Re: in-person: connie/patrick
The thing that makes a good haunted house is a good host! If you can't weave a story that even the most skeptical, bored dad could believe, you lose. [Connie knew a thing or two about making a good ghost host.] Maybe when I retire from here, I'll travel the country giving ghost tours good advice! I bet most of those guys have never actually been scared in their whole lives. [And this time when she smiled it was a little like their dad. Like she saw something most people couldn't.]
It's not dead! It's just slow. I'll bring you back around for supper time and you'll see some senior citizens cut rug. [She pulled out two beers, some fancy craft ale from a brewery near the Capital. Connie figured it made a good conversation starter for guests.] Enjoy the beer. [She insisted and took a swig of her own with an aah.] They aged it in whiskey barrels. Can you taste it? It's the best.
[Connie wasn't surprised to hear she was looking better.] I was really hard when you left home. I didn't have a lot of real friends here and- [She shook her head with a laugh.] The important thing is that I'm not letting anyone hurt me anymore. And, I'm making friends! Kinda.