplated the situation, he seemed eager not to waste any time before seeing her again. She would have to think about this, because she knew how vulnerable a position she was in at that time.

He breathed deeply and gently persuaded her to contact him.

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He whispered into her ear that they clearly shared many common interests. He said he found her an intriguing lady, elegant and intelligent. He urged her to contact him in the immediate future. He wished her well, and hoped she would cope with her family drama until they would meet again.

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Knowing the circumstances of their meeting and her marital situation, he did not want to cause any personal embarrassments or friction. He said that he would let her go for now, a twinkle in his eye catching hers as she left his side.

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Eva could see it was time to leave. She had attended the party with an appropriate companion, her estranged husband. At this stage of their separation, it was good to be civil. She had made friends and felt elated. They left the function together. They said their good-byes to the host and hostess. Eva was pleased with her decision to support the charity. She was also happy to have met her first new male friend.

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She had managed to consume three glasses of French Champagne! A first, with no after-effects! She evaluated her tipsiness and took control of it; she knew where she was headed. Tonight, she would attend to the children and have an early night.

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She never again attended another charity function with her husband.

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He had ogled her the entire evening. Who knows whether he had been jealous or not? She knew she would have to watch herself for the next few days, in case there was revenge.

In silence they walked back to their residence, where the children were waiting for them.

Eva looked forward to being with the children that night. She had prepared a dinner of their favourite Mum recipe, Spaghetti Bolognese. The children had invited two friends, who would stay the night. Eva thought this was a good idea, to keep the children active and content.

She talked to them individually as they were all home. They asked how the charity function went, and did she purchase a painting? Knowing their Mum was always open to purchases, particularly art, the children were surprised that she came home empty handed.

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The next day Eva found herself being even more of a Mum, not only to her own children but also the two who had stayed the night. One of the girls’ fathers had died overnight. It had been precipitous. How do you calm a child who receives such a shock? The child’s father had gone to bed that night healthy, and had never woken up.

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Later, after the two guests left separately, Eva sat down with her own children to console them, and connect with their emotions. As a Mum, she also had feelings, they were raw and she needed to know more about the families to understand the situation. She wanted to help; how could she help? At the funeral she reached out to the mother of the child whose father had died, and afterwards took that child in, to give her mother some time alone to grieve. That daughter became a close friend of Eva’s family.

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Her husband had shown no emotions, he had just ignored the event. Had he thought that this man was having an affair with Eva? Eva had met him at a few parties, with his wife and family. At the time, her husband had asked what was her interest in the man. There had been none, but the man seemed to be keen for more interaction with Eva. At the time, Eva had felt threatened. Now she was feeling awkward, and made to feel guilty about something she had never done. But her husband was always suspicious. The question in her mind was, had her husband had something to do with the early death of this man?