“I’m sorry. I can’t wait for you to come but I’m still doing the last whip around of the house. Then there’s the back pergola area to finish and I want to…”

“That’s why I’m coming this afternoon. I knew you’d be in a frenzy. I can help.”

“I don’t have much on hand for a meal,” Rowena said weakly. She had planned on one last evening alone to make sure everything was crossed off her list. Then she would be free to enjoy the next few days, as much as that was possible.

“I’m bringing the ingredients for a stir-fry and I want you to take it easy. I can’t have my bride worn out before the wedding night.”

“Is that so?”

“Anything else you need, apart from the long list I’ve already collected?”

“I don’t think.”

“Then I’ll see you soon, my love.”

Rowena replaced the phone with a smile on her face. She had to stop trying to do everything on her own. It really would be quite nice to have Austin here early. Then there would be no more back and forth alone. They would be together for the rest of their lives.

The sound of a vehicle interrupted her little daydream. It was probably Dan. She headed out to meet him. Just a few more jobs to do and all the hard work would be over.

* * *

Paula parked the car in the garage and carried her bags into the hot house. After several days of heat, it was barely cooler inside than out. She put the overhead fans on in the kitchen and the bedroom. Without the bustle of a house full of visitors, it was very quiet. Dan wasn’t home and the empty rooms echoed as she put things away.

Her back ached. She’d done a lot of walking yesterday and had really noticed the weight of the baby by the time she’d crawled into bed. It was hard to imagine how she was going to expand any more. Even Susan had commented but their mother had said she was the same as Paula. Neither of them had as much length between breasts and thighs as Paula’s taller sisters. There was nowhere for the baby to go but out.

She eased herself onto a chair in the kitchen. Her head was aching along with her back, nature’s way of telling her to take it easy, no doubt. Well, that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.