Tomorrow they’d start seeding the small part of their property they cropped but there’d be no more outside work today which meant she’d have to tackle the BAS. Reluctantly she let herself inside where she was greeted by a burst of hammering, a grunt and then swearing. She swallowed her grin as her dad flapped one hand back and forth in the air and clutched a hammer in the other.

“What are you doing?” The kitchen door had been removed and was now lying along the passage wall.

“Fixing this bloody door so it will shut properly.”

She was surprised at that. Normally with a break in the season he’d be out making sure everything was ready to start seeding. Even though they’d been ready for a month, he’d usually be double-checking.

Kate came out of the bathroom, a towel around her head. “You’re here,” she said. “I’ll just get dressed and dry my hair and we can start on the BAS.”

“I can do it.” Bree looked begrudgingly at her dad but he ducked away, making a big show of inspecting the doorframe.

“I’m happy to help.”

At least Kate was smiling again. Bree knew how difficult this pregnancy was for her. She could relate to her lack of enthusiasm for a baby. Being a mother wasn’t how Bree saw her future either. Parenthood wasn’t something she’d discussed with Owen. She had no idea what his feelings were on the subject of children. They weren’t at the stage of making any kind of commitment but now she wondered when the right time was to broach such an important topic.

Kate and Sean had gone into it in detail when their likelihood of becoming parents naturally had been almost zero. They’d been firm in their decision to ignore IVF and have a childless future. Discovering she was pregnant must have been a huge shock for Kate. Working together on the farm paperwork would be a useful distraction, like working together on the tennis court had been this morning.

“Okay, thanks,” Bree said. “I’ll change out of these wet things first.”

The den door opened and Laura came out. As soon as she saw her dad her hands went to her hips. “Haven’t you put that door back yet? I need to start dinner and you’re making a racket and letting all the warm air out.” She went into the kitchen. “It’s Granny roast night you know.”

Milt muttered something under his breath.

“I’d forgotten Granny would be here tonight.” Kate had come back down the passage. She had that guarded look again. “I don’t want to tell her about the baby. You know how much she adores them. I’m not ready for that.”

“Whatever you say, love.” Milt patted her shoulder. “We’ll leave it to you.”