“I’ll take care of it.” Dan rested his hand against his chest where it felt more comfortable and made his way out.

With only a couple of days until Rowena’s wedding, he knew he wouldn’t have much chance to take a break. Austin was arriving tomorrow and Rowena wanted them all to have lunch together before going over to the church for a rehearsal. Dan grimaced as he bumped his finger on the steering wheel. He’d better head Rowena’s way and cart away the last of the rubbish he’d piled up. Then there were more sheep to be shifted. He hoped Paula wouldn’t be too late home today. He could do with her help.

* * *

Rowena fanned her face with her hand. Even though it was barely ten o’clock, her lounge room was already very warm. She switched on the air conditioner and picked up the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner. She was meant to be preparing for a wedding but she kept worrying about Dan and Paula and the repercussions of her brother’s will.

She shook her head. Somehow Dan thought it better to hide some things rather than share them with Paula and as a result of that Rowena hadn’t told Austin either. She regretted that, having already learned the benefits of sharing life’s highs and lows with a partner. Austin was a good listener and she was looking forward to living with him permanently, instead of the snatches of time they’d had since they’d first met.

Anyway, there was little Paula or Austin could do to get them out of their current dilemma. Jacinta would still have blackmailed her regardless. Rowena had been hoping for a miracle escape that hadn’t eventuated. She clicked the vacuum on with her foot and ran the nozzle along the edge of the carpet. She’d loved her brother very much but he had caused her a lot of grief, in life and in death.

She brushed the hair from her forehead with the back of her hand. Right now she wished she’d been persuaded to hold the wedding lunch at the hall. It would have saved her a lot of work. Although, with the high temperatures predicted for the weekend, the hall wouldn’t be pleasant. At least her house was air-conditioned.

The phone rang. Rowena clicked off the vacuum cleaner and paused for a breath before she picked up the handpiece.

“Hello, my darling.”

She felt her tension ease a little at Austin’s cheery tone. “Hello to you too.”

“I won’t keep you but I wanted to let you know I’ve got everything sorted here and I’m going to drive up this afternoon.”

Rowena glanced around the lounge. There wasn’t a thing out of place in here apart from the vacuum cleaner but she still had jobs to do. “Are you?”

“That’s not quite the response I’d hoped for.”