Eric Anderson was about to open the front door to his house, when he turned to his new girlfriend and asked, "You aren't nervous or anything. Are you?"
"Err... no. Is there a reason I should be?" asked Cassie O'Sullivan in return.
"None that I can think of, although I will admit this is the first time I've ever brought anyone home to meet my folks, I mean—mom," said Eric, quickly correcting himself, since his father was no longer with them.
"It's okay Eric," said Cassie, holding his hand in hers while giving Eric a quick peck on the cheek.
With that, Eric opened the front door and ushered Cassie inside.
"Mom, we're home!" shouted Eric, closing the door behind him.
"I'm in the kitchen. Just a minute," yelled Martha Anderson in return, as Eric's older brother Nate came bounding down the stairs.
"Hey Eric. Cassie," said Nate, drawing closer to the young couple. "Listen, do you have any idea what's going on?" he whispered low enough for only Eric and Cassie to hear.
"No," replied his brother. "Mom told me something about you came out to her and she wanted to meet Cassie and Alex. Congrats on that first part though."
"Yeah. I was nervous as hell, but I'm glad I finally did. Alex should be here soon," explained Nate, just as their mother came out of the kitchen.
"Thanks for coming. Hope you don't mind spaghetti and meatballs but this was spur of the moment. I'm Mrs. Anderson, but you can call me Martha," she said, offering Cassie her hand.
"Cassie O'Sullivan," said Eric's new girlfriend, returning the handshake.
"Listen, we have a couple of minutes before Nate's... boyfriend... Sorry. Have to get used to that term. Arrives, and we didn't get to meet under the best of circumstances," said Martha, quickly glossing over the unpleasantness with Julie Stovall at Eric's induction ceremony to the local wolf pack. "Do you mind telling me a little bit about yourself?"
"Well, I'm a 14 year old Freshman. Ben Twist picked me to help Eric become a werewolf when he couldn't choose someone on his own because we've both lost our fathers, although mine was taken a couple of years ago by a drunk driver. But even though it was a very traumatic experience for both us, we've come through it stronger than before with Eric wanting to be a police man and my desire to be a doctor," explained Cassie.
"What kind?" asked Mrs. Anderson.
"I'm hoping to stay a general practitioner. There are way too many specialists out there as it is, but if I do have to specify, then wherever I can do the most good for the largest group in need. However, I do intend to stay and serve Moon Lake," revealed Cassie.
"Well, I can see why Ben played matchmaker and paired you two up. However, you have heard of the adage about all work and no play, right?" asked Eric's mom.
"We've discovered that, and a whole lot more," confessed Eric, taking Cassie's hand in his.
"And the future?" asked Martha, looking at the two of them with a smile on her face.
"Technically, one day at a time. College will be rough because med school takes longer than the police academy," replied Cassie. "Plus, my mom's already extracted a few promises from us in regards to our future plans, but if all goes well," she added, before openly hugging Eric in front of his mother.
"Well, as long as I'm not a grandmother before you're both established in your careers," said Martha.
"Odd. That's about the exact same thing my mom said," replied Cassie, as the front door bell rang.
Nate let his boyfriend inside. "I'm out, and I'm proud," he told Alex, before openly kissing him in front of everyone else.
"Good," said Alex with a smile, after returning the kiss. Then he turned and said, "Mrs. Anderson, I'm Alex Ramsey," offering her his hand.
"Ramsey," repeated Martha. "Any relation to—"
"Not that I'm aware of. I do want to go on and be a professional chef after I graduate high school, but I have a much nicer temper than him," replied Alex.
"Really?" asked Martha in disbelief. "Well, would you mind helping me get dinner ready while the boys set the table?"
"No problem. What were you planning?" wondered Alex, as Martha led the way into the kitchen.
As Martha and Alex disappeared into the kitchen, Eric asked Nate, "Do you think mom's all right?"
"I think she's trying to move on with life," was his reply.
"Well, if she's anything like my mom, it will still take a lot of time, but this is a step in the right direction," observed Cassie, before offering to help Eric and Nate set the table.