Paula looked in every room. There was wood in the basket so she lit the fire to try to bring some warmth back to the house.
In the bedroom, Dan’s clothes littered the floor and their bed wasn’t made. She changed the sheets and took all the clothes out to the laundry. Tarzan’s sleeping basket had been tucked in a corner with his bowls and toys packed inside. She couldn’t wait to collect him from Rowena’s tomorrow.
Out in the sleep-out she was surprised to see three of the walls had been lined with gyprock and in the corner was a desk with a new computer. A router was lit up beside it. She wriggled the mouse. The screen came to life and she clicked on a link to the internet which in turn opened on the screen. She searched for Google Maps and it loaded. The satellite dish must have been installed. She looked around the room, which was bare of any other furniture. A coat of paint, some rugs on the floor, some artwork on the wall and maybe a couch. It would be a perfect office. She hoped she would get the chance to use it.
Paula closed the door and went back to the kitchen and checked out what was in the fridge. She had eaten a snack on the way home with Rowena but she wanted something she could turn into a meal for Dan. While she put together a pasta carbonara, she kept listening for the dual cab. Her chest was tight with anticipation. She’d done what she could, now she wanted to talk to her husband and find out what their future was to be.
The evening stretched on. Dan didn’t return. Paula couldn’t think where to begin to look for him. She’d gone up to the sheds and they were all shut up. He wouldn’t be at Rowena’s, she would have sent him home. Paula looked at the two-way radio on the fridge but she couldn’t bring herself to call him on that. Perhaps he was with Bruce.
Jane was excited to hear Paula’s voice on the phone. “I’m glad you’re home. I’ve missed you, but not as much as Dan. I bet he’s pleased to have you home.”
“That’s why I’m ringing. Dan’s not here.” Paula tried not to sound anxious.
“Isn’t he? He left here ages ago. I thought he was going straight home but I’ll check with Bruce.”
Paula hung on to the phone waiting nervously for Jane’s response. She felt silly having to track down her own husband but she had to admit it was worry that had driven her to ring.
“Paula?” She could hear the concern in Bruce’s voice. “Dan was going home from here. Are you sure he’s not up at the sheds?”
“I’ve checked there.”
“Have you tried calling him on the two-way?”
“No.”
“Jane, give Dan a call on the two-way. He could be at Rowena’s.”
Paula relaxed. Why didn’t she think of that? He could be working in the sheds there and Rowena hadn’t seen him. “That’s probably where he is, thanks Bruce.”
She jumped as Jane’s voice echoed into the kitchen from their own two-way on the fridge.
“Freeoh calling Woodie, are you on channel, Dan?”
There was no reply.
“Hang on a minute, Paula, don’t hang up yet.” She heard a clunk and then Bruce’s voice boomed from the two-way.
“Dan, are you on channel, mate? It’s Bruce, can you hear me?”
The two-way was silent for a moment then crackled into life.
“Rowena here, Bruce.” The sharp response made Paula jump. “Dan should be home. Perhaps Paula’s turned off the radio again.”
“I’ve got Paula on the phone. He’s not there. We thought he might be your way.”
“No. Have you tried his mobile?”
Paula sighed as Bruce picked up the phone again.
“Did you hear that, Paula?”
“Yes, that’s no good. The calls go straight to message bank.”
“Are you still there, Bruce?” Rowena’s voice called from the two-way.
Paula’s head was starting to spin. She had the phone in one hand and the two-way barking at her from the fridge.
“Paula, hang up and use the radio, then we can all hear each other.”
“Croft calling, Woodie, are you on channel Dan?” Rowena’s voice continued.
“Bruce here, Rowena. Dan left here three hours ago. He didn’t say anything about going anywhere else. I’m going to drive between here and his place to check the road.”
Paula rested her head against the fridge for support. Could Dan have had an accident?
“Paula, are you there?” Bruce’s loud call startled her.
“Yes, Bruce.”
