“Dan, it’s not funny.” Paula didn’t like the sound of his laugh. It was bordering on hysterical. “Your cousin probably thinks we’ve got no manners at all.”

“It doesn’t matter to me what she thinks. With any luck she’s hightailed it back to where she came from and won’t bother us again.”

“Don’t you want to meet your cousin and find out about that side of your family?”

“No.” He stood abruptly.

Paula lurched to her feet, supported by his hands.

“I’ve got a lot on again tomorrow.” The laughter was gone from his face. “Do you think you’ll be right to organise Bert?”

“I’m going over to help Rowena. I’ll wait for Bert to come first but I was hoping you would be here to show him what you want done.”

“Just get him to replace the pipes where I was digging tonight. That should get us by for a while. I’ll have him back to give us a quote on the whole job, once things settle down, after your family has left.”

“But…”

“I’ve got a couple of jobs to do in the shed. I won’t be long.”

Paula remained where she was and listened to the sound of the back door shutting. Her family were coming for a week and after they left it would be Rowena’s wedding and then not far until her due date. When on earth Dan thought things were going to be any less busy, she had no idea.

It wasn’t until later as she washed the dishes that she recalled his reaction to the news of Jacinta’s visit. He obviously knew about Jacinta but he’d never met her. It seemed odd that he wasn’t the slightest bit curious about her. Perhaps her side of the family had a skeleton in the closet. Paula recalled Jacinta’s elegant appearance. There didn’t seem to be anything black-sheepish about her. Maybe Rowena would be able to shed some light on the distant cousin.

Chapter 31

CHAPTER

31

“Thanks for your help, Paula. I really appreciate it.”

Paula looked up from the rows of little pink cakes she had been rolling in coconut. Rowena’s kitchen had become a production line and every surface was covered with food at different stages of preparation. “I’m happy to help,” she said. “I didn’t realise you were doing all the cooking yourself.”

“It gives me pleasure,” Rowena said.

“I’m the first to admit that, when I married Dan, I wasn’t a very adventurous cook but I am enjoying learning new skills.”

“It’s much more interesting when you have a purpose.” Rowena sat down and brushed at a wisp of hair with the back of her hand. “I’m looking forward to sharing the kitchen with Austin. He cooks totally differently to me. He’s especially good at Thai, which I love.”