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Surprised that Cy had volunteered personal information, Tarni smiled. ‘Good for you. I try to avoid processed food.’
‘Yep, I’m feeling pretty fit,’ he said.
Silence descended for a couple of minutes and Tarni picked up her tea and sipped the steaming liquid. ‘Thank you, that’s good.’
His grin reappeared. ‘Doesn’t taste like green shit, then?’
‘No, it tastes like very nice green tea, I appreciate it. And if that’s what you drink, that’s healthy for you.’
Cy chuckled. ‘It never quite tastes the same after a Macca’s hamburger or KFC, though.’
‘Oh yuk. I can’t remember the last time I ate fast food. It would have to be at least fifteen years ago.’
‘Sounds healthy to me. I’m lazy when I’m in town. I eat too much of it.’
‘But if you’re active, you’ll burn it off. Mind you, it would take as long to burn up those calories as a healthy meal.’
‘I hear you.’
The silence that surrounded them as they both sipped on their drinks, deep in their thoughts, had lost its awkwardness. Maybe Cy was thinking it wasn’t too bad to have company too, Tarni thought.
‘I hope I haven’t been imposing on your living space too much being in the shed all day. I’ve noticed that you don’t come there during the day,’ she finally said. ‘If you ever want to come back and have a rest or anything during the day when I’m there, let me know. If I’m in your way, please feel free to tell me to give you some space. My hours are flexible. I’ve made incredible progress in just a couple of days.’
Cy put his mug back on the table and reached for a biscuit. ‘Me too. Must be in the air this week. I’ve finished measuring up for the new pipes and now it’s time to start the digging.’
‘Did you get onto that guy who was looking for work?’
‘Yes, he’s coming for an interview tomorrow afternoon.’
‘He seemed pretty keen when he was here,’ Tarni said. The conversation flowed easily between them.
‘Bickie?’ Cy held out the packet. ‘Not homemade sorry.’
‘Why not. I’ve earned it today. I’ll save the other half of my apple for afterwards to clean my teeth.’
‘Is that really true?’ he asked.
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. My mum always used to tell me to eat an apple at school after my lunch and I always did what I was told without questioning it.’
‘Sounds like you were a good kid. I wasn’t.’ Cy’s grin was roguish, and Tarni could well believe that.
She gave a self-deprecating laugh. ‘I’m a rule follower.’
Cy looked past her into the distance down the back through the trees. ‘Probably a good way to be. I’ve never been one for that, but I find as I get older, I’m finally growing up and getting myself a bit more organised. Doing the right thing. Not that I’ve ever done anything really bad. I was just a bit of a mouthy lair in my youth.’
‘If it’s not rude to ask, how old are you’ Tarni asked. ‘I’m just curious because I first thought you were older.’
‘Ah, my mature face,’ Cy said. ‘I’ll be thirty soon.’
She nodded. ‘That’s about what I guessed.’
‘Okay, I’ll be rude too. What about you?’
‘I’ll be thirty soon,’ she parroted his words.
‘1993 was obviously a good year.’ He reached for the biscuit packet. ‘Another one?’
‘I will.’ Tarni surprised herself as she reached for another cream biscuit. Her appetite had improved since she’d arrived. She ate it slowly, savouring the sweetness and then brushed the crumbs from her T-shirt. ‘Thank you. I guess I’d better think about getting back to work. It’s too nice sitting out here in the sun.’
