‘Um hmm.’
‘Charlie, they’re stunning!’
He came over to me and we both stood looking at his creations for a few moments.
‘Do you have some more I can see?’
‘I… I suppose. They’re on my laptop. You can have a look through when we’ve finished your stuff, if you really want to.’
‘I do really want to!’ I enthused, grabbing his arm.
‘OK.’ He gave me a look of bemusement. Something I realised he did quite a lot.
I waved my arm around the room. ‘This is gorgeous, Charlie. You’ve done an amazing job. It’s hard to believe it was ever flats.’
‘Thanks. I had a great project manager; I have to say. Really kept everything on track and all the workmen were brilliant. People always give builders a hard time, but I never had a problem.’
‘Were you here much, when all the work was going on?’
‘A certain amount. I like to keep an eye on things. Not that I didn’t trust my project manager, but just because I get excited about projects.’
‘You’ve done this sort of thing before, then?’
‘Nothing quite on this scale. But I have done up a couple of smaller properties in the past. This was definitely an eye-opener though. I learned a lot.’
‘So, would you do it again?’
He glanced around. ‘I’m not sure. The grade listing of it was definitely a bit of a pain in the backside at times, trying to get just the right supplies, so I’m not sure I’d do something like this again.’
‘I sense a “but”.’
He glanced at me, smiling. ‘I’m hoping to build my own house one day. I think it would be amazing to have things just as you like.’
‘You sound like you have some ideas already.’
He wobbled his head. ‘Maybe. A few. It’ll be a while yet though anyway. Finding the land down here is a challenge for a start.’
‘You’d stay around the area, then?’
‘I’d like to.’
‘That’s good.’
He smiled at me.
‘Well, it’d be a right pain for me to bring my accounts halfway across the country.’
Charlie let out a laugh. ‘Cheers. Nice to know that’s the only reason you’d want me local. Would you like a drink?’
‘Please. It’s roasting out there today.’
‘It’s definitely a warm one,’ Charlie said, reaching into the fridge. ‘There’s some apple juice. Is that OK?’
‘Sounds perfect.’
‘It’s organic.’
I nodded. ‘Even better.’
