Authors Note: This is part of a series and is built on characters and settings from previous chapters.
I was just finishing up the final touches on a photo CD for a wedding I had recently shot when I heard the jingle of the bell hanging on the front door. I got up and walked through the curtain to the main area of my downtown studio, the morning sun shining through the plate glass windows backlighting the customer standing just inside the door. The bright contrast between her shadowed face and the sunshine behind her prevented me from seeing much detail, but the outline was that of a woman, only slightly shorter than I was, with very sensual curves, even though her attire was clearly not intended to accentuate it. As I drew closer I could see the roughness of the jeans she wore and the bright orange of the t-shirt - a stark contrast to the light golden mane of blond hair cascading over one shoulder.
Closer still, I could now make out the black imprinting on the orange shirt that clearly, and appropriately, indicated "Sunny's Interiors".
"Hello. I'm looking for Scott?" She asked tentatively.
"You found him!" I replied, extending my hand.
"Hi. Miranda sent me over to see you. Said you might be interested in having some interior renovations done?" She asked.
"Yes. I do." I answered as she looked around at the studio.
"I don't usually do commercial spaces, but I'll be happy to look at what you're interested in." She answered.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I guess Miranda didn't tell you. I just closed on a farm house out in the country, and I want to renovate it for both living space and my professional studio." I told her.
"Ahhhh. No she didn't tell me that, just that this was a job I didn't want to pass up." Sunny responded.
"Well, I guess we should go out and look at the place then." I said, as I headed back into the office for my coat. I came back a moment later and followed her out into the chilly morning air. "Do you want to just ride with me or drive yourself?" I asked, looking at the big one ton pickup with her company name stenciled on the door.
"Well, you can drive if you want. I'll save the gas." She replied with a smile.
"Ok. This way." I said leading the way down the street to where my SUV was parked. I unlocked the door and climbed in while she walked around to the passenger side.
*******
It was only a short drive out of town, but long enough to learn that she has been in business for several years and specialized in high end interior work. I outlined the project in words for her to give her some idea of the scope before we got there.
"Nice setting!" She said as we drove down the nearly quarter mile long gravel driveway.
"Thanks. I think it will be nice." I answered as I pulled up in front of the two story farm house. While the outside looked really nice, with a new steel roof and all new steel siding, the interior needed quite a bit of work. I led her into the first floor and described to her what I was looking for, a formal photo studio in the main room, with the rest partitioned off into a den and eat-in kitchen. I led her up to the second floor and showed her the master bedroom and the totally inadequate bathroom. Finally I took her up to the attic to show her the layout, the door still off its hinges and the quilt Miranda and I had used, still spread on the floor. It took a few minutes to describe what I wanted to do with the area, including replacing the tiny window with French door and an outside balcony. Since I wanted a balcony off the master bedroom on the second floor as well, she indicated that she didn't see any problems with the addition.
"There is one more thing. I work with a LOT of electrical and computer equipment and the sixty amp fuse box in the basement is not going to cut it." I said as we walked back down the stairs.
"Well, let's go take a look." She said as she followed me down. I led her down to the main floor and then down the rickety steps to the basement. "These steps need to go too." She said as the stairs wiggled under our combined weight. She pulled a small flashlight from her pocket and used it to examine the structure of the floor above as well as the wiring leading to the electrical box.
"Well?"
"You're not going to like this. The whole house is wired with old cloth and tar insulated wire. As soon as I touch it it's going to fall apart. The only way we can upgrade the wiring is to replace it all, and that means tearing every bit of plaster on the first floor down so we can get to the wires for the second floor."
"Well, if that's what you have to do." I answered.
"It's expensive." She said, looking back at me.
"How expensive?"
"Ohhh I'd estimate thirty to forty. Maybe a tad less because we are already going to be doing a bunch of remodeling on the first floor."
"Ok." I said with a shrug. "I figured we'd have to rewire the whole house, so having it confirmed isn't a surprise. I want a full two hundred amp service with extra outlets in both studios for the lighting."
"We can do that." She said flicking off the tiny light.
"When can you have some numbers for me?" I asked as I led her back up the stairs.
"Well. If you don't mind I'd like to get my designer involved. How about I have her come by and see you and let her work up some floor plans and then I'll get you an estimate."
"Works for me." I said. "Guess we're done here for now."
"For now." She said, taking one last look around before following me toward the door. I drove us into town in silence while she made notes on the clipboard she carried.
"Thanks for the ride. I'll have Amy come see you this afternoon if she's free." Sunny said with a smile as she got out of my SUV.
"Sounds like a plan." I answered as she walked around the car, holding her hand out.
"Going to be a pleasure to work with you." She said with a huge smile, giving me a surprisingly firm handshake at the same time.
I watched her drive off before heading off to look at some camera gear a friend had acquired in an estate sale.
******
