After the brief pep talk/conference with Samantha Twist, Martha Anderson drove on to the local coffee shop near the public library. With Moon Lake being a relatively small town, the business wasn't affiliated with any of the major chains, but still serviced its loyal customers well.
Walking in, Martha saw Coach Katherine Johnson standing up from a corner booth, waving at her. Unlike Martha, who went straight from the junior high school to Samantha's office before meeting her "date", Katherine had changed tops, and was now wearing something a little more feminine and alluring than the school district issued sports shirt.
"Glad you could make it," said Katherine, taking Martha's hand and pulling her into the booth across from her position. "I hope I wasn't out of line asking you out as abruptly as I did, but considering you'll only be at the junior high school the rest of this week while my regular assistant goes to check on her parents..."
"How are they?" asked Martha, grateful that she was getting work as a substitute teacher, but not at the expense of other's misery.
"Fine, as far as I know," replied Katherine. "Being normals down south with all those brush fires going on, she was naturally concerned about them. Personally, I hope Brenda doesn't get her fur singed," she added, referring to the were-mink, "but I understand the need to check on family, especially since Brenda's their only child."
Katherine then took Martha's drink order before going to the counter, and came back with two decaf coffees and a couple of croissants.
"I took the liberty," she explained, laying the baked goods between them. "They're delicious!"
The two ladies enjoyed their repast before Katherine said, "There's something about you Martha, and I'm saying that not just as one were to another, but as one woman to another as well. Being a small, tight knit community, just about everyone in Moon Lake knows what happened between William and the rogue, but I'm not looking to replace him. I just thought that maybe, whenever you're ready and interested..."
"I see," replied the widow, taking another sip of her coffee. "Truthfully, despite the circumstances, becoming a werefox might have been the best thing that ever happened to William. The vulpine life/mate bond that the rogue was hoping would form between the two of them was actually established between me and him. It brought our love and marriage to a level it hadn't been in years before..."
And then Martha's voice trailed off, for her husband's murder was still (somewhat of) an open wound in her life.
"Really?" said Katherine, secretly disappointed that William's rep as a cheater was obviously starting to change and knowing she would have to rethink her strategy as to how to win Martha Anderson's heart.
"I do miss him terribly. Always will to some extent," admitted Martha. "But my friends and therapist keep saying that even if it's just baby steps, I should move forward. So, no promises beyond this, but if you're willing, I would like to be your friend Katherine," said Martha, giving the other lady a slight smile.
"I'd like that," said Katherine, reaching out across the table to hold Martha's hand in hers. "By the way, my friends call me Kat, with a K."
"Kat," said Martha pleasantly with another smile, before sipping more coffee.
If "baby steps" it must be, thought Katherine, taking another bite of her croissant. But I can't wait until your furry body is pressed against mine and we share the intimate pleasures only women know Martha.