“Of course it is. They make a good pair. I’ve hardly seen Tom since he first mentioned it. I didn’t realise he’d actually gone out with her.”

“Since when does he discuss his love life with you?”

“I wouldn’t really say we discussed his love life. Somehow Louise came up in conversation when he was here doing paperwork one day.”

“What paperwork?”

“Oh, something to do with the TAFE course,” she said vaguely. “Has he said much about it?”

“The TAFE course?”

“No! About going out with Louise.”

“He doesn’t need to. He spends half his time with that lopsided grin on his face and the rest of his time sending her text messages. I’m sure that’s what he was doing when he hit the tree.”

“We should invite them over for a meal.”

“Let’s say goodbye to this lot of visitors first.”

“Don’t you like my family being here?”

“Of course I do but it will be nice having the house to ourselves again.” He decided to have one more try at drawing her into his embrace. Paula began to respond then abruptly rolled away. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” she whispered. “But I do agree it will be nice to be on our own again.”

He noticed the playful grin on her face just before she turned out the light and wriggled back into his arms. “Let’s get rid of this, shall we,” he murmured and slid his hands under her t-shirt.

* * *

Hours later Paula lay listening to her husband’s gentle breathing. She had been blissfully asleep curled up in his arms only to be woken by her bursting bladder. She’d dragged the t-shirt back on and creeped down the long cold passage to the toilet. Surely it wouldn’t always be like this. Her body was changing in all kinds of ways. And not all of them good.

Back in the bedroom a gentle pressure sent her hands to her stomach and she glanced in Dan’s direction. She could still hear the rhythmic sound of his deep breathing. He hadn’t felt the baby move yet. It didn’t happen often. Or at least she didn’t notice it often. She’d confided to Alison that she wasn’t always sure if it was the baby or wind. Her sister had laughed and assured her it was probably the baby and she would soon know the difference.