“I went to Adelaide. It was easiest with my family there. Especially when I had James. Mum was nearby to look after Andrew. Have you decided what you’ll do yet?”

“I haven’t had a chance to discuss it with Dan.”

“Best do it soon. I know your due date is a long way off but harvest will be on us before we know it and you probably won’t get any sense out of Dan for a while.”

Extra loud voices boomed behind Paula, and James was becoming restless in her arms. Conversation was nearly impossible. She sat back in her chair and turned James to face her again.

Everyone warned her that the coming harvest season was the busiest time of the year, then there was Rowena’s wedding. Paula was keen to at least have the baby’s room painted before Dan got too busy again. She’d tried once more this morning at the shops to get him to look at paint colours but he had been noncommittal.

Lately Dan seemed to have lost all interest in making improvements to their place even though he’d been more than happy with everything that had been done up until now. She’d also mentioned doing up the old lean-to across the back of the house. Now that she’d taken over the farm books she wanted to set up an office. Dan had dismissed the idea, saying it was far too big a job for the moment.

James reached for the footy mascot pinned to Paula’s coat. She was feeling quite warm. If they stayed much longer she’d have to take the coat off.

She was wondering how to distract James when another thought hit her. Rowena had never been keen on them spending money on the ‘old place’, as she called it. She wanted them to move into her house. Dan had always agreed with Paula that they would do up the old place and make it their own but perhaps he had changed his mind.

Wood Dell was their home now. Rowena’s house might be newer but it would always be Rowena’s house to her. Paula loved the old house with all its problems. There was nothing major that couldn’t be fixed. She didn’t want to give up on all the work she’d put in to the place already.

Paula waggled her gold bracelet at James and watched Dan weave his way back through the crowd with the drinks. They would have to have a serious talk about the future.

Chapter 5

CHAPTER

5