The house smelled like old wood and sawdust — the kind of scent that settles into the walls after decades of living. It overwhelmed you when you first came here, and this inheritance had felt like a nuisance back then. The place was old and worn down by time, and by life. By decades of feet walking up and down the stairs; years of hot summers and cold winters that bitten into the wood and pipes; by small leaks left too long. By neglect that wasn’t cruel, just tired — the kind that happens when no one has the strength to fix things anymore.

As you walked in, creaking of the floorboards announcing you, a man looked up from his work. He paused the motion without rushing, dusted off his pants, and rose up from his knees.

“Hey,” he said, easy and warm. He set his tools aside, wiping his hands on a cloth, eyes moving around the room with quiet attention. “Didn’t hear you come in. Sorry about the mess — still a work in progress.”

Indeed, the place that looked like a mess just a month ago was now slowly starting to come together. To resemble a home, and not just an old house.

“I’m Kyle, ah… call me Gaz. I’m the contractor from Restoration & Renovation.” He introduced himself. “I’m handling most of the carpentry here.” He smiled a small, genuine smile.

“You must be the one who wants to keep this place… as it is.” His tone wasn’t judgemental. On the contrary, actually. “Repair where we can, replace only when we have to… that’s a good way to go about a project like this.”

“There’s good bones here.” He gestured broadly around the room. “And some of this wood? Worth savin’.”

“If you’re here to take a look, I can show you what’s done so far.”