Ben drove while Frances sat in the front seat, with her body turned so she could talk to Eric, who was sitting behind Ben in the rear passenger seat. Martha Anderson was sitting next to her son.
Even as a new werewolf, Eric could make out the distinctive scents of his mom, Frances, and Samantha having had sex in the car, but never said anything
"So, do you understand the plan?" asked Frances, after telling Eric what was expected of him.
"Understand it, yes. Expect it to work? I don't know," admitted Eric. "I can foresee three issues with this."
"What are those?" asked Doctor Twist, wanting the input.
"First off, Julie is at least as smart as me. Her current state might let us fool her for now, but don't expect it to work long term."
"We're not. If this works, we're hoping Julie gets better and can enter therapy to address her issues more properly. While stable, her vital signs are still below both what a normal 14 year old girl and what a 14 year old were-mermaid's should be. Physically, she's going to need at least a week of bed rest as it is. Mentally..." and Frances just let her voice trail off, not knowing what to say in regards to that.
Eric didn't know how to respond to that either, so said, "Secondly. Julie said that as 'her' were-merman, my eyes should be deep sea blue, but they're still brown unless I wolf out."
"Damn. You're right," realized Frances, forgetting she was talking to a 14 year old when she cussed. "We'll have to find you some cosmetic contact lenses at the hospital before you see her. But what's the third issue?"
Eric looked at the two ladies and the back of Ben Twist's head before saying, "Even if there ever was anything developing between us to begin with, I don't feel anything for Julie anymore beyond friendship. I'm in love with Cassie O'Sullivan."
That statement warmed Ben's heart while both Martha and Frances smiled at Eric.
"I'm glad you finally found someone and I hope the two of you are as happy as your father and I were in our good times," said his mother, while reaching over to hug her son the best she could because of the seat belts and trying to keep from crying in the process.
Frances said, "We're not asking you to claim feelings you don't have. Just to trick Julie into believing that you're still alive the way she thinks you should be so she can start getting better. We'll deal with the rest later." I hope.
"Then I hope this works," said Eric, as he reached for his cellphone to send a text as they pulled into Moon Lake General Hospital's parking lot.
MEANWHILE...
When Anna O'Sullivan came outside in her nightgown to see what all the noise in her backyard was about, Samantha Twist stayed long enough to explain the situation and reassure her that it wasn't Eric or her daughter's fault.
"Whoever that normal is is trespassing on closed for the season park land, and who knows how many other violations. We'll get her and deal with the rest from there," promised the Town Chancellor before leaving.
Back inside their house, Anna asked Cassie to tell her all about her night with Eric Anderson before the interruption.
When her daughter finished, Anna asked, "So, Eric's the one?"
"Yes," replied Cassie without hesitation. "My heart and brain, lupine and human, all say so."
"Good!" said Anna with a smile on her face almost as big as her daughter's. "You can still be a doctor and Eric can still be a police officer, but there is absolutely no reason why the two of you can't be in love and happy together while pursuing the careers you've decided to dedicate your futures to."
"I know, but I'm still worried about Eric and Julie Stovall though," admitted Cassie. "Neither of us want to see anything bad happen to her, but I'm worried this unhealthy fixation she has on him might affect Eric somehow. This may sound selfish, but he's in a good place with me now despite still mourning the loss of his father and still adjusting to the long term effects that will have on Eric and his family."
Whatever Anna O'Sullivan was about to say remained unspoken as Cassie's cellphone chimed that she had received a text message.
Taking the phone out of her pants' pocket, Cassie looked at the message and smiled before showing it to her mother.
Anna read: JULIE IS JUST AN OBLIGATION I HAVE TO MEET. YOU ARE MY LIFE AND FUTURE! LOVE, ERIC.
Then, her mother looked at Cassie and said, "There may still be some rough patches down that road, but I don't think you have much to worry about."