Eastern District School

Chapter 11 - Work Begins

She pulled into the yard, and instantly looked for his car. Yes of course he would be here bright and early wouldn't he...after his swim!

She parked almost in the same space as she had yesterday. Making sure she left her belongings in the car, she just grabbed her high-vis jacket, hard hat and coffee before heading towards the office.

Bill had left the signing in sheet on the table for everyone, as she signed her name in, she casually scrolled her eyes through checking for who else was already here. She saw Rich's name quite close to the top, and Benny's name just a few above her own. Dear Benny: someone she could always off-load to, but she had to be careful not to get Benny upset or nervous about any situation either. He was the big brother she never had, and he wouldn't let her forget it!

Well, no more loosing focus, she thought. Today she was here to get a job done. Although Rich wanted a lot of details kept, which she completely agreed with, it did mean she would need his input much more than she usually would with a client. So she was to have a quick check around to make sure there wasn't any complications so far, and get a schedule and plan set up with him. 

She walked through the yard towards the entrance. Already with the usual buzzing around her. It seemed the carpenters were focusing on the room that had suffered the fire before. The room with the amazing fireplace, she thought. She passed by the room they were working in as she headed towards the stairs. 

"Titch?"

She turned around to find Benny coming out of the room. She smiled. "Good morning Benny. How are things looking so far? Any hold ups I should know about?"

Benny seemed taken aback, and a little confused. "Er, no. No nothing wrong yet. Are you okay? I mean I didn't hear from you last night?"

She had forgotten she'd asked Rich to let him know she'd contact him. Well she hadn't done much...other than sleeping, and eating. "I'm sorry Benny. After my shower, I literally fell asleep. I mean I made it to the bed, that was it. Was just so worn out and tired. I'm fine tho, really I am. I know I've got a job to do and I just want to get cracking on it."

She'd hoped to sound confident, but by the look on Benny's face, she wasn't sure if she had pulled it off. 

Whether she had or not, Benny didn't want to push her. Not this time anyway. "Okay...have you seen him yet?" was all he said.

"I have only just got here. See" she said holding up her mug. "Coffee's still full!" 

"Oh my goodness," he teased. "If I'd have known that I wouldn't have made contact!"

She rolled her eyes and swatted at him. "We'll catch up in a bit. I'm going to check in with a few people first. Then hopefully get this planning started today."

Benny nodded and walked back into the room.

Rose continued her trip up the stairs. It may have been her imagination, but the grain in the wooden stair-rail seemed so much more prominent today. Had someone polished it? No! Why would someone do that while there were so many workmen going up and down these stairs. She shrugged the thought from her head, but still couldn't resist running her hand along it as she followed the stairs to the top.

As she reached the top, she managed to pull her eyes away from the stairway to just in front of her and found Rich stood at the very top of the stairs staring down at her. He was smiling at her and his arms folded across his chest. He wore another blue shirt, although she could see there was some pattern to it, but instead of his trousers, he had decided on a dark pair of blue jeans today.

He chuckled at her and she pulled her eyes back to his. Had he noticed her gaze? 

"What?" she asked, wondering why exactly he found her so entertaining.