“He may have had car trouble. I’ll be your way in a while, okay.”
“Should you be driving?”
“No problem. Now don’t worry. He’s probably pulled over under a bush for a nap, the big lug.”
“Bring him home for me.” Paula joined in the joke. She knew Bruce was trying to be reassuring but her chest was tight with fear.
“Ted here, Bruce.” The sound of another male voice startled Paula. “I’ll come from my way just in case he’s taken the other track for some reason. I’ll meet up with you on Brown’s Corner.”
Paula hadn’t imagined she’d ever be pleased to hear Ted’s voice but right now she was grateful he’d joined the search.
“Thanks, Ted,” she said, emotion swelling in her chest.
“Paula, I’ll be there in a minute.” Rowena’s support was the last straw. Tears rolled down Paula’s cheeks and panic overwhelmed her.
“Paula?”
“Yes, okay Rowena.” She replaced the two-way and sat on a chair, waiting for them all to arrive. Then she stood up.
“Pull yourself together, girl,” she muttered to the empty room. Dan had probably gone to visit someone else or even in to town, to the pub. It wasn’t as if he was expecting her to be home.
By the time Rowena bustled into the kitchen, Paula had boiled the kettle and dug out a packet of biscuits. Rowena hadn’t had time to speak before Ted’s voice boomed from the two-way again.
“Bruce, I’ve found him. He’s rolled the dual cab.” Rowena grabbed Paula’s hand and sat her down as they both listened. “He’s on the edge of that patch of scrub, my side of Brown’s Corner.”
“Okay, Ted. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
The voices crackled around Paula’s kitchen as if they were in a radio drama with no connection to her. She felt numb. Dan hadn’t known about the baby and now his child wouldn’t know its father.
“Rowena, are you on channel?”
Rowena hurried to pick up the two-way. “Rowena here, Ted.”
“Did you get all that? I think he’s okay but he’s out to it and lost a bit of blood so you should call an ambulance. Can you direct them? I think we’d best leave him where he is till they get here.”
“Leave it with me.”
Rowena snapped the two-way back, looked at Paula and marched to the phone.
Paula could feel the churning in her stomach begin to rise. She took two deep breaths and another sip of tea, determined not to give in to her weak body. Dan was alive and that was all that mattered.
* * *
Bruce and Rowena sat either side of Paula in the hospital corridor while they waited for news of Dan.
“Just as well you came home tonight, Paula. We probably wouldn’t have found him till the morning.”
Paula smiled faintly at Bruce. Goodness knows how Dan would have been if he hadn’t been found till the next day. The ambulance officers seemed to think he’d been hit on the head but miraculously the rest of him was okay. They took him to hospital for a thorough check over. Paula had been terrified when she’d seen the blood all over Dan’s head but they’d reassured her it was just a gash that might need a few stitches.
“Hard to tell in the dark but the dual cab will probably be okay.” Bruce filled their silence with conversation. “A few dents and scratches like Dan but once we get it back on its wheels, it will probably be fine.”
“Thanks for everything, Bruce.” Paula was pleased he was there.
“I hope you’re not planning any more holidays for a while. He’s been
miserable since you left. Young Tom’s been bearing the brunt of it.” Bruce grinned. “Dan must have been able to hear us talking on the two-way but he wasn’t with it enough to respond. While we waited for the ambulance he kept calling me ‘Paula’ and ‘Sweet Pea’, the great lug.”
“Here’s the doctor,” Rowena said.
They all stood up as Lachlan Hunter approached. Paula hung on to Bruce’s arm.
“How is he?” Rowena asked.
“Very lucky, I’d say. He’s got cuts and bruises and he’ll probably have a headache for a few days. He’s had a knock to the side of his head, which needed a few stitches. He keeps trying to get up and see you, Paula. I suspect concussion but nothing more. He probably should stay here for twenty-four hours, but I guess we’ll have difficulty getting him to agree. He comes from the local stock who think they are invincible.” Lachlan looked sternly at Bruce then turned back to Paula. “You can go and see him now. It might reassure him. See if you can get him to stay the night.”
