“We must be off,” Dan cut in. “Nice to see you, Katherine.” Paula could hear the stiffness in his voice. He took her arm and began to move her forward. “We’ve got another appointment to get to. See you later.”

Paula stifled a giggle at the glimpse of surprise on Katherine’s face. Dan moved on quickly and Paula allowed him to propel her down the street to the car. She knew Katherine would be watching them and there was some satisfaction for Paula that the image they presented was of the happy couple strolling along the street, arm in arm. Paula took some quick steps to match Dan’s long stride. Well, perhaps they weren’t exactly strolling but they were joined at the arm.

“Dan, slow down,” she said.

“Sorry.”

He looked so contrite she stretched up and kissed him. “I love you,” she whispered and was rewarded with the return of the sparkle in his eyes.

“Enough of your sweet talk, little lady, have you finished your shopping? It’s time we went home.”

“I’m ready.” She put her purchases in the back of the dual cab with a smile. As they pulled away from the curb, Paula had a vision of Katherine’s vivid red nail polish and two fingers wiggling. She had said two days in a row but Dan hadn’t been away from the farm yesterday. Paula turned to speak but he was negotiating a round-about and he still had a smile on his face. She settled back in her seat and remained silent. Not even Katherine could spoil today.

* * *

Dan glanced across as a bump in the road made Paula’s head wobble sideways. Her eyes remained closed. He envied her trouble-free sleep but there was no point in them both worrying about the future. Before they went in to have the ultrasound, he had nearly told Paula he’d changed his mind and wanted to know if the baby was a boy or a girl. He was glad he’d held his tongue. It was a miracle they were having a baby at all and he should be thankful for that.

When he saw the baby on the screen today he knew he really didn’t mind what sex it was. It was as if a light had turned on for him. Paula had been going on for weeks about the baby moving but he’d had trouble feeling it. To see the baby on the screen had been a turning point. He’d felt a surge of emotion and he knew that he would protect Paula and the baby from anything, no matter what.