Something was obviously blocked but where and what was she to do about it? Back in the kitchen she tried Dan’s mobile. He was either out of range or couldn’t hear it. She left a message for him to call her. She glanced at the two-way radio on the fridge as she spoke. There was no way she was going to use that and have half the district hear they had sewerage problems.

A soft gurgle came from the sink.

“Not you too.” Paula groaned. There was no water in it. She glared at the plughole for a moment, then, just as she turned away, it gurgled again. Paula went back to the laundry, where the water level had dropped a little in the troughs. She decided to avoid the toilet but the pressure on her bladder was building.

“Damn!” She stormed back into the kitchen and picked up the phone. She’d have to ring Rowena and find out which plumber to call.

* * *

Rowena shook her head as she replaced the phone. Paula was an intelligent young woman but sometimes she had no common sense at all. Even though Dan had spent money on the plumbing before they’d moved in, problems were bound to happen in that old place and she’d have to learn to fix it. You couldn’t call a plumber every time the toilet got blocked.

Rowena glanced at her watch. She would just have time to call via Paula’s on the way to her meeting in town. Luckily she was ready a bit early today. She had planned to sort through the contents of the cupboard in the spare room before she left but now that would have to wait.

Moving to Austin’s apartment in the city meant she had to downsize quite a lot. She wasn’t one to hoard things but there were certain belongings she’d kept, like her mother’s embroidered tablecloths and handmade doilies. Lots of things Rowena no longer used but felt it was important that they stayed in the family. She could give them to Paula but she wasn’t sure that the younger woman understood the value of family heirlooms.

Rowena flicked a strand of hair from her face and picked up her bag. Perhaps she should just throw them out. Whatever she did, it would have to wait for another day. Right now she had to get moving. She left via the laundry and took the plunger out of the cupboard. That was one thing Paula could keep and make use of if she and Dan stayed on at the old place.

* * *