Character Interview - Shelley Roberts from "An unexpected woman" by Sandi Layne

1. Hi, Shelley. Thank you for accepting this interview. I’m glad to talk to you. 

Thanks for having me! I haven't been interviewed before.

2. I heard a lot about your work and I was curious. Can you tell me more about what you do? What do you enjoy about it? 

Oh, sure! I learned how to fix furniture and stuff when I was pretty young. Loved the smells of sawdust and paint and dye when my dad was working in the garage when I was a kid and I used to tag along. He taught me how to sand wood and use his tools just to keep me safe, I think. I loved it the and I still do. What I do now is I go to a house and diagnose a problem and fix it. It's kind of like being a doctor on house-calls except my patients are inanimate. I love the challenge of the work, for sure. I enjoy meeting new people, too. It's very fulfilling.

3. So you work with your dad. How is he? Was he the protective type when you were a teenager? I know mine was. (laughs) 

(laughs, too) My dad is the best. He was protective, sure, when I was a teenager. He called me a flirt, because I guess I flirted with a lot of people. But he wasn't obnoxious about it. (grinning) I'd tease him,
sometimes, and get all dramatic about a date or whatever just to see him get flustered. When my brother Stevie was home, though, he was the one that most guys got worried about.

4. Tell me about your relationship with Stephanie, your step mom. She seems really sweet, but you two get along? 

Stephanie is wonderful. About the time I was in my late teens, I figured my dad would get lonely after Mom died. I even asked him if he'd start dating—there were lots of nice ladies at our church and all. He'd just smile and shake his head. Until I was twenty-one. Then, he met Stephanie and fell all over himself. It was adorable. She and I get along great. I think we would have if we'd have met when I was a lot younger, too. I had to work some with Dad-Availability Time for a year or two after they first got together, though. (shrugs, blushes) I had to get used to not being first priority. But I did.

5. I’m sorry for what happened to your mom. Considering the circumstances, she had a great idea writing you those letters. Can you tell me what do you remember of her? (I hope it doesn’t bother you that I brought this up.) 

Aw, that's very kind of you. And thank you, it doesn't bother me at all. Ah, Mom. Hm. She loved to bake and do things with her hands, like Dad does. She used to sing. A lot. And when I'd scrape my elbows or knees or something, she'd hold me really close and kiss my head before cleaning up whatever I'd done to myself and bandaging me up. When I was little, she read Winnie the Pooh to me at bedtime. (gets silent for a moment) She did a great job sounding like Piglet.

6. Now let’s talk a little about Mark. He is a great man and I’m happy you found each other. What did you felt when you first met him? Did you know right away that he was the one for you? 

(looks all swoony and starry-eyed) Oh, wow. When I saw Mark that first time? He fell right into my arms, you know? Literally. He'd stumbled and I caught him. I was really thankful I could do that, a few minutes later, but right then? I could only smile. Now, I didn't think of him beyond that, much, until I met him again at church. And then, yeah, I thought and hoped I'd get the opportunity to get to know him a little better. So long as he wasn't married. (winks)

7. What do you cherish about Mark’s personality? Is there anything you would change?  

I love that Mark is an orderly guy. He really is. And he talks, you know? When I need him to explain himself, he can. Not a lot of guys can do that, but he's really good about it and I so appreciate that. And once he got over his “Oh, wow, she's as young as my old youth group kids” issues, he was, um, a lot more affectionate, too. Would I change anything? He's really stubborn, but I am, too, so that's probably a good
thing. He does tend to think he's right a lot, but he's willing to listen eventually. I don't know that I'd change anything about him; he's pretty perfect. Well, for me, anyway.

8. Do you think Mark is a gift from God like you are for him? How do you see his opinion
about this? 

Oh, Mark is totally a gift from God. Yeah. Dropped right in front of me with Chinese food. His opinion? He sometimes teases me about being “gift-wrapped” for him, but I think we both feel like God brought us together at just the right time.

9. What is the thing you are afraid the most? Except hurricanes, of course.  

(laughs for a while) Actually, hurricanes don't scare me. I'm cool with them. Tornadoes, though, are horrible. They're so unpredictable, you know? I mean, a hurricane I can prepare for. I know to “hide from wind and run from water” and like that, but there is no escaping a tornado unless you can get underground or something. And in Florida? That's not likely. No one has basements here. I think I'm afraid of anything
big and sudden. Surprises aren't my favorite.

10.Speaking of hurricanes. Can you explain me how it is formed? I heard you know a lot
about them. I never experienced one. 

Oh! Yeah. Hurricanes happen when a certain storm pattern circulates over the ocean. They usually start off the coast of Africa and work their way over the Atlantic. I follow their tracks on TV and online. If the
ocean is warm, the storm can get stronger. This is why they can get really strong in the Gulf of Mexico—the water there gets pretty warm and its kind of an enclosed area so it stays that way. So when a storm gets to the Gulf, it can build up if the wind is right. Then, everyone who lives all along the coast, from Mexico and up and around to Florida, has to watch out to find out how the wind blows.

11. I was wondering, what is your idea of happiness? 

(smiles) Happiness is knowing you're where you're supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to be doing. It's even better if you're with someone who loves you.

12.How do you spend your free time? Do you have something that relaxes you? 

I love to crochet. Mom taught me and it was something we could do together . . . even when she was sick. I like to read, too, but mostly, I'm like my folks and do stuff with my hands.

13.That would be all. Thank you for your time. I wish you the best and to have a great and
happy life. 

Thank you so much for having me! It's been great to chat with you.