“There’s plenty.” Rowena had her head in the fridge. “I was going to send some with Dan next time he called in. Here you are.”

Paula went to reach for the eggs but the room spun and she grabbed for the bench instead.

“Paula,” Rowena gasped. “You’re quite pale. Sit down.” She took Paula by the elbow and lowered her onto a kitchen chair. “Do you feel sick?”

“I think I’m just tired.”

Rowena put a glass of water into her hands. “I know you’re not good at food. When did you eat last?”

“I had lunch,” Paula replied vaguely and took a sip of the water.

“It’s nearly eight o’clock. Why don’t you and Dan eat with me?”

“Oh, no. I’ll be fine.”

“Nonsense, you’re still as white as a sheet. I’ve already got extra veggies on. I was making some meals to go in the freezer but I can do that another time. Dan shouldn’t have you out working in your condition.” Rowena took a step towards the door. “I should tell him to call me if he’s stuck. He shouldn’t be wearing you out.”

“Please Rowena, don’t say anything. I wasn’t doing anything difficult. I was just gone longer than I expected.”

Rowena turned back. She pinned Paula with her piercing stare and raised one eyebrow.

Paula met her look with an equally firm gaze. “Dan’s got enough on his mind and I’m fine,” she said. “Besides, I have to learn what to do to help. You’ll be living in the city soon and I want to do my bit.”

Rowena hesitated a moment, then she smiled. “Very well, I won’t tell him how thoughtless he is to keep you out working all day…on one condition.”

Paula noticed the corner of Rowena’s mouth twitch.

“You must stay for dinner. I have plenty and it’s my way of helping too. I am still part of the partnership.”

Paula grinned. “I’d love to stay,” she said.

* * *

“I don’t think I can go, Paula.” Dan was pulling on his boots by the back door.

Paula stopped beside him. The empty laundry basket dangled from her hand. “But Dan, you missed the last one. This is our baby. Don’t you want to see the ultrasound?”

“Of course I do, but with Tom away, I haven’t got a minute to spare.”

Last night’s dinner still gurgled in her stomach. Perhaps she shouldn’t have had the extra serving of meat and gravy but Rowena had been insistent and Paula had enjoyed it at the time. She looked up at Dan’s grim face. “It won’t be for a couple of weeks.”

“I can’t commit when I don’t know what I’ll be doing then. Your mother will be here soon. Perhaps you could wait until then and she could go with you.”