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was speechless. She felt sorry for him. He looked exceedingly anxious. Reaching over, she took both of his hands. “Tom, I’m so flattered that you’d consider me as your partner, but--”
    “Melissa, please don’t even think about saying anything. I know this has come out of left field, but I would like you to give it serious thought. If and when it comes time for me to turn this proposition into a real proposal, perhaps on bended knee, you will have had time to think about it. I’ve always thought romantic love was overrated.
    If you’re wise you choose your marriage partner sensibly.”
    “Okay,” she said, “let’s leave it there and finish our wine and I will give some serious thought to your
    ‘proposition’ later.” Tom visibly relaxed and she realized how nervous the usually composed man had been. She reached over and gently kissed his cheek.
    “Tom, you’re a great guy and I’m happy you were honest with me. Now let’s go so I can meet your family.” As she stood up, she had a worrying thought. “You haven’t mentioned your proposition to them, have you?”
    “No, they think you’re my friend from the university.” Tom had a luxury car, an imported British saloon in a silver gray, which suited him, and Lissy loved the feel of the leather upholstery against her legs. They drove a short distance out of town past beautiful old houses, crossed the river; and then Tom turned through a large set of gates, opening to a long drive lined by huge trees. It was a massive double-story home, and an iron lace edged an upstairs veranda that wrapped around the whole house.
    Lissy counted five chimneys.
    “This is absolutely beautiful,” she said. “It must be one of the original settler homesteads.”
    Tom nodded. “It’s almost as old as Saumarez Homestead on the Uralla road. This one was built in 1900
    by my father’s grandparents and it’s been in our family for over one hundred years.”
    After Tom parked his car in a carport adjoining the side of the main house, he reached over and took Lissy’s hand.
    “Now, don’t be nervous. I wanted you to have something to think about when you met the clan, and Dom coming home today has brought them all together for the first time for ages.”

    Lissy patted her hair into place and took a deep breath. She could do a lot worse, and God knows, after the last week, she was even more convinced of the dangers of physical attraction, and how unwary romantics could be easily ensnared.
    She realized that she was not averse to giving some serious thought to his “proposition.” A marriage based on common sense and friendship sounded good. She took another deep breath, squared her shoulders, and followed Tom into the fray to meet her potential future family.
    Tom ushered Lissy across a large veranda at the back of the house that was cluttered with shoes, garden tools, potted plants, and bags of potting mix. He opened a heavy timber door leading into a warm kitchen that was suffused with the golden light of the setting sun. The aroma of baking bread and garlic surrounded them, as did a cacophony of noise. Pausing in the doorway, Lissy watched Tom push past a pair of squabbling children, slap the back of a young man talking into a cell phone, and then plant a noisy kiss on the cheek of the elegant woman standing by the stove.
    “Mama, deliziosa… what are we eating tonight?” Tom leaned forward to lift the lid and peer into the bubbling pot on the stove.
    “Tomas, where are your manners?” she said, slapping his hand away. “Who is this lovely young woman you bring to my kitchen?” Mrs. Richards was a tall woman of Italian heritage, with a tumble of black curls held back loosely with a bright red ribbon. She came across to Lissy, wiping her hands on her bright red apron.
    “You are Melissa. I am so happy to finally meet you.
    Please, call me Tessa. Tomas has been very remiss in not bringing you over before; we have heard all about you and your good influence