Paula looked at Rowena who was straightening up an already-tidy pile of papers. Up until now, she’d said very little about the pregnancy other than to congratulate them when she’d first heard. Rowena had never had children of her own. This child would be like her grandchild. Perhaps she had a secret desire for a grandson to follow on from Dan or maybe a granddaughter to add some female genes to the family tree.

“We don’t plan for this child to be an only child,” Paula said. “With any luck we’ll end up with one of each or even more.”

“But this is your firstborn. And when did you say it was due?” Rowena’s eyebrow arched.

“Everything points to March, although, as many people keep telling me, babies can be early…”

“That would be February,” Rowena cut in.

“Or they can be late.”

“A test might eliminate all the guesswork.” Rowena picked up the teapot and stood. “I’m having another cup of tea. Would you like one?”

“No, thanks.”

Paula took a sip from the remains in her cup. Rowena was rather jittery. What was bothering her? She had plenty of her own plans to organise with the wedding…

Paula put her cup on the table with a thud. Of course, that was it. Rowena was marrying Austin in early February. She was probably worried the baby would arrive early and steal her moment. Rowena had been single all her life. Dan had been as surprised as anyone to learn she had a boyfriend in Adelaide who had asked her to marry him and move to his place in the city. Rowena had accepted and had been busy planning her wedding day with precision. No doubt she didn’t want a baby to throw a spanner in the works.

“Here we are.” Rowena put the pot down and added milk to her cup. “Are you sure you won’t have another?”

“No, thank you. How is the wedding planning going?”

Rowena’s hands paused over the teapot, her piercing blue eyes fixed on Paula. “Everything’s well underway. Why do you ask?”

Paula fiddled with her cup. Why wouldn’t she ask? “I wondered if there was anything I could do?”

“Oh, no thank you, dear.” Rowena’s tone was dismissive. “Everything is under control. It’s only going to be a small event.”

“Have you decided on a venue yet?”

“Didn’t Dan tell you? We’re having it here.”

Paula searched back over the brief conversations she’d had with Dan in the last week. Jane had joked that pregnancy made you forgetful but Paula was sure he hadn’t said anything about his aunt’s wedding lately. In fact, he’d not made much conversation at all.

“Last I heard, you were having the ceremony in Adelaide.”