Or have we just been lying to ourselves while everyone else saw it from a mile away?
When I returnto the tiny house, Owen is exactly where I left him, focused on the bathroom framing with Finndozing nearby. He looks up as I enter, his expression softening just slightly at the sight of the food bag.
“Told you I’d bring something,” I say, setting the bag on the makeshift table. “Doris says hi, by the way. As does half the town. I’m semi-famous now.”
“I heard,” Owen replies, setting down his tools and washing his hands in our temporary utility sink. “Walt called. Said your renovation account is ‘putting Maple Glen on the map,’ whatever that means.”
“It means people are asking about visiting,” I say, unpacking the sandwiches. “Apparently tiny house renovation content creates tourism interest. Who knew?”
We sit across from each other, the familiar rhythm of shared lunch offering a brief pause in the morning’s tension. I consider telling him about the betting board but hold back. The last thing we need is another awkward layer on top of... everything.
“How’s the bathroom framing coming?” I ask instead.
“Almost done,” Owen says between bites. “We can start the electrical rough-in this afternoon.”
We eat in a silence that’s no longer strained, but not quite settled. I check my phone. The follower count has climbed past 30,000.
“This is surreal,” I mutter. “Two months ago I was running PR for overpriced juice cleanses. Now people actually care about my authentic content.”
“It’s good content,” Owen says simply. “You’re documenting something real.”
That lands deeper than I expect. “Exactly. For the first time, I’m not spinning a story—I’m telling the truth. Disasters and all.”
“People respond to authenticity,” he says, wiping his hands. “Even when it’s messy.”
Our eyes meet. And I wonder, just for a moment, if we’re still talking about social media.
Before I can ask, my phone pings with a new email notification. I glance down, then freeze.
Tiny House Transformations Productions
I open the message, heart pounding.
Dear Ms. Winslow,
I’m a producer with Tiny House Transformations, a renovation series on the Home & Hearth Network. We recently discovered your renovation account through the Renovation Nation feature and are very impressed with your project’s authenticity and unique story.
We’re currently planning our upcoming season and would be interested in featuring your tiny house renovation in an episode. Our show highlights innovative small-space transformations with compelling personal narratives, and your journey—from impulsive auction purchase to thoughtful rebuild—checks all our boxes.
If you’re interested, we’d love to connect in the next few days. We’re aiming to film within 4–6 weeks depending on your timeline.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Adele Hutchinson
Senior Producer, Tiny House Transformations
I read it twice. Maybe three times.
“What is it?” Owen asks, catching my expression.
“A TV show,” I say, barely managing to get the words out. “They want to feature the renovation. They want to film within the next month.”
His expression shifts—a slight tension in hisjaw, the kind that’s easy to miss unless you’ve been watching him as closely as I have.
“A TV show,” he repeats, carefully neutral.
“It’s not reality drama,” I clarify quickly. “It’s a legit renovation series. They highlight craftsmanship and story. It could be huge exposure—for the project, for your work.”
