have that framed.”
Willa suddenly
remembered that there were cameras in the room and that her every word and
expression was being recorded. She took a jerking step away from Joe, feeling
his fingers tighten briefly before he released her wrist.
“Yes,” she said on
a shaky breath. “That’s a good idea.”
“We can try and
work around this wall,” Tony went on, his tone reassuring. “We’ll put a couple
of different layouts together for you; show you all your options.”
“Okay. That sounds
good.”
“I just have a few
more questions for you, Willa. A few more things that my brother and I need to
know before we begin pulling the designs together. Why don’t we go out to the
backyard while we talk? This renovation includes landscaping, too. Did you know
that?”
During
their tour of the back and side yards, Tony asked his questions: What was her
favorite color? Did she enjoy any other activities or hobbies aside from
baking? Did she find any particular architectural style more appealing than
another? Did she have a favorite artist or type of art?
She gave vague
responses, hoping they made sense for the cameras. Her thoughts were
concentrated on Tony’s brother, who hadn’t spoken another word since they’d
walked outside.
Finally, someone
shouted, “Cut!”
Veronica hurried
towards them, her face beaming. “That was great! Tony and Joe, please go with
Tiffany and Curtis to the front of the house for your interviews. Willa, let’s
go into the kitchen with Steve.”
Veronica posed
Willa at the breakfast nook, the crayon drawing on the table in front of her so
it was visible to the camera. While the camera rolled, Veronica asked leading
questions, encouraging Willa to share whatever was in her head. “We’ll be
editing out my voice. Just talk to the camera like I’m not even here. Okay? You
seemed surprised when you opened the front door. Why?”
Willa narrowed her
eyes. “That’s the reaction you were hoping for, right?”
Veronica merely
arched her eyebrows.
Willa sighed. “I
was very surprised when I opened the front door. I wasn’t expecting the
brothers to be so…young. How old are they?”
“Joe is
thirty-three. Tony is twenty-seven.”
“How long have they
been in the construction business?”
“Their father
started the business before they were born. They grew up working on houses. Are
you worried they don’t know what they’re doing?”
“No. They seemed
very competent. Tony asked some good questions. Joe seems to like old
furniture. I’ve never given my aunt’s furniture much thought, personally. I
grew up in a house that was very modern. Everything was always new and neat and
clean. I guess I wasn’t taught to appreciate older things.”
“Can you explain
what was going through your head when Joe opened that drawer in the kitchen?”
“I thought it was
pretty evident what happened. You see, I haven’t looked inside those drawers
since I moved here. I’d only been inside the kitchen a few times since January.
My best and happiest memories of this house took place in that kitchen. When
Joe opened the drawer, those memories came flooding back. That’s all.”
“It sounds like
keeping that wall unit intact is important to you.”
“Yes. I didn’t
realize until that moment just how important it would be.” Willa blinked,
unfamiliar emotions rising to the surface. Her voice was a little shaky as she
finished her thoughts. “I’m not sure how they’ll be able to work around it. I’m
really looking forward to seeing the designs they come up with.”
“Perfect, Willa.
That’s all we need for now.”
The audio technician
approached Willa to help her remove the lapel mic. After both he and the
cameraman had left the kitchen, Veronica’s features relaxed. She reached across
the table and squeezed Willa’s hand. “You did great today! How do you feel?”
“I’m not sure,” Willa
said with a frown. “I feel like there’s something more going on
Willa suddenly
remembered that there were cameras in the room and that her every word and
expression was being recorded. She took a jerking step away from Joe, feeling
his fingers tighten briefly before he released her wrist.
“Yes,” she said on
a shaky breath. “That’s a good idea.”
“We can try and
work around this wall,” Tony went on, his tone reassuring. “We’ll put a couple
of different layouts together for you; show you all your options.”
“Okay. That sounds
good.”
“I just have a few
more questions for you, Willa. A few more things that my brother and I need to
know before we begin pulling the designs together. Why don’t we go out to the
backyard while we talk? This renovation includes landscaping, too. Did you know
that?”
During
their tour of the back and side yards, Tony asked his questions: What was her
favorite color? Did she enjoy any other activities or hobbies aside from
baking? Did she find any particular architectural style more appealing than
another? Did she have a favorite artist or type of art?
She gave vague
responses, hoping they made sense for the cameras. Her thoughts were
concentrated on Tony’s brother, who hadn’t spoken another word since they’d
walked outside.
Finally, someone
shouted, “Cut!”
Veronica hurried
towards them, her face beaming. “That was great! Tony and Joe, please go with
Tiffany and Curtis to the front of the house for your interviews. Willa, let’s
go into the kitchen with Steve.”
Veronica posed
Willa at the breakfast nook, the crayon drawing on the table in front of her so
it was visible to the camera. While the camera rolled, Veronica asked leading
questions, encouraging Willa to share whatever was in her head. “We’ll be
editing out my voice. Just talk to the camera like I’m not even here. Okay? You
seemed surprised when you opened the front door. Why?”
Willa narrowed her
eyes. “That’s the reaction you were hoping for, right?”
Veronica merely
arched her eyebrows.
Willa sighed. “I
was very surprised when I opened the front door. I wasn’t expecting the
brothers to be so…young. How old are they?”
“Joe is
thirty-three. Tony is twenty-seven.”
“How long have they
been in the construction business?”
“Their father
started the business before they were born. They grew up working on houses. Are
you worried they don’t know what they’re doing?”
“No. They seemed
very competent. Tony asked some good questions. Joe seems to like old
furniture. I’ve never given my aunt’s furniture much thought, personally. I
grew up in a house that was very modern. Everything was always new and neat and
clean. I guess I wasn’t taught to appreciate older things.”
“Can you explain
what was going through your head when Joe opened that drawer in the kitchen?”
“I thought it was
pretty evident what happened. You see, I haven’t looked inside those drawers
since I moved here. I’d only been inside the kitchen a few times since January.
My best and happiest memories of this house took place in that kitchen. When
Joe opened the drawer, those memories came flooding back. That’s all.”
“It sounds like
keeping that wall unit intact is important to you.”
“Yes. I didn’t
realize until that moment just how important it would be.” Willa blinked,
unfamiliar emotions rising to the surface. Her voice was a little shaky as she
finished her thoughts. “I’m not sure how they’ll be able to work around it. I’m
really looking forward to seeing the designs they come up with.”
“Perfect, Willa.
That’s all we need for now.”
The audio technician
approached Willa to help her remove the lapel mic. After both he and the
cameraman had left the kitchen, Veronica’s features relaxed. She reached across
the table and squeezed Willa’s hand. “You did great today! How do you feel?”
“I’m not sure,” Willa
said with a frown. “I feel like there’s something more going on
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