Once again, Lachlan looked up. This time he regarded her closely. “I could do another reading now but by the look on your face your BP has probably risen. I don’t want you to worry about it.” He smiled then looked back at the screen again, scrolling with the mouse. “The ultrasound report is fine. The baby is a good size. Come back and see me next week. We’ll monitor you a bit closer for a while.”

“Next week?” Paula heard her words come out in a squeak.

“I’m just being cautious. As I said, there can be plenty of harmless reasons why blood pressure rises. Everything else is fine. You’re blooming, the baby’s growing, no need to worry.”

He stood up and Paula did the same. Her mind was racing. Perhaps all the worry over the fire and Heather and Ted had upset her more than she realised. Lachlan ushered her towards the door.

“I had a headache this morning.”

“Did you?” He looked at her closely again. “Did you take something for it?”

“A cold face washer and a lie down.”

“And it’s gone now?”

“Yes.”

“Give me a call if you get any more headaches or you feel unwell.”

“Okay.” Paula turned up the corners of her mouth in a weak grin. “There’s one more thing. I meant to ask you if it’s okay for me to fly? Dan said we might go to Sydney for Christmas.”

“As long as you’re in a plane.” Lachlan Hunter chuckled at his own joke, then his face was serious again. “How many weeks did we say you were?”

“Twenty-two.”

“Have you booked your flights yet?”

“No, Dan wasn’t sure how harvest would go.”

“I’d like you to leave it until I see you next week.”

“Really?” Paula worried there was something he wasn’t telling her. It was already getting too late to book. Any seats left would be expensive.

“I’m sure everything’s fine. I’ll see you next week.”

He was already turning away as she half backed out his door. Someone pushed past her. Paula turned in time to see Ted striding away towards the other doctor’s office. She could see one of his hands and arm were still wrapped in bandages.

She made another appointment for the following week and glanced into the waiting room on her way out. Heather gave her a feeble wave. Paula smiled. There were several people in the waiting room but there was an empty chair next to Heather. Paula hadn’t seen her since the day of the fire.

“How are you?” She crossed the room as she spoke. A silly question, when she could see from Heather’s pale face and even darker shadows under her eyes that she didn’t look well.

“I’m fine. Ted’s the one with the burns.”

“How’s he getting on?”