#rivervale_lodge

Kerri frowns. "I thought...she always shares with you. Those daddy-daughter conversations."

"Well, I figured she and you had one of those 'hey mom' advice chats... or somethin or at least banter" He looks troubled now "I think we missed something"

"She mostly did the helping-in-crisis thing. And she spent a lot of time with the other wilders when there weren't things that immediately needed to be done." A deep breath. "I think you might be right."

"mm. possible she took on some emotional baggage for others and neglected her own." A grumble there "Should we call her?"

"Call?" An amused look. "You haven't been paying attention to the younger generation at all, have you? They never call. It's all text. And...maybe we should."

"Okay. Right . Text. Great. yes. I'm down with it. I'm dope. I got the 411" he says with exaggerated cluelessness

"So text her... tell me what she says? " he makes a 'throwing under the bus' motion then winks

She facepalms briefly at his attempt to be 'with it.'

Then a brow. "Nice try. Come with me." She leads him out into the backyard; superstitious, perhaps, but she suspects having two phones active in the Lodge at the same time would make Brekke or Frank twitch.

Annd to the backyard they go

"Let me introduce you to the magic of the younger set -- it's called a Group Chat. Get your phone out." And Kerri starts tapping away at her screen. She's far better at this than the older grumps are.

The message pops up on Olgar's phone presumably at the same time it shows up on Sylvi's.

TXT: Yeah we didn't get much time to talk to you while you were here ; things being nuts and all

Long pause.

"Maybe she's busy..."

"Possible. She could have a backogg of Bridge duties"

"Right. Probably a lot going on."

And then the dots start bouncing.

TXT: Hey! Yeah, things are good. Just got some help with the theater situation, and so that's moving forward. On my way to check in at DarkGate now. It was really great to see you, even if it was crazy!

Kerri looks at Olgar. "What do you think?"

"I've seen her use emojis before. Is that her trying to be too up beat or am I paranoid?"

"It feels cheerleader-y."

Kerri taps again: TXT: Great news about the theater, glad to hear it! You must be excited.

TXT: Maybe we'll catch a show

Kerri blinks. Then she texts back. TXT: Love you too, sweetie. Do good things!

Then she lets out a little huff of annoyance.

"Okay , she might be busy, but .. that FELT like a brush off"

"It did. So then the question is...why? Is she just really busy? Or is she evading?"

She makes a gesture of frustration and tucks her phone in a pocket.

"Or with Colton? "

"Well, I count that under busy."

"mmph. Want me to hit the trod annd find out?"

Kerri considers, then shakes her head. "Not right now. But...maybe in a few days?"

A snap of his fingers "What about the 4th?"

Kerri blinks at him. "But...that's...there's the cookout that day!" Hearth-mode.

"We try to get her over here for it ? Or ... I end up taking food to her aftter if she doesn't show? Either way, solid alibi"

"I don't know if we could lure her back down here so soon. Would Hewitt let her come down? She does have a duty up there...." She considers. "It's worth a try...and if not, then yes, the we-had-so-many-leftovers gambit makes good sense."

"And usually true" He takes her hand "What ever is going on, she can probably handle it, but we'll be there for her. We just need to send our own not so subtle messagge we've got her back and no shame in that"

She squeezes back, but mutters, "I don't want to crowd her, though...."

"Me neither.. so, maybe accompany the food with a reminderr we are here if she nneeds us and we won't judge?"

A nod, her focus a bit distant...but then a deep breath and a more certain nod. "Okay, yes. Good plan. I can always count on you, you sneak," she grins and gives him a wink.

"Now, how about you?"He asks "You need some time outsie the lodge? You've been manning the home forrt here for awhile. We can hit a cheap hotel with dubiously clean sheets and towels we're not supposed to steal. Every woman's dream I'm sure"

"Oh, you silver-tongued devil," she says dryly. Then she admits, "I have been thinking we may be overdue for at least a night away."

"Maybe a day at the beach?"

"Sure, which beach ? " He offers

"Oh, I mean locally. Along the shore. Tijuana is WAY too hot this time of year, as far as I'm concerned."

"Shore it is..." A smile "Any chance you'll be in the mood to wear that two toned red bikini?"