Paula started forward then stopped, turned back to Bruce and hugged him. “Thank you.” Then she shook Lachlan’s hand. “And you.”
“Between the Woodcrofts and the Freemans you’ve been keeping me in business.” Lachlan gave a wry grin. “I wouldn’t mind some time off for a few days so try to stay out of trouble.” With a wave of his hand he set off down the corridor.
“I’d better get going too,” Bruce said. “Jane will want to know he’s okay. Tell Dan I’ll see him at home.”
“Yes, thanks for all you’ve done, Bruce,” Rowena said. “You head off home. I’ll wait and drive Paula.” She turned to Paula. “You go in and see him first.”
Dan’s eyes were shut but they flew open as soon as Paula put her hand in his. He tried to sit up and Paula saw the pain flash across his face.
“Lay still, Dan.” She looked around, worried the nurse who was checking the monitor attached to Dan’s arm would send her away. “Lachlan says you’ve got to rest.”
Dan looked at her. His lips twisted in a grimace. “It really is you, Sweet Pea.”
“Yes, it’s me.” She bent down and kissed his forehead beside the plaster covering the gash that had required several stitches. A deep bruise darkened his cheek and dried blood congealed in his hair.
“I heard your voice on the two-way but I thought I must have been dreaming.”
“I’m here, Dan.” She patted his hand.
“To stay?”
“You shouldn’t be talking now. Lachlan said you need to rest. You’ve had a nasty bang on the head.”
“I’ve got a bit of a fuzzy head, that’s all. I don’t want to wake up and find out you’ve gone again.”
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Dan looked at her in resignation. “You’re not going back to Sydney?”
“I’ll stay till you come home, then we’ll talk.” Paula watched as he closed his eyes. After a while his hand relaxed in hers.
Rowena came in and stood beside her. “Blasted fool,” she said softly. “He was probably not driving carefully. Come on, we’d better get home.”
Paula followed her out the door with a last look back at Dan. Like Paula, Rowena would have been terrified of losing the man who was her only family. She just had a funny way of showing it.
* * *
The next morning, Paula was preparing to go back to the hospital after sleeping late but she wasn’t moving very fast. She heard a vehicle. She thought it was probably only Rowena so she didn’t get up from the table where she’d been sipping a cup of tea.
They had both spoken very little on the way home last night but Rowena had promised to call back this morning with Tarzan.
Heavy footsteps thudded down the passage. Paula got to her feet. The kitchen door pushed open.
“Dan!”
He crossed the room in three strides and wrapped her in his arms.
“How did you get here?” she mumbled into his neck. It was soft and warm and smelled like antiseptic.
“Tom called in and I asked him to drive me. I was frightened I’d dreamed you were here.”
“I’m here.” She placed her hands on his shoulders and gently pushed him away. This was it. No more excuses. She was going to have to lay her cards on the table and see what his reaction would be. “Dan, I’ve got something to tell you.”
He looked at her, his face set in the serious mask she had learned to expect. “And I’m not going to like it?”
“Please, Dan. Let me explain and then you can talk.”
“Croft, calling Woodie. Are you there, Paula?” Rowena’s voice barked into the room. Dan turned, walked across to the two-way and turned it off.
Paula sat back at the table. She took a sip of tea. The churning in her stomach was partly nerves, she knew, but it didn’t stop the queasy feeling. She watched as Dan crossed back to where she sat. In the daylight she could see the bruising had extended down the side of his face and his hair was still crusted with dried blood. His eyes were bloodshot and the stubble on his jaw gave him a grey appearance. All in all he didn’t look good.
“Please sit down,” she said.
He sat opposite her, still watching her closely.
The phone began to ring. She glanced towards the dresser where it sat.
“Ignore it.”
Paula took another sip of tea and then placed the cup in front of her and fiddled with the handle. The phone stopped and there was a moment of total silence.
