“It was a very tasteful lightning bolt.”
“It was city property.”
“It looked faster after.”
Gus nodded. “Kid’s got a point.”
Zane looked at him.
Gus took a bite of his sandwich and said nothing else.
Birdie handed me a napkin even though I wasn’t eating anything that required one. “You doing okay, Daphne?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“First day in July is a rough start.”
“I’m learning that my office chair has been carrying this relationship.”
“What kind of office?” Tyler asked.
My hand paused on the granola bar wrapper.
Zane’s gaze shifted to me.
He didn’t look intense or suspicious. He was just present.
I kept my voice light. “Administrative work. Lots of files, calendars, emails, and the glamorous stuff.”
“Sounds better than compost,” Tyler said.
“Most things do.”
“Depends on the email,” Gus said.
That startled another laugh out of me. “That’s fair.”
Zane took a drink. “You work in town?”
“Yes.”
I waited for the follow-up.
He didn’t ask it.
Relief loosened my shoulders by half an inch.
That was one thing I could give him, then. He didn’t pry or force me to lay myself out for inspection in front of the crew. He had questions. I could feel them sitting behind his eyes, but he kept them there.
After lunch, Zane checked the hours sheet. “Gus, take the south fence. Tyler, go back to compost. Birdie, can you take the herb bed?” Then he looked at me.
“I’ve got one more job for you.”
“Is it less emotionally complex than mulch?”
“It’s hose work.”
I narrowed my eyes. “That sounded neutral, which makes me suspicious.”
