“I’ve got to go.” Tom lifted his hand in farewell, then gave the other table a quick look. “See you back home, girls,” he said and hurried away as fast as the crush of people would let him.

Paula looked at the giggling girls and the redhead who was still very interested in something in her lap.

“That place of Rowena’s won’t be empty for long,” Bruce said.

“What do you mean?”

Paula looked up. Dan’s response had a sharp edge to it.

“Tom has his eye on that new girl from the bank.” Bruce nodded in the direction of the redhead. “He’ll be married before you know it and needing a place to live.”

Paula saw the frown on Dan’s face relax into a smile. She glanced across at the redhead. She must be the new girl from the bank. “Does she have a name?” she asked.

“Louise something,” Jane said. “I’m not sure what her surname is.”

“I think you’re a bit ahead of yourself,” Dan said. “He hasn’t had the courage to say more than two words to her, let alone ask her out.”

“It’s those dark horses you have to watch out for.” Bruce gave Dan a dig in the ribs. “You should know.”

“Don’t embarrass him, Bruce,” Jane chided.

“You can’t embarrass Dan,” Bruce said.

“No, I mean Tom. Don’t tease him about her. I think he’s smitten.”

Paula couldn’t understand how Jane would think that. Tom had hardly glanced in the direction of the redhead.

Further conversation was stalled by a raucous rendition of the Tigers club song followed by lots of cheers and back slapping as the players left to get on the bus.

“Tonight our Tom’s got other fish to fry,” Bruce said.

Andrew tugged at his mother’s shoulder wanting some attention. Jane tried to distract him and hold back the energetic James who was making a lunge for the glass Tom had put down.

Paula admired Jane’s patience.

Bruce bent and picked Andrew up with his free arm.

“Come on, mate, you can see a bit more up here.” He tipped the remains of his beer down his throat. “Your shout, Dan. This will have to be a roadie. Looks like my time’s running out.”

“What would you like, ladies?” Dan asked.

Paula repeated her request for a juice and offered to hold James for Jane, who gladly handed him over. Paula held him firmly under the arms and he dug his chubby little toes into her thighs and pushed himself up tall. He was about nine months now and very strong. She tried to imagine herself with her own baby on her lap but she couldn’t. Then she remembered Lachlan’s words about which hospital she should book in to.

She leaned towards Jane. “Which hospital were the boys born in?”