Building the Perfect Daddy by Brenda Harlen Page A

trusted more than her sisters. This time when Jordyn nudged the pen toward her, Lauryn picked it up and signed her name.
    * * *
    Lauryn was expecting Ryder and his crew when they showed up at eight o’clock the next morning, but that didn’t mean she was any more comfortable about the whole scenario. She hovered in the background as the camera operators and AV techs walked through the hall and the kitchen, figuring out where to set up lights and microphones and stationary cameras. By nine, they were ready to begin.
    â€œThis is our home owner, Lauryn Schulte, who lives in this 1972 traditional Foursquare with her children.”
    The show’s director, Owen Diercks, had wanted the kids on camera. “Our viewers love kids,” he told Lauryn. But Kylie, although already a fan of Ryder, was less certain about all of the other people who had invaded her home, and Lauryn wasn’t prepared to force her outside of her comfort zone. As a result, after seeing her daughter safely onto the school bus, she’d opted for Zachary to remain off screen, too, under the watchful eyes of Jordyn and Tristyn.
    â€œHow long have you lived here, Lauryn?” Ryder asked her.
    â€œA little more than six years now.”
    â€œAnd how long have you been planning to renovate?”
    â€œA little more than six years,” she admitted. “When we bought the house, the plan was to update the kitchen as soon as possible.”
    â€œObviously, that plan changed.”
    â€œMy husband had his own business, so he didn’t have the time to do the renovations we wanted to do.
    â€œIn the beginning, I was employed full-time outside of the home, too. Then, after our daughter was born, I continued to work part-time in retail as well as take care of her.”
    â€œAnd now you have two children?” Ryder prompted.
    She nodded. “Kylie’s three and a half and Zachary is seven months.”
    â€œSo when you heard about the Room Rescue contest, did you decide that would be the perfect opportunity to get a new kitchen?”
    â€œWell, that’s not quite how it happened,” she admitted. “In fact, I didn’t even know about the contest—it was my sisters who filled out the application on my behalf.”
    â€œHow did you feel when you found out what they’d done?” he prompted.
    â€œI was embarrassed that they had believed it was necessary to bring in outside help to complete the renovation—and because they were right. I’ve hated this kitchen for more than six years. I certainly didn’t want to go on TV and show it off to your viewers.”
    â€œWell, let’s bring in your sisters now so that they can tell their side of the story.”
    After Tristyn and Jordyn were introduced, they explained their decision to fill out an application on Lauryn’s behalf—and expressed their excitement that the application had actually been chosen by Ryder for inclusion in the program.
    â€œAt this point, I would usually introduce you to Monica Snyder, our design expert,” Ryder said, speaking to the viewers as much as to Lauryn. “It’s her job to meet with the home owners, to determine what changes they consider essential and what other features they would like to add to the room under renovation, then decide how to make it happen within the allotted budget.
    â€œBut Monica spent the weekend mountain biking at Warrior Creek, where she took an unfortunate spill and broke her leg.”
    â€œOh, my goodness,” Lauryn said, her concern immediate and genuine. “Is she going to be okay?”
    Ryder nodded. “She’s going to be fine, but she’s also going to be in the hospital for a few days and laid up for several weeks after that.”
    â€œSo who’s going to design my kitchen?” Lauryn asked, feeling slightly panicked.
    â€œYou are,” he told her. Then he dropped an enormous binder on the table in front of her.