He smirked. “Just as well.”
She rested her head back and closed her eyes. It had been a big morning, and the thought of arranging this meet-up was making her belly a mess of worry. She didn’t want to do anything to put Helen off because she wanted to get to know her, and Kate.
Best get this done and dusted then.
She planned to ring her parents as soon as she got home. There was no point putting it off any longer, no matter how much she wanted to.
Home.
She saw the homestead come into view as Max turned on to the driveway to the farm.
Her belly flipped.
Her hand went over her mouth.
Max slammed on the breaks, and the ute stopped just in time for Zoe to open the door, so she didn’t make a mess in his ute.
He leaned over and pulled back her hair. “I’ll take the call from Mom later, so you can rest.”
Zoe nodded as she wiped her mouth and righted herself back into the ute. She didn’t feel any better, though. She wasn’t sure where all her energy had gone, and why she suddenly felt so tired. She guessed it was all part of being pregnant. So far, she’d been lucky, and things had gone smoothly with the pregnancy. She’d only suffered from a few bouts of morning sickness. But this was nothing to do with being pregnant.
“I’m sure they will get along fine.”
She opened an eye and looked at Max. “How did you know?”
“Hell, my stomach is a mess at the idea, so I just figured yours would be, too. Plus, you haven’t been sick much because of the pregnancy. It was an easy conclusion to make.”
Sometimes Max surprised the hell out of her.
“Best get it over now and not later.”
“I think so.”
“And you can’t come?” Her eyes pleaded for him to change his mind.
“Sorry. I do need to be home. I have cattle to send away to market, and it can’t wait.”
Zoe sighed. This was what it was like being on the farm. Max wasn’t always able to be by her side. She didn’t mind since she was independent, but for this, she reckoned she could do with his support.
It will be fine, Zoe kept telling herself.Itwillbe fine.
If only she believed it.
Wednesday 4thDecember
Max lifted Zoe’s overnight bag from the bed. “What the hell have you got in here? I thought most of your clothes didn’t fit anymore.”
“It’s not that heavy.” She rolled her eyes at him.
“I swear it is.” He placed it on the floor for a moment, and scooped her into his arms. “I’m going to miss you tonight.”
“Then come.” Zoe’s eyes pleaded with him to change his mind.
“I’m sorry, I can’t.”
The truck was coming later that morning to pick up the herd of cattle. Then he had organized his mate, Jim from Burra, to come and install a dish on the roof to help with the internet connection. An early Christmas gift for Zoe. He wanted her to be comfortable, he wanted her to stay, and for all of them to be a family together. It was difficult, because they were still trying to get to know each other. Then the pressure of Christmas, of each other’s family wanting to meet, was simply the way it was. They hadn’t been careful in the heated moment, and they were both wearing the consequence. For him, this had made him a happy man.
“No?”
