Free Unravelled by Kirsten Lee Page A

hand on his forearm to make sure he looks at me and sees my sincerity. “If ever you want to talk, I’m here.”
    “Thank you,” is all he can say before the other two join us and we enter the cool barn. I feel unsettled with all the things that I want to tell Jamie. Being judged by looks, or in my case by boyfriends, and treated accordingly is a topic I am sadly familiar with. Maybe we’ll have another opportunity to chat, but for now we have a barn to inspect and see how much work this one will need before it will be fit to act as the main events hall. There are the other barns to look at as well and much, too much, to think about.
    We have a good look at the barn after which Jeremy offers Ray a ride into town. The traitor accepts this without a second thought. I stay at the dairy farm for another forty minutes, getting a feel for the place and chatting to Jamie. Girls, looks and prejudices don’t come up again and I knew it is not the right time to raise the topic, so we stick to the topic at hand, the festival.
    I begin to realise why he is so good at his job – he looks at a problem from different angles, troubleshoots and then goes in to find solutions. I am so glad that he chose to get involved in this project and also that he so good at his IT job that very few computers are giving problems at this moment, giving him time to help me. Which is exactly what he does before we leave the farm. He helps me manoeuvre the fallen door onto the back seat of my car before giving me a salute through the hole in the side of my car.
    Not even five kilometres later and I realise that I’m definitely not going to have the styled, windswept look that I work so hard at achieving every morning when I get out to the car. It’s going to be a real windswept look. The dirt road is no fun to be on. Apart from being bumpy, I’m convinced that Bomb is sucking in half the dirt on the road which is why I can’t bite on my teeth without hearing a crunch. I’m going to be coughing up mud for days. I try to keep my mind off the uncomfortable ride and recall my conversation with Jamie.
    Chatting to him was enlightening. His earlier mention of Tariska has me very curious about her and my thoughts of how to get her into my office for a chat is interrupted by an almighty sneeze, no doubt brought on by the dust. I will have to develop a need for a graphic designer to get her into my office and it will have to be done without Ray there. His proven insensitivity to young love won’t be needed for that particular meeting. It is my past experiences in the love department that makes me feel a kinship with Jamie and also feeds my curiosity.
    Fifteen minutes later, I turn into the company parking lot convinced that I breathed in at least three flying insects on the way from the farm.
    “What happened here, Ms Fields?” It’s only the second time that I see Roger leave his security booth. The first time was to help me get fuel for Bomb a few days ago. He slowly walks around the car until he reaches the door, or the lack thereof. He folds his ample body until he looks at me through the gaping hole in the side of my car.
    “Old age and a farm road.” I hope to sound unfazed, whereas I am rather worried about getting Bomb repaired. Hopefully someone in this one-horse town will be able to fix Bomb. I still have Al’s card somewhere from the roadside incident on my first day here and if he can’t help me, maybe he would be able to recommend somebody. If not, my mother and Erin would be so pleased when I’m forced to buy a new car. As if on cue, the thought also hits Roger.
    “Maybe it is time for a new car, Ms Fields.”
    “Maybe it is time for you to open the gate for me, Roger.” I really don’t want to have this conversation. Erin and my mom have been nagging me for years to buy a new car, and none of my reasons for keeping Bomb convinced them, and I don’t think Roger will be convinced either, so I look at him and then pointedly at the