“You need a cuppa.” He was relieved when she walked with him again. What a mean bastard he’d been. She was bravely trying to hide the real reason for her tears. She wanted him to go to the ultrasound and he’d fobbed her off.

Once he’d made her a cup of tea and saw the calm return to her face he felt confident enough to get back to work.

“Make the appointment for the ultrasound and I’ll make sure I can be there,” he said.

“Dan, I’m not upset about that. I don’t know what came over me. It was the sight of all that tissue through the clothes.”

“That’ll blow off in the wind.”

“I know,” she said meekly. “I just can’t…”

“Don’t worry about it. Will you be okay now? I really have to go.”

He hoped she wouldn’t burst into tears again.

“I’m fine, Dan, really.” She flapped at him with her hands.

“Make that appointment.” He let himself out in to the enclosed back verandah and stooped to pull on his boots. Whatever happened he had to be at the ultrasound. Paula pretended it didn’t matter but it was obvious it did. She’d tried to make him believe otherwise but no one cried over a few bits of white stuff on the washing.

* * *

Paula sat and listened to the sounds of his departure. Tears threatened again and she bit her lip.

Poor Dan. He hadn’t known what to do with her and his kindness had only made it worse. She had been just as surprised as he was at the surge of emotion she’d felt. It wasn’t him missing the ultrasound appointment that had set her off but a basket of tissue-splattered washing. Had her sisters been like this? She couldn’t imagine anything upsetting Susan. Maybe Alison would be the one to talk to.

She glanced at her watch. She’d have to get a move on. By the time she hung out the offending washing there wouldn’t be time to stop at Monica’s before her appointment. Perhaps she could call in on her way home.

It was just as she was ready to leave that she remembered the Audi was still over at the Harvey place. Dan had taken the dual cab which left her with the tray top.

“Damn it!” she exclaimed. She was running late now and there’d barely be time to make the appointment, let alone go via the Harvey place to swap to the vehicles. There was no choice – she had to drive the tray top. Paula slammed the back door behind her. From tears to boiling anger, it was impossible to predict the range and severity of her emotions.

Chapter 13

CHAPTER

13

“Oh dear!”

Paula and her sister Alison laughed at the look of horror on their mother’s face as she inspected Paula’s makeshift toilet.