Page 24 of Oz
“Oh, stop it,” I grin. “And by that, I mean do go on.”
He smiles and falls on his food, eating with a healthy appreciation that touches me. I draw my pad to me and out of sight scrawl:Employ new cook and do something else for Mrs Granger.
He looks at me curiously. “So, you’ve sorted out the builders. Tell me what’s next on your list of miracles.”
I consider before shoving my master list towards him. “I think I’ll start here.”
He looks down and for the next hour we sit companionably, chatting over tea with our plan of action, and I wince as I realise that this job just got a lot more difficult because at the top of my plan of action I really want to write:Make Silas smile and stop being so tired and worried.
Shit!
Chapter
Five
I need to let loose
TWO WEEKS LATER
Oz
I look around the stable block and raise my eyebrows. “This looks fantastic, Mr Johnson.”
“Oh, Oz, please call me Barry.”
I laugh and push his elbow gently. “You’re such a joker, Barry.”
A couple of his men look askance at this, but he just smiles. “It has been said.” He looks around at the room which looked like it belonged on the set of a disaster movie a few weeks ago. Now, it’s freshly plastered with windows letting the sun stream in over the varnished wooden floors.
He gestures me over. “The counter will go here and the kitchen fitters come tomorrow. You happy with everything so far?”
I squint as I look around. “It’s looking good.” I shoot him a look. “So tomorrow it’s on with the visitor’s centre then?”
His lip quirks. “Yes, Oz, and not via the pub.”
“Thank you, Barry,” I say sedately, and he huffs a laugh.
Obviously feeling our conversation is at an end he turns to his men. “Okay, grab your gear. Next step is the visitor’s centre.”
They hasten to obey and within minutes they’ve cleared out, leaving Milo and me standing in the wide-open space. “What do you think?” I ask. “Have I forgotten anything?”
“Not likely,” he says, staring around. “I can’t believe it’s done.”
I shrug. “It’s not exactly a miracle. Just people doing what they’ve actually been paid to do.” I shake my head. “I sometimes think that people view that sort of thing as old fashioned and I can’t work out why.”
“Because you’re very straightforward,” he says simply and grabs the plans from the table by the door. “So, what’s next?”
“Tomorrow we’ll be here all day with the fitters.” I grab my diary to leaf through the crammed book and check my watch. “It’s nearly three. Why don’t you finish early and bugger off?”
“Are you sure?” he asks, startled. “David didn’t like me to finish early.”
“I’m not David,” I say grimly. “And it seems that’s a good thing, as he apparently didn’t like to actually start work at all. You’ve worked hard. Take off.”
“But haven’t you got stuff to do?”
“Yes, but it’s just paperwork and I don’t need anyone’s help with that. I just like to get things in order for the next day.” I look at his earnest face. “If it helps, I’ll sit outside and go through it.”
He smiles. There’s very little trace of the worried man I’d met a month ago. “Okay, as long as we’re in agreement. I’ll drop the plans off in the office first.”
