#rivervale_lodge

but hey

It's not long before Kerri is in investigation mode, most specifically finding Mr. Grant's home address. And his wife's name.

Investigation mode goes smoothly. Boggans and Sluagh may brag, but kith only goes so far. Hard work and contacts make the difference and Kerri is no stranger to this

Apparently his wife goes by Merri? Well, that's either a coincidence or disturbing

Of course, some of those contacts might be boggans. Others might on the PTA chat list.

"Oh, yikes...." she mutters when she learns this.

She has his address too.

Hmm...to bring a gift, or not to bring a gift. She certainly needs a pretense.... Oh! Is Merri on the PTA?

Looks like she is not.

Then pretense acquired: she'll invite her to join the PTA!

🧠!

A small gift of fresh cookies in a bag, and she's off in the Jeep to the Grants' house.

Possibly by her husband if not herself.

The Grant House is firmly middle class looking, nice trimmed yard, split level house

She gives it a good look as she pulls up. Is it particularly chilly?

Her daughter didn't speak of him being chilly... the place itself? Doesn't seem to be.

She heads up to the front door and knocks/rings (as appropriate).

DING DONG

A blink. That's a doorbell that means business.

A dog barks from the back yard

For a moment, it seems she has no one home.

Then a car pulls up ...

She is patient and waits, curious about the dog.

Then she turns at the sound of the car.

and pulls in to the side of hers. A woman steps out out of her blue Toyota. Merri it seems. She's dressed for the office and has that 'God If I stayed in that cubicle for five more minutes I'd scream' look, but the expression changes to curiosity "Hello?"

"Hi, there," Kerri says with a grin. She's not her daughter, not the bright and chipper cheerleader...and her height might be off-putting to some...but she's calm and friendly. "Are you Merri Grant?"

"I am" She says getting her purse out, then looks up, she smiles back cautiously at the much much taller woman, who despite her height seems warm

"Good, I'm glad I didn't miss you. I'm Kerri Davidson, and I'm on the PTA. I'm trying to get a few more people to join us. And..." she offers out the bag "...I brought cookies."

"ooo.. good sales pitch" She says taking the cookies "Thank you , but oh, my husband is a teacher. I always avoided the PTA situation so there wouldn't be a conflict of interest. You know it is, folks want to talk to the teacher through his wife, or they worry she's a plant for his side."

She is certainly not cold. About average for a daughter of eve

(Pause)

"Well, I can see how some would see it that way...but that shouldn't be an obstacle. I mean, just my opinion, but...let them think what they're going to think." She shrugs.

"that's fair" Merri nods "Look, you want some coffee?"

"That sounds great," she says.

they go into her house and up the steps

She soon has coffee in the works "is tthe PTA understaffed or something?"

"Perpetually," Kerri says with a sigh. "It's kind of a seasonal thing. We get a new influx of interest at the start of the year, and then the interest kind of wanes."

"Ah, so you need fresh meat" She says "how do you take it?" meaning the coffee

"Little light, little sweet, thanks."

She prepares it "I don't know if I have the time"

"Busy, hm?" She sips the coffee and invites Merri to continue.

"Office decided it would cut out remote work, staff didn't like that, complained. Got told to take it or leave it. Half left. So... but no rehires. I live near by work so not as a big a deal but my load doubled." She makes a face

"That's a common story these days, unfortunately. What do you do?"

"I kept the job. " She sihs "Not that we're hurtinng for money, but I'm hoping to have a nice retirement"

She smiles. "No, I meant...what do you do for a living?"

"OH!" She laughs "Wow, see how frazzled i am?" A smile "I'm a Purchasing manager"

And hands Kerri her mug, the coffee the way she liked i

"Thank you. And...what does your husband teach?'

"Oh, social studies related subjects, Government class is a big one this year"

"Mm." She nods. "And he's busy, too, I'm sure."