“I think they’re a South Australian secret,” Paula said. “Dara learned to make them from Chris’s mum.”

“You’ll have to teach me. No offence, Paula, but I hadn’t imagined something like that would be on your list of culinary masterpieces.”

Paula chuckled. “I can’t believe it either. I’ve had quite a few disasters in the kitchen since I moved here but Dara is a great teacher.”

“Mum told me all about her shop. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

“Hello, everyone.” Dan poked his head around the door from the kitchen.

“Hello, Dan,” Diane said.

Paula jumped up. “I didn’t hear you come in. I was about to serve dinner.”

“It’s good to see you,” Rex said. “I’ve been surrounded by baby and cooking talk all afternoon.”

“I’ll have a wash then come and save you,” Dan said and the door swung shut behind him.

“You love it, Dad,” Susan said, struggling up from her chair with a now-sleeping Rupert in her arms. “I’ll put this young man to bed then I can give you a hand, Paula.”

* * *

Dan washed his face and hands, dragged a towel over his face then peered for a moment at his reflection. His eyes were red and bleary, lines creased his forehead and his hair stood on end. He hung up the towel and tried to tame his locks with a brush. Somehow he needed to fit in a haircut but it was the last thing he could think about after Rowena’s news. She’d looked so dejected he hadn’t wanted to leave her but he’d had to. He needed time to take it all in and he’d reassured her he’d think of something.

Laughter echoed from beyond the laundry. Dan swallowed a groan. He was so tired – the last thing he felt like doing was entertaining his in-laws. After he’d left Rowena, he and Tom had managed to load the hay and bring the truck back ready for an early start tomorrow. Originally he’d planned for Tom to deliver the hay but there were several jobs closer to home that needed attention and Ted had offered to help. Dan decided he wanted Tom to work with a bit of supervision. His mind wasn’t fully on the job at the moment.

Dan had dropped Tom back at Rowena’s shed and his blasted mobile phone was still ringing from the depths of the ute. He’d probably be there half the night trying to get it out. Perhaps it would have been better to stop and help him but Dan knew Paula was expecting him home. He pictured Tom digging around in the ute with the mobile merrily playing its cheery ringtone. Dan looked again at his haggard reflection in the mirror. He could laugh about it now but he felt so tightly strung that laughter could easily turn to tears.