Kakadu Sunset by Annie Seaton Page A

road ahead. Christ, he’d seen enough politicians across the country take a fall recently. The corruption commission hearings down in New South Wales had put paid to the careers of many.
    ‘Daddy! How much longer? I need a wee.’
    ‘Almost. Can you hang on for a few more minutes?’ David pushed away the thoughts filling his head and tried to focus on his family. ‘How about an ice-cream when we get there, buddy?’
    He had emails to read when he got there; his phone had been dinging non-stop all the way down the highway. Gina had offered to read them to him as she often did when he was driving but he’d shaken his head. She’d shrugged and given him a strange look, before turning back to her Kindle.
    The possibility of spending time relaxing with Gina and the kids was becoming less likely every time his phone dinged, but David knew he needed to focus on family for the next two days. He didn’t want to lose his wife’s respect too.
    The promise of ice-cream quietened Andrew and there was silence from the back seat except for the low music from his game. They’d been on the road since dawn and were now only a few kilometres from the resort. Gina was not happy that he was going to leave them there when he headed back to the city – alone – on Sunday night.
    ‘What if the baby comes early? Is there even a hospital out in the wilds here?’ She’d widened her green eyes at him and placed her hand on her stomach. ‘I’ll be by myself with the children. I’ve only got eight weeks left. You do know that, don’t you?’
    ‘Of course I do, and no, it won’t and yes, there is.’ David had pulled her close and buried his face in her hair, inhaling the lavender fragrance that always calmed him. ‘And it’s not the wilds. It’s only a couple of hours away from Darwin. You’ll be fine.’
    ‘Why all the secrecy, David? Why do we have to hide?’
    The wheels of the car hummed on the tar as the sun rose in the winter sky, and the dawn light touched the charred savannah grasslands that had been burned off along the highway. The morning mist hung eerily as the watery sun tried to break through the smoke-laden fog and David tried to forget the emails waiting for him, and his briefcase full of papers in the boot of the hire car, as they turned right at Jabiru and sped down the Kakadu Highway towards Makowa Lodge.
    *
    Gina checked into the lodge while David waited in the car with the kids. They’d paid for Friday night so they could get an early check-in this morning. It was still early and there were no other guests at the reception desk.
    ‘Welcome to Makowa Lodge, Ms Perini.’ The pretty Aboriginal girl behind the counter had a deep, husky voice. She took Gina’s credit card and swiped it over the terminal, before handing over the security card for the room. ‘I hope you enjoy your stay with us. There are many activities on in the lodge, and there are brochures in the compendium in your room outlining the tours available.’
    ‘Thank you –’ Gina glanced at the girl’s name badge ‘– Heather.’
    ‘And make sure you look at our day spa. It’s won national awards.’
    Gina smiled and nodded before she put her credit card away. ‘So I have heard. I will, thank you.’
    She decided to see if there was an appointment available at the day spa this afternoon. David could look after Andrew and Binny. Then they could have a romantic dinner in the room tonight after the children went to sleep.
    David had parked the hire car in the middle of the car park and Gina put up her hand to shade her face from the sun. Despite the early hours, the heat was lifting in waves from the concrete. She smiled as the children’s happy giggles reached her. They
would
make the most of the weekend together and then she would try to enjoy the rest of the time when David was away.
    She shook her head as he slouched down in the driver’s seat and pulled the baseball cap low over his eyes.
    ‘It’s okay, James Bond, it’s only