She took a deep breath and broke it. “Dan, I know you don’t want children —”
“I —” He cut in but she put her hand up to stop him.
“Dan, please. When I’ve finished, you can have your say.” She had to get this out without him interrupting. Once she’d done that, he could make up his own mind. “I know we’ve never really discussed it properly and children are not something I’d thought would be a part of our lives just yet, but…I’m pregnant.” At last she’d told him. She watched his face closely. “I know you said we can do without children but surely we can adjust. This is a shock for you. It was for me, too. I’d only just found out when you turned up in Sydney and then when you said you didn’t want children, I didn’t know what to do. I can’t get rid of this child, Dan. It’s a part of us and —”
Dan pushed his chair back with a rush that silenced her. He walked around the table and dragged another chair up beside her. He turned her round so their knees were touching and took her hands in his.
“Is it my turn?” He looked earnestly into her eyes.
She nodded.
“I thought you hated the idea of having children.”
“Why?”
“Every time babies are mentioned you’ve bolted like a startled rabbit. The night of the party you made it quite clear you didn’t want children and several times since then. I only said that stuff in Sydney to reassure you that I wouldn’t pressure you to have children.”
“So, you don’t mind?” She looked at him carefully, watching for signs of pretence.
He leaned close to her, his face only a hand’s length away from hers. “It’s our baby, Sweet Pea. It’s wonderful news. Is this the thing that you couldn’t tell me in Sydney?”
“There’s something else.”
Dan watched her warily. “It’s twins.”
“No.” Paula gave a nervous smile then tried to be serious again. She wasn’t sure how he’d take the next bit. “While I was away, I came into a large sum of money that I’ve decided to invest.”
Dan continued to watch her closely but he didn’t speak.
“I asked Rowena to help me as she is a partner in the farm.” Paula paused and took a sip of her tea as her stomach threatened to rebel again. Once it settled she went on. “I now own Katherine’s share of Harvey’s place.”
“You what?” Dan looked at her in amazement. “How did you do that?”
“Rowena’s very convincing. She helped Katherine to see that I was here to stay and a baby only cemented that. I bought the
land for us. It belongs to all of us.”
“Does your father know you’ve invested money in the land? It can be a fickle venture.”
Paula straightened up. “I don’t need my father’s permission to spend my own money, Dan Woodcroft.” She glared at him with a baleful look. “Or my husband’s.”
“Hey, little lady,” he drawled, holding up his hands. “You won’t get any arguments from me.”
Paula stood, went to the dresser and retrieved the paperwork her father had left. She ripped it up. “From now on, we have to be honest with each other.”
“So, can you tell me where this large sum of money came from? I’m not married to a bank robber, am I?”
Paula grinned and went back to the table. “No. I was owed some money from an investment I had with a previous…” She searched for the right word. “Partner.”
“Marco?”
“Yes. Somehow, Dad managed to get him to give me my share from the sale of our apartment. Dad and Rowena have a bit in common when it comes to being persuasive.”
Dan shook his head. “I can’t believe I nearly lost you, over a few misunderstandings.”
“Between us, we haven’t done very well at communicating, have we?”
Dan grinned. “I don’t know. We’ve obviously managed to communicate at some stage.” His eyes twinkled and the dishevelled state of his head gave him a rakish look. He leaned forward and kissed her. His warm lips melted against hers
Tingles ran through her as Paula relaxed into his embrace. At last, there were no more secrets. She closed her eyes as his lips moved down her neck and then to her ear. How she’d missed his kisses, his touch, his —
“I hope it rains lots,” he whispered.
She pulled away and studied him carefully. Perhaps the bang on the head was still affecting him.
Dan grinned and scooped her into his arms. “I think we’re going to need it. I plan to be using that bath an awful lot.”
Paula relaxed and smiled into those clear blue eyes. “Trust you to bring rain into the conversation, farm boy.”
A Chance of Stormy Weather Page 34