#rivervale_lodge

Gerd goes to Frank's desk, takes out a sheet of paper, and starts to write, but it's not her handwritin, and her irises have rolled back some

As she writes in an old man's script, her fingers move steady and sure

Then she snaps out of it, and blinks "Well damn"

Frank comes in from the back, through the kitchen (careful to keep the floor clean!). He hums quietly to himself as he does, some old country song.

"Oh uhm. hi Mountain" Gerd looks a bit sheepish at his desk

"Hello Gerd. Help you with something?"

"I.. think the old man left you a note"

She stteps up so he can sit down annd read the letter

Looking askance, he does that.

The handwriting is definitely Vegard's.

"I didn't look at it all but I really wanted to" Gerd blushes

Frank sighs, shakes his head, folds the note, and slides it into a drawer.

"Sorry about that, Gerd."

"Well, don't be, he's been useful. He wasn' a jerk about i was he?"

"No."

"Okay. Want me to make you a sandwich or get you a drink o something? I'm pretty jazzed about Goldfinch"

A chuckle. "It went well. I'm glad. No, thank you, I'm fine." He settles in at his desk to sort through some of the papers.

"Went prettty well, but the place doesn't have a kitchen which is almost alien to me"

"Mm. Whole new meaning to 'starving artist.'"

"Mmm if only I were better at art"

"There are different kinds of art."

"I suppose cooking is an art. I'm pretty good at it now"

Frank nods. "I would say it is an art, certainly. Perhaps not one to be practiced traditionally at Goldfinch." he shrugs "But that's not for me to say. Talk to Sylvi." a shift in his beard.

"Well, don't forget, I'm traveling with YOU soon"

Frank nods. "Looking forward to it. After the transfer work for you?"

"Sure. I don't think I'll be essential"

"I'm sure everyone will miss you, and be happier for your return."

"Well yes"

"You still interested in going?" a non-judgemental question.

"Definitely, I become MORE useful the more places I get to know"

"Life is not entirely about being useful, but it is in our nature." Frank agrees.

"Well yes, you'e right... but when I think about it, I've more than one reason to travel. When I was young, I was hunted by dark forces, I think now that I'm ready to hunt them"

An eyebrow. "You are." a statement as question.

"I am. So, road trip works"

Frank nods. "Ok." And that's the end of it.

"So did you mention where we were going?"

"No. Once the transfer is made, I promised Brekke I'd be around for a week or so. It'll take me that long to line up the work. Once I have the work lined up I'll know our route. Going to try and keep it to the northeast, though."

"Sounds good. " She nods "Los to see in Apples"

"For this first run, I'd like to be out only a week or so, get the feel of it again. Maybe longer trips West in a month or two."

"You miss it?" A pause "The road I mean?"

He's quiet a moment, looking through the papers. "At times."

"A month or two seems a long time to be away from your family" She admits

He nods. "It is."

"I.. wannt to ask personal questions but it's not my place"

Sheepishly

"You can ask." Frank allows "I might not answer."

"When folsk asked if you were staying at the lodge, you said yes... but... while i knnow you'll come back, two month trips don'tt seem like staying. You said you'd be around to advise Uncle Vali. To help. It seems... like you're trying to find reasons to stay away from us, if so, why? And ARE you okay? I don't mean your physical healtth"

He nods. "I'm ok, Gerd. And yes, I'll be around to help Vali. A month or two months over the road is pretty standard. Brekke knows this."

"Okay" A nod "And sorry to be nosey, but you're like family you know?"