She smiled. He was so proper. It was one of the things she liked about him.

“That’s something we have plenty of.”

“I’ll have to leave early. I need to be at school by seven-thirty.”

“Seven-thirty! You’ve been working all weekend.”

“Regardless I have to be on the grounds first thing on Monday. It’s always busy. Anyway, some of my weekend was spent on the fundraiser.” He reached out and lifted a strand of her hair, which was almost back to normal now. “When I mentioned you were available for haircuts etcetera there were a couple of people interested and one woman who thought you’d be just the thing for her mum. She doesn’t want to leave the house and is badly in need of a makeover.”

“Where does she live?”

“In town. She’s lost her hair and borrowed a wig from the wig library but she’s not getting on with it very well. Her daughter thought she could do with a pedicure as well but she can’t talk her into visiting the salon.”

“I suppose I could go to her.”

“It might help drum up some awareness for the fundraiser. A couple of the committee have pulled out for various reasons and one of our sponsors too. I think we might have to cancel.”

“That’d be a shame. I thought there was lots of interest.”

“There was, still is, but there’s not enough time to get everything happening for the date it was planned for.”

“I wish Mum was here. She’d have some ideas.”

“So do I. Her class misses her and Eloise and…” Paul adjusted his glasses. “I miss her.”

“Do you?”

“She’s an exceptional person, your mum.”

“I know.”

“And she’s also experienced. We have a lot of young staff, me included. She’s a steadying influence.”

“Have you told her that?”

Paul looked thoughtful, grimaced. “Maybe not. I assumed she knew.”

“Perhaps you could tell her when she gets back.”

He nodded, gave her that absent-minded professor look that made her heart skip. Laura nestled her head on his lap again and he resumed stroking her hair. She could almost purr, it felt so good.

Thirty-Four

Thirty-Four

Natalie, Milt and Bree were at the hospital first thing the next morning, only to be told Kate was already in theatre. That had been a shock – the day before, Kate’s procedure had been planned for closer to lunchtime. They’d been reassured it was a shuffle of the theatre list and that both Kate and the baby were well. While they waited they decided Bree would return home and they’d waved her off with Milt giving last-minute instructions. Now he paced the small space left empty by Kate’s bed.

Natalie patted the extra chair the nurse had found for them. “Sit down, Milt.”

“Do you suppose she’s told Sean?” he said.

“I don’t know.”