Paula chewed the end of the pen and looked out of the dual cab’s window. She couldn’t see much. It was a dull morning and now a light drizzle had set in. What a bleak day. She shivered and pulled her jacket tighter around her – so much for spring.

There had been scudding rain showers yesterday. Dan had come and gone from the house, muttering and mumbling about forecasts and rain and all the jobs that needed doing. Paula was never sure when the right time for rain was. The end of winter had been very dry, and the farmers had been looking for some good finishing rains. Now that they had some rain, she thought Dan would be pleased but he was still unsettled. He had even threatened to cancel their trip to Adelaide today but, thankfully, commonsense had prevailed.

That and a phone call from Rowena, who was already in Adelaide for the week. She had obviously been able to make Dan see that staying home wouldn’t improve the weather and they may as well take the opportunity for the trip to the city, while they had the chance. All things Paula had thought herself but didn’t bother to mention. She never seemed to be able to get it right when it came to understanding the vagaries of the weather and its effect on their farm. Anyway, whatever Rowena said had done the trick, and Dan had reconciled himself to making the trip.

Paula looked at her watch, then back at her notepad. Not that she was going to get many things crossed off her list. Right now she had her own problems. Her mother had rung and she was definitely coming to stay next month. She wanted to drive but Paula’s oldest sister, Alison, was coming too and bringing her two children. Alison had convinced their mother to fly to Adelaide and hire a car there.

Paula had a list of baby questions for Alison. They called each other regularly but it wasn’t the same as catching up face to face over a cup of tea. Alison’s two children, Isabelle and Oscar, would be a distraction for Paula’s mother. Paula knew it was best to keep her mother occupied. You never knew what plans she would hatch when you were least suspecting them otherwise.

Damp air seeped into the vehicle. Paula glanced at her watch again, then rubbed a space in the fog on the window and peered out. No sign of Dan. She wriggled her toes to combat the numbing cold. For the last hour, she’d been sitting in the dual cab while he rummaged in what could only be described as a huge junkyard. They had arrived just as the place had opened and Paula had walked with Dan up and down the first few rows of pipes and brackets. The cold and boredom had soon driven her back to the vehicle.