Geoff's house sounds pretty cool! I've always been a big fan of Lewis Carroll anyway, and your comparisons with AiW really hit the mark. Especially comparing his housekeeper with the Red Queen!! Love it. Poor Sherry, having to deal with that woman's open agression and Xander's smug knowledge-- she's really got her work cut out for her.
As always, I love this, couldn't find a nit to pick and I am anxiously awaiting the next installment!
When I was trying to convey Sherry's mental state -- jet lag, the roiling emotions of a funeral for someone she hadn't particularly liked, the way Michael's death affected Geoff and how he reacted to it, being alone in Geoff's house with a stark, raving lunatic -- all I could think was, "She's tumbled down the rabbit hole into Wonderland."
Yeah, Cora's a piece of work alright. And she really does hate Sherry. Wait til she finds out Geoff not only knocked Sherry up, but did it right under Cora's nose!
debikm