“That’s okay.” She followed the progress of the fly as it found the window and proceeded to buzz and tap its way along. “Hopefully I’ll trap him out here in the verandah.” She looked down at Tom’s hands. He was clutching some envelopes this time. “Do you need some help with something?”

“If you’re not too busy.”

“No, that’s fine. Come in. It’s time for a cuppa.” She led the way into the kitchen. “I’ve been cleaning all morning, so a break would be welcome. Dan painted the last coat on the ceiling last night and I’m trying to make it look like a room again.”

Paula set the coffee machine going for her, switched on the kettle for Tom who preferred tea and went to the pantry in search of biscuits. “How are you?” she asked. “It’s been a busy week since you won the grand final. Is your face okay?”

“Yeah. Doctor says nothing time won’t heal.”

“It’s the premiership dinner this weekend, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” Tom looked down and poked his foot at a knot mark in the wooden floor. He was wearing sneakers and Paula could see his sock through a crack above one toe.

“Dan and I are coming.”

“Yeah.” Tom continued to poke at the floor. It was something Paula noticed he did when he was nervous or pondering.

“Have you invited anyone?” Tom was a likeable bloke once you got past the shy exterior. She and Dan were very happy, Rowena had a man and now Paula really hoped Tom would find a suitable girlfriend.

“Nah…yeah…sort of.”

“Is it that new girl from the bank? What was her name?” Paula put the cups of tea on the table and sat down.

“Louise.”

“That’s right. Is she coming?”

“Nah.”

“Did she have something else on?” Everyone was talking about the grand final win and the premiership dinner. Surely there couldn’t be anything else on in the district that night.

“Don’t know. She just said no and bolted.”

Paula turned her attention to Tom who was still standing in the middle of the kitchen.

“When did you ask her?”

“This morning. Had to go into the bank to pick up some papers.” He lifted the envelopes he still carried in one hand. “She was outside and there was no one else around, so I asked her.”

“What did you say exactly?”

“I don’t know. Just that there was a dinner on for the footy and she could come if she wanted.”