He led me into the family room that held a large sectional, TV mounted on the wall, and the tree set up by the windows.
"The prior owners already knocked out the wall between these two rooms, saving me a lot of trouble.They did a few upgrades to the kitchen, but I'd like to do a renovation so that everything matches."
It was dark out so I couldn't see the view outside, but I suspected it was the trees I'd spotted when I parked in the driveway.
There were boxes by the tree with strands of lights and Clara's ornaments."Oh, good.You didn't start without me."
"You promised you'd help," Ford reminded me as he moved into the kitchen.
"It's a large area."
"But the space isn't utilized well.I have a huge pantry, but it looks like a closet.If I use cabinetry instead, I'll get a lot more storage, and it won't take up as much room.I wanted to add a large island with stools since there's a formal dining room there."He pointed to the next room over.
There was a large table already in there."Is this your grandmother's?"
"Aspen didn't have any space for a large piece of furniture, so I put it here.Better than having it in storage."
"That must be nice to have a piece of your grandmother in your home.I'm sure it brings back beautiful memories."
"It is nice having a piece of her here, although I see her by the piano more than the table.She almost never used it except for holiday dinners."
I walked around the heavy, dark-wood table, admiring the glass cabinet with china dishes inside."The woodwork is gorgeous in here too."
"I'll keep the crown molding?—"
I held up a hand."Whatever you do, don't paint it."
I smiled."I won't.You want to go upstairs?"
I nodded eagerly."Yes, please."
I led the way up the staircase at the front of the house, leading her through the smaller guest rooms first, leaving the primary for last.
"There are so many rooms," she said after seeing a couple.
"Five bedrooms.It was one of my favorite things about the house."
"You can't beat the space."
"My family questioned how I'd fill the rooms, and I didn't have an answer for them.It just felt like the house for me."
Ford turned on the light to his room with its heavy, dark furniture and gray bedding.
I was positive he'd straightened up the room before I arrived, or he was naturally neat because of the army.The living room area had framed photos of his family, but otherwise the room was barren.I wondered if he hadn't gotten around to settling in yet, or if he wasn't good at decor.
"This is where I started working first," he said when he switched on the bathroom light.
The room was framed, and he was tiling the shower."Will you have a freestanding tub in here?"
"If so, it could go here in front of the window."
I stepped in the space."This is the perfect spot for it, especially if there's a good view through the window."
"It's like you're in a tree house up here."
I envisioned clean white lines, something with a modern feel.
"I want it to be an oasis when it's done.I shower as soon as I come home from work, and I want it to feel comfortable with all the amenities.You know, multiple shower heads, heated towel rack, radiant floors."
