“You could have brought him with you,” Paula said. She hadn’t had much to do with babies other than her sisters’ children but she’d taken to both of Jane’s boys as soon as she’d met them. Andrew was three and quite independent and baby James was just gorgeous. Now that she was pregnant she was even more fascinated by his trusting deep brown eyes, his dribbly smile and his chubby arms and legs.

“He’s a bit irritable. He’s cutting another tooth. I’m hoping for a night off.” Jane laughed, then she lowered her voice. “How are things going here? Is Ted behaving?”

Paula grinned at her friend. “All fine so far.” Jane knew how difficult Paula found Ted and had promised to do her bit to keep the evening cheerful. “I’d like everyone to go into the lounge though so I can prepare the first course.”

“I’ll move them along then.” Jane began to usher the others into the adjoining room.

“It’ll be cold in there.” Dan spoke quietly in Paula’s ear.

She hadn’t lit the fire. It had been such a warm day she’d not given it a thought. “Can you light the fire, please? I want everyone out of the kitchen. I’d like to organise the food without an audience.”

He squeezed her hand. “Don’t get in a flap.”

“I’m not.” She cast her eyes over the oven temperature setting, then turned to Dan. “I don’t want everyone watching me while I prepare.”

“Okay, I’ll entertain our guests in the drawing room.” He pronounced his words carefully.

“Dan,” she groaned through clenched teeth.

“I’m going, I’m going.” He winked at her and followed the others. Paula hurried to the fridge to retrieve her carefully prepared hors d’oeuvres.

* * *

Dan stood by the fire and listened to the blokes chat about the local footy preliminary final that was to be played tomorrow. Since he’d injured his knee and could no longer play, he’d kept away from the club. It seemed stupid but if he couldn’t play football he’d rather not be there. He’d half-heartedly taken up golf but he hadn’t played many games this year. Any free weekends he’d spent with Paula and they’d done quite a bit of work on the old house.

Dan felt a tightening in his chest. It could all be for nothing. Rowena’s shock revelation hadn’t been far from his mind since she’d dropped it that afternoon. He knew Paula had been anxious about having everyone for dinner and he’d done his best to support her. Ted could put her on edge sometimes but he hadn’t been too overbearing. He even gave Paula a backhanded kind of congratulations on the meal.