The Project

Steven stared at her in dismay. "I am not one of your Barbie dolls," he insisted.

"Of course not." She grinned mischievously. "You can be Ken." He groaned and Julia patted his arm comfortingly. "Don't worry, I'll find you stuff to try on but you can dress yourself."

They wandered back into the living room and Julia checked her watch. "I'd better go before it gets much darker out there." If Steven looked a bit disappointed he didn't try to convince her to stay. "Sure, um, I'll drive you home if you like."

"Don't worry about it, I live close enough to walk," she said. He looked like he wanted to argue but thought the better of it. "At least let me walk with you," he suggested. "It wouldn't be right to let you go alone"

"My hero," she teased. She picked up her bag and jacket waited outside the door while he locked up. The suburb of Kelburn was a winding maze of narrow roads and parks and alleyways with steps cut into the hillside. But Julia knew it as well as the back of her hand. She led the way confidently up the hill.

She paused at the top of a particularly steep climb and was surprised to find Steven still right behind her. He didn't even look out of breath. Definitely not a typical computer nerd - if there even was such a thing. "Nearly there," she promised. "My house is just further down this street."

They walked down the tree-lined street. It was one of the older suburbs in Wellington and had a variety of character homes from every decade. She stopped at her gate and Steven stared at the house in surprise. "This is your place?"

Julia felt a sudden twinge of embarrassment at the peeling paint on the weatherboards and the rambling roses which were long overdue for a prune. "Yes, I bought it as a do-up project. Obviously it still needs a lot of work but I'm making progress."

"It's nice," said Steven. "I like old villas. Is it turn-of-the-century?"

"Nineteen-oh-six," she replied proudly. "I started renovating the inside first because I couldn't bear the poky old bathroom and kitchen. Obviously the exterior will need to be completely sand blasted before I can repaint."

"You're doing it yourself?" He asked in surprise.

"Of course I am. Women can do anything, don't you know."