Dan stood up, but before he bent to retrieve his hat she saw his face twist into a grin. Was he going to laugh at her for not being able to manage? She pushed open the door, narrowly avoiding him as he brushed the dust from his hat. They both walked around the car to the offending tyre.

“I could have done it myself but the nuts are too tight.”

Dan looked from her to the tyre. She put her hands on her hips. If he was going to make fun of her she wasn’t in the mood.

“And I had to lug out that stupid bag of whatever it was I picked up from the agents.” She waggled her finger at the bag. “I’ve still got lots to do for tonight and…”

He rested his hands on her shoulders and smiled at her. Paula pursed her lips. The top of her head only came as high as his chin and she had to tilt her head to look up at him.

“You take my vehicle home,” he said. Without another word he loaded the groceries and the esky into the dual cab and bundled her into the driver’s seat. He leaned in the window and kissed her on the nose. “Take it easy, Sweet Pea. It’s only friends coming for tea, not the prime minister.”

Soppy names weren’t her thing but he’d used Sweet Pea lovingly since they’d first met and she liked it. Paula gave him a feeble smile and he turned away. She watched him walk back towards her car before she manoeuvred the bulky dual cab around in several lurching stutters.

Dan was the reason she’d moved halfway across Australia to the isolated environment of farm living. It still took her breath away when she thought about how much she loved him. They were both looking forward to the baby that grew within her.

Paula tooted the horn and headed for home. Dan was already down on the other side of her car working on the wheel.

* * *

“Hello, Paula.”

Paula welcomed Dara’s perfumed embrace. She felt as if they’d known each other for years instead of a few months.

A series of sharp barks echoed from behind them.

“Oh, is Tarzan shut in?” Dara’s neatly plucked eyebrows raised.