“Behave yourself.” Evan growled as he pulled up to his sister in-laws house. Well technically it was Maggie’s and Elle’s parents’ house, but Elle and Jonathan lived in it. Mike put on a “happy face”, and walked like one of those wind up soldiers.
The main reason he disliked Tom Carson so much was because had this unbearably cheerful disposition ninety percent of the time. It drove Mike nuts.
“We’re back.” Evan said, his voice completely drained of any, and almost all, energy. This was going to be one hell of a day. But at least there was a light at the end of the tunnel (provided the Andersons felt up to it). He had a feeling they were going to have just as interesting an evening.
“Hi Mike.” Maggie greeted her father-in-law. Mike actually smiled when he saw her. When it came to other males, he had something of an “alpha-complex” going. Females, Mike figured the more the merrier.
“How you holding up sweetie?” Mike asked, accepting Maggie’s hug.
“Alright. You know, if you wanted to join us, you could have just said so.” Maggie teased.
“I was content to stay at home until I found out Evan was keeping secrets from me.” Mike replied, giving his son a devious look. Evan walked into another room so he wouldn’t punch his father. Jonathan and Tom were there playing chess, Spencer watching. Elle’s and Jonathan’s three shepherds were sitting in a corner, looking quite nervous.
“Must be because of Spencer.” Evan thought.
Most animals were skittish around her. Not because she was a were, but because they didn’t know what to make of her. A wolf-panther hybrid wasn’t something you’d find in nature. The poor dogs saw Evan and at least looked happy there was another canine in the room. Tom and Jonathan were both werecats.
“Are you okay Dad?” Spencer asked, seeing her father’s strained face. The same one he got when she did something he didn’t agree with.
“Ask me that after your grandfather leaves.” Evan sighed, collapsing into a chair.
Speak of the devil… Mike walks into the den and demands Spencer hug him before he dies of old age. Spencer is relieved that at least Mike is careful not to crush her arm.
“Hi Grandpa.” she said. Spencer sniffed his shoulder, noting how he still smelled like bourbon and newspapers.
“Hello Jon, Tom.” Mike said, his greeting to Tom a bit curt. Tom didn’t mind. He knew Mike wasn’t much of a people person. Wasn’t much of anything other than an easily annoyed old alpha wolf who liked things his way or the highway.
“Mike. Nice of you to join the rest of the family for a holiday.” Tom said cooly. Mike’s face twitched, but he kept the snide comment he had at the ready inside.
“Since when are you around? Don’t you and your wife live in Southern California most of the year?”
“You spend your time shut up in your house. Spencer hasn’t seen you in five years, how sad is that?”
“Because they lived on the other side of the country!” Mike pointed out.
“I’ve seen her at least once a year ever since she was born.” Tom said. The two began a shouting match over who was there for what, and when and why. Spencer wasn’t sure how she felt being the subject of her grandfathers’ argument. It was flattering, and embarrassing at the same time.
“…treat Spencer like she’s some kind of soldier. News flash, women have rights in this century too!”
“Speaking of women, they kicked you out of the kitchen didn’t they Mike?” Jonathan quickly changed the subject before the two old men started clawing at each other. Which wouldn’t end well, for Tom at least.
He was the smaller of the two, in and out of were form. Ocelots weren’t much bigger than domestic dogs, so Tom didn’t gain much height or muscle mass. Meanwhile, Mike Lawson was a fully grown Alpha wolf, who was more than capable of taking down a wild grizzly bear.
“Hit the nail on the head son. On second I’m saying hello, the next I’m being pushed out of the kitchen.” Mike said. And that was fine with him. Mike couldn’t cook anymore than Evan could (which was why most of Mike’s dinners usually consisted of Hot Pockets, or the like).