He rubbed at his forehead and lifted the clip with the invoices from its hook. Rowena had always kept the paperwork up to date but Paula ran things even more efficiently. He glanced around the old sleep-out. She had turned the shabby little room into a passable office and everything was in its place. The computer dominated the desk. Paula’s laptop was open beside it and he recognised her Facebook page. She was far more interested in that stuff than he was. He rarely checked his account. It was just another distraction he didn’t need.

He turned and as he did, his eyes glanced over a scribbled note by the phone. His lawyer’s name jumped out at him. The note was in Paula’s writing. It simply said to ring Glen Barrett. He’d left a message on Dan’s mobile yesterday and Dan had tried to call him back but he was in a meeting. Why would he ring on the home phone? Glen knew Dan didn’t want Paula worried by the will business. Perhaps it was about something else. He snatched up the note and went back into the house.

“Paula?”

“I’m in the laundry.” Her reply was muffled.

Dan strode to the door. “When did Glen Barrett ring?”

Paula didn’t answer. She had her back to him.

“Paula?”

“Yesterday.”

He took a step closer. Something was wrong. Perhaps Glen had let something slip. He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder and felt the quiver of her body.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.” The word spluttered out followed by a sniff.

He gently turned her around. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Dan’s heart raced.

“What is it? Are you unwell? Is it the baby?”

“No, Dan.” Her sobs got louder. “I’m fine.”

He tilted her chin to look into her eyes. She didn’t look fine.

“Why are you crying?”

“It’s silly.” Another sob vibrated though her. “There was a…a tissue in the washing and it’s stuck over everything.”

Dan looked down at the arm hanging limply by her side. In her hand she clutched one of his dark blue shirts and it was flecked with white.

“I don’t know why that made me cry.” She took a deep breath and more tears rolled down her cheeks.

He pulled out a hanky from his pocket and wiped her eyes before he gave it to her and steered her in the direction of the kitchen.

“Come on, I’ll make you a cup of tea. I don’t care about a few spots of white on my work clothes.”

“I wouldn’t care either, usually.” She tried to stop him. “I’ll be fine, Dan, really. I don’t know what came over me.”