Paula placed the plate of cold meat and salad on the table and made a cup of tea. She could hear Dan in the laundry and she couldn’t help worrying. It wasn’t that long since their blissful holiday at the beach but he was already looking as haggard as he had at the end of harvest. Was this really what life was going to be like for them? Dan was always worrying about something to do with the farm in one form or another. It wasn’t good for his health. After what happened with Ted and Heather, Paula watched him even more closely.

“Were you expecting any visitors?” Paula asked as she put Dan’s cup of tea in front of him.

“No.” He flicked through the pile of mail beside him on the table.

“Well, you had some visitors today.”

“Did I?” Dan kept shuffling through the mail.

“You didn’t tell me you had a cousin.” Paula jumped as Dan nearly choked on his food. “Whoa there, farm boy.” She patted his back. “Your cousin, Jacinta, was a bit of a snob but not worth choking over.”

“Did you say Jacinta?” Dan was looking at her with a strange expression.

“Jacinta Woodcroft was the name she gave – and her husband, Stewart. I didn’t catch his last name. She’s obviously not changed hers.” Paula took a sip of her water. “Poor guy, I think she has a ring through his nose.”

“Jacinta was here?”

“Yes, this morning.” Paula giggled. “You should have seen the look on her face when she realised the only toilet was my temporary one in the garden.”

“Jacinta was here?” Dan said again.

“Yes. You’d think Rowena might have warned us. Evidently she knew about Jacinta’s possible visit.”

“I can’t believe she was here. She lives in Victoria.”

Paula noticed a look of guilt flick across Dan’s face. “Did Rowena say something and you’ve forgotten to tell me?”

He went to the fridge and rummaged around. When he shut the door there was a beer in his hand.

“How come neither of you have mentioned her?” Paula said.

Dan took a long swallow from the bottle then put it on the table with a thud. “I’ve never even met her.”

“You may never get to.”

“What do you mean?”

The edge in his voice made Paula uncomfortable. “Only that I didn’t make a very good impression. I was decked out in rubber boots, and my clothes were covered in dust, the plumbing was blocked and Spud had dragged washing all over the floor. She left here in a hurry with her nose in the air.”

Dan stared at her and Paula could see he was struggling with something. His shoulders shook then he burst out laughing and dragged her onto his lap. “Life with you is never dull, Paula Woodcroft.”