Her spirits lifted. Surely it would be Dan letting her know he was on his way home. She hurried to the kitchen and snatched up the phone.

“Paula.” Dan’s voice crackled.

“Yes, Dan. Are you on your…”

“Listen. I don’t want you to rush but take the dogs and your box of treasures and drive to Dara’s.”

“Why?”

“The wind change has pushed the fire out the other side of the park.”

“On our side?”

“Don’t worry, it’s still a long way from home.”

“I’m going to the doctor’s soon anyway.”

“Good. Stay in town for now. Nothing that has happened with this fire has been predictable. I don’t want you on your own.”

Paula could hear garbled voices and noise amid the crackle of the phone.

“Dan? You must be tired. Are you okay?” The phone crackled in her ear again. “Dan, are you there?”

“Paula, I want you out of there now. The fire has jumped the containment line and it’s heading towards you.”

Paula felt a stab of terror. “Dan?”

“Don’t panic, Sweet Pea. Just go, okay.”

“Yes, but…” She jumped as the power went off with a soft clunk. There was no sound, bar things being tossed by the wind outside. She only managed two steps towards the bedroom, when a much stronger pain gripped her.

* * *

Rowena tore her gaze from the smoke-hazed sky as two country fire trucks raced past them on the dual highway.

“Are you sure you want to keep going?” Austin said.

She looked across at him. They’d only made it as far as Robe in the south-east of the state when the radio reports of the fire had made her persuade him to return to Adelaide. She hadn’t been able to settle at the apartment and now they were heading out along the highway towards the farm.

“I have to go home. I couldn’t bear listening to the radio reports knowing that the fires were affecting people I love.” Rowena didn’t want to admit it to Austin but she was also having trouble enjoying their holiday when the will and Dan and Paula were in the back of her mind.

“We don’t want to get in the way.” Austin raised a finger towards the fire trucks disappearing into the distance.

“They will be going to help with the fire front. I want to get home and make sure everything’s okay there. We might be able to help Dan with stock or whatever is necessary.”

“We could try ringing them again.”

“I’ve been trying Dan’s mobile for two days.”

“Why don’t you call the house number?”

“They could be anywhere.” She hadn’t rung the house in case it was Paula who picked up. They hadn’t parted with good feelings between them and Rowena had no idea what had been said between Dan and Paula since.