Dan leaned his head back against the chair. He felt bone weary and even with the fan spinning on high, the heat of the room was oppressive. His eyelids fluttered and he closed them for a moment.

* * *

Spud rushed up to meet Paula as she stepped reluctantly from her car. It was hard to leave the air conditioning behind.

“Hello,” she said, as the young dog bounced around her feet. “I left you shut up. Is Dan home?”

Spud ran to get a stick and dropped it at her feet. She gave a feeble throw and he was back with the stick in a flash.

“Sorry, Spud, I have to get this shopping inside. You’ll be pleased to know I remembered your food, though.”

Paula lifted out the small esky and the shopping bags that had been packed around the huge bag of dog food. The young lad at the stock agents had put it in the boot for her. At least Dan was home to get it out. She struggled from the shed out into the hot sun and through the house gate where Tarzan was waiting for her.

“Yes I have food for you too,” she said.

She rested her load against the wall beside the back door then, holding the door with her foot, she pushed the bags in front of her and stepped into the enclosed verandah. Dan’s boots were on the floor under the coat rack.

Her heart beat a little faster. He was home and the time had come. He could tell her his story, his reasoning for betraying her trust. Paula was confident in her assessment of their financial situation, unless there was something else he hadn’t told her. No more excuses. She would make him sit down and tell her everything and she would decide if she would be able to forgive him. Only then would she be able to tell him about the rest of her visit to Glen Barrett.

Dan’s mobile started ringing as she pushed through the door into the kitchen. He shot up from the office chair she’d left at the table. He looked bleary eyed, as if he’d been asleep. He gave her a wave as he answered. She put down her bags and went back for the others. There were several items she needed to refrigerate quickly.

When she returned to the kitchen Dan was pushing the mobile back into his pocket.

“I’m sorry, Paula, but I have to go off again.”

“But you’ve only just got home.” Paula put the bags down where she stood.

“That was Ted. They’re calling all the CFS volunteers to help with the fire down south.”

Paula caught her breath and her hand flew to the top of her stomach.

“What’s the matter?” Dan was beside her in a flash.

“Nothing. I’m okay. I thought the fire was a long way from here.”