Belinda glanced at Ethan at the same time he looked at her, their gazes fused.
The shudder of the lift as it recommenced its downward journey served to break the tenuous link with both looking away. A few more stops and the main entrance level was reached, the coming and going of visitors, doctors and nurses serving to prevent the rising again of any tension.
Belinda reflected though that if being with Ethan in the small space of the lift was disconcerting then the confined space of a car would be nerve wracking.
Emerging into the bright natural light of day they were met by a neatly dressed driver in his 50's holding open the back door of a luxury car. Though as she made to get in the word 'car' seemed woefully inadequate and the lift decidedly cramped. Ethan's car turned out to be a majestic and roomy, Holden Statesman Caprice driven by David an ex-cop and blatant tough guy. The vehicle oozed wealth and elegance with every convenience at your fingertip. Individual DVD players nestled in the front seat head rests, a mini-fridge/ cooler hid between the front seats and every conceivable surface was covered in soft kid leather.
When Ethan had described himself as being at the top and a success he was merely stating a plain truth if the car was anything to judge by, thought Belinda.
The trip from North Sydney Private Hospital was made more scenic by the driver's choice of the Harbour Bridge rather than the tunnel. Once on the bridge Ethan pointed out Sydney's icons - the Opera house, Taronga Zoo, Luna Park. While Belinda knew without being told what these points of interest were she did not feel any sense of belonging or pride which she was sure a Sydneysider would feel.
It being midweek the harbour was relatively free of small craft with only an enormous cruise liner being shepherded towards the overseas terminal and the Manly ferry girding itself for its often turbulent crossing of the heads.
The harbour city was wearing its brightest summer clothes, the sky her dazzling hat and the azure water a flowing multi layered skirt. Harbour front units clung to the north shore squeezed between modern high risers. Dramatically shaped skyscrapers dominated the south shore vying for one's attention with the Cahill Expressway and City Circle train system suspended above the ferry terminal of Circular Quay.
Taking the off ramp to race over the expressway heading east Belinda felt sure she had been this way before but quickly lost that sense of familiarity once the car began winding its way towards the exclusive harbour side suburb of Point Piper where Ethan lived. Another indicator of what Ethan modestly called his success.