I’m counting on that to continue after we start filming. So far, so good. Her dad, Daniel, is a bulldog in Dickies. I don’t think she notices. He plays the easygoing tradesman, but his grip on my outstretched hand was enough to make a lesser man weep.

I hope to God he’s around when Lyle comes knocking.

Today, Daniel is introducing me to the Correct Way to Demo a Kitchen.

“It’s not like they do it on those other shows,” he grouses, gesturing at me with a mallet, and I’m immediately aware of why Daniel didn’t fly with test audiences. He’s a genius at what he does, but he doesn’t give a shit if you like him. This, admittedly, makes me like him a whole lot.

“They’re looking to demolish down to the bones. We’re looking to restore. If you go too hard on your strikes, you could damage the integrity of the building. So often in these homes, they’re covered in layers. Decades of restoration stacked on top of one another. Usually, those layers will preserve the original house deep underneath. If you’re careful, you can reveal it, then reinforce it to make it safe.”

“Like an archeologist,” I say, stuffing my hands in my pockets. “I once filmed some ancient Mayan digs for Nat Geo. Tedious work, but the payout was awesome. To be the first person to reveal something since it was originally buried, sometimes millennia before.”

Daniel chokes on a laugh, but his eyes are approving. “Well, hopefully these houses aren’t that old and decrepit, but yeah. Just like that. We’re the archeologists of these homes.”

I can’t wait. Daniel’s enthusiasm is contagious.

We break for coffee and I ask, “Does it bother you that they’re bringing me in? Instead of it being you and Shelby?”

Daniel shakes his head. “Hell, no. Better you than me. I’m too old to be worrying about being filmed while I’m trying to work.” Daniel agreed to stay on for a consultant fee, with the caveat that he was never, ever in front of the camera.

“How do you feel about Shelby doing this?”

He hesitates.

“It’s okay,” I reassure him. “I want the truth. I wouldn’t ask otherwise.”

“I’m not crazy about it,” he concedes. “I don’t trust Lyle Jessup, and I don’t believe they won’t try to take advantage of her.” I exhale, a little uneasily. I knew this already from Shelby, but it’s still hard to hear.