Paula put her hand to her side where the jab of pain was easing. “I’m sure it was just a stitch.”

“I’ll make a cup of tea.”

“Not for me, thanks,” she said. “I’ll have a glass of water and get ready for bed.”

Dan’s mobile rang. She followed him inside then went out to the little bathroom. It was Rowena on the phone. Paula could tell by the way Dan spoke. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. A pale face peered back at her but the pain had stopped. She cleaned her teeth and was startled by Dan’s reflection in the mirror beside her own when she put her head up.

“Rowena was checking to see when we’d be home. She’s got a list as long as my arm of things that she wants done before the wedding,” he said.

“I can help. This holiday has been the best thing to recharge my batteries.”

“You’ll need it to tackle the paperwork.”

“I’ve told you many times I love that side of things.”

“I hate it.”

“I know.” She smiled. “That’s why we make such a good team. We complement each other.”

She looked in the mirror and fingered the delicate pendant. “Can you undo this for me, please?” She lifted her hair away from her neck. It was getting quite long. A visit to her old hairdresser had been one of the things she’d planned if they’d made it to Sydney.

Dan bent down and kissed the back of her neck. A delicious shiver shuddered down her spine.

“Happy to oblige, little lady,” he whispered in her ear.

“Before we get cosy, we should finish that conversation about the loan.”

“When we get home.”

Paula could see his face in the mirror. His brow furrowed as he concentrated on the catch of her necklace. She leaned forward a little so the light would fall on the back of her neck.

“But now that you’ve mentioned it,” she said, “I’ve remembered I wanted to talk to you about wills.”

Dan’s hand jerked away from her and the pendant dropped. “Damn!” he muttered.

She grabbed at the chain but it slipped through her fingers and into the handbasin. Before she could rescue it, the pendant slid into the plughole and the chain slithered in after it, disappearing from view. For a minute there was silence.

Finally Paula gasped, “Oh, no!”

“Damn!” Dan said again.

“Oh, Dan. Your beautiful gift.”

He got down on his knees and inspected the pipe under the basin.

“It’s gone,” she said.

Dan stood up, put the plug in the plughole, brushed off his knees and bent to kiss her neck again. “Now, where were we?” His hands slid under her shirt.

Paula pulled away and turned to look at him. “But my chain.”