Spencer Lawson and Eric Anderson were still kissing, oblivious to the new arrivals. Evan Lawson turned and looked at Samantha Twist, but the Town Chancellor just shrugged her shoulders, uncertain what (if anything) to say.
With that, Evan cleared his throat, to which his daughter instantly stopped as Eric stood up straight, blushing at being caught in the act.
"Err, hi dad. Eric was just telling me how happy he is to learn I'm still among the living," said Spencer with a smile on her muzzle.
"I see that," was all her father said. He had not approved of too many of her past suitors, especially Jeremy Bower, the were-rottweiler that landed his daughter in the hospital, so was uncertain what to think of this new development. "Eric, could you please wait outside for a bit. Mrs. Twist and I need to talk to Spencer."
"Sure, sir," said Eric politely, before turning to look at his new girlfriend. "Get well soon. I'll keep in touch."
"You better," said Spencer, as she watched him walk out the door.
OUTSIDE...
"So, how'd it go slugger?" asked Ben Twist, as Eric rejoined them in the hallway.
"She called me that too," said Eric with a smile, "and Spencer said she's falling in love with me too!"
"That's wonderful!" said his mother, as Martha Anderson hugged her son. Then she slipped back into parental mode and said, "Now then, it's getting late and despite it being a short week because of Thanksgiving, tomorrow is still a school day, so—"
"I can't leave yet. Mister Lawson said he wanted to talk to me after they finish talking to Spencer," revealed Eric.
"Oh?" asked Martha, while looking at Frances Twist, but her friend and next door neighbor simply shrugged her shoulders, not knowing what it might be about.
"Then I guess we wait," realized Martha, sitting back down in the hallway chair she had occupied while Eric was inside.
MEANWHILE...
"So, since you're a recent arrival, you won't know the actual name of Lovers' Lookout by Moon Lake itself, but the story will be that the two of you fell down it while fighting, and that Jeremy had a knife, which is now conveniently lost somewhere in the lake itself," explained Samantha. "That should cover all your respective injuries."
"I see," said Spencer, listening to the plan. "What kind of knife?"
"Standard KA-BAR. They've been around since World War 2 and used ones are readily available commercially, so don't elaborate on a specific model," advised her father. With his military and SEAL experience, he had chosen the knife to add more detail to the cover story.
"Okay, but can we get to this Lovers' Lookout from our place?" wondered Spencer.
"In time, yes," said Samantha, if you head south-southwest from your backyard, you'd make it in about a half hour at a regular pace going through the woods. Quicker running. Lovers' Lookout is the only natural spot in the whole town with any real elevation. It's only about 75 feet tall, but a bad tumble down it has been known to break a few bones in unfortunate people, so..."
"I get it," said Spencer. "But is Jeremy going to cooperate with this too? He could be the fly in the ointment here."
"Don't worry. He will," said her father in a low growl, as the werewolf within him wanted to take revenge for what was done to his daughter.
"The FBI knows you're scheduled for surgery in the early morning, so they won't be here until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest to get your statement," revealed Samantha. "Hopefully by then you'll be able to safely go back into normal mode at least long enough to talk to them and get them out of our fur once and for all."
"Then, after we get confirmation that they've left Moon Lake, you're to go furry again to speed up the healing process, but the change both ways will be closely monitored, just in case," added her father.
"Why? Is there some risk?" asked Spencer with great concern.
"You'll only have been out of surgery for a few hours at most by then. The doctors are just being cautious to make sure you don't reinjure your arm somehow while transforming," explained Samantha.
"Okay. I can handle my part," said Spencer confidently. "But I'd like three things in return."
"What?" asked Samantha, worried about her making demands that the town might not be able to honor.
"First, I want you to make damn sure that not only does Jeremy get thrown into the highest security prison available for the maximum sentence applicable, but if by some chance he ever does make parole, that he's NEVER able to come back to Moon Lake ever again!" demanded Spencer.
"I will certainly do my best to achieve that for all of us. Next?" wondered Samantha.
"I want mom on board and near me as my medical adviser for all of this," requested Spencer.
"You got it honey," promised her father.
"What's your third thing?" asked Samantha.
"I'd like a few minutes alone with my dad before he has to leave and take care of whatever else needs to be done," said Spencer.
"Certainly," said Samantha with a smile, glad that she was fully cooperating.
Samantha Twist joined the others in the hallway, giving her wife Frances a brief kiss as the two held hands and conferred about current events.
"I've offered her my services, and will be talking to Spencer either late tomorrow or sometime Tuesday," Frances told her.
"With the FBI still needing to talk to her, I'd plan on Tuesday," advised Samantha. "But what about..." she began, while nodding her head back toward Eric Anderson.
Frances moved closer and whispered, "The hybrid were/normal issue will have to be addressed someday, but I do think Eric and Spencer make a cute couple," she said with a smile.
"You should have seen them kissing when we walked in," Samantha replied, when the door to Spencer's room opened and Evan Lawson walked out.
He looked at the group still in the hallway, glad that he and his family had started making friends and reestablishing some old roots since their recent move back to Moon Lake.
Then he turned to look at the youngest amongst them and said, "Eric, can I talk to you for a bit? Privately."