Before the afternoon started to become evening, the Talbot get together began breaking up.
Karen Yuletide went out of her way to personally say goodbye to everyone as they left. She had started growing close to those who would someday be her future in-laws, but most especially Ife, the budding artist.
The young girl surprised Karen before her family departed by giving her self-appointed artistic mentor/adviser a drawing of Karen she had done without Yuletide's knowledge, while Karen was busy creating portraits of the adults.
"It's beautiful," said Karen, with genuine affection. The drawing showed Karen as she was now, but with a lioness' shadow, in Ife's budding style.
"I had a lovely day, and thank you for the lessons," said Ife, while hugging Karen.
"Me too," replied Karen, returning the hug. "If you need any more art tips, Peter knows how to contact me."
"I will. Next Saturday?" asked Ife.
"Can't. I have a wedding to attend. As the maid of honor," Karen quickly added, when she saw the hopeful smile on Ife's face. "But we will see each other again," she promised.
"I look forward to it," said Ife, before leaving.
That left her boyfriend Peter and his parents alone in the house.
"You have made quite an impression on my extended family," observed Peter.
"And them on me, especially the young ladies. I think they appreciate having an extra female to discuss things with," commented Karen.
"Moments like this I find awkward," admitted Leon Talbot, as he walked into his house. "The family is gone. I can relax and enjoy the quiet, but I still miss them."
"As it should be, my husband," said his wife Regina, while giving him a hug. "You would not be the caring man I love if you felt otherwise."
"Are you staying for dinner Karen?" asked Leon, feeling they had reached the point where it was appropriate to use her first name. "It will be no imposition."
"Unless your son had other plans for us this evening, I'd love too," she replied.
"None. So it is two more if you do not mind mother," answered Peter.
"Then it's settled," said Regina Talbot with a smile, as Karen's cellphone rang.
"Hello?" said Peter's girlfriend, answering it. "Hi Jenny. What's up?"
As Karen walked away to chat with her friend and dorm mate, Leon took Peter aside and said, "I shall personally contact Mrs. Tachibana myself Monday morning, but so far, only our immediate family will be on hand to assist with security."
"Thank you father," said Peter.
When Karen finished her call and returned to them, she shared the news with the rest of the Talbots.
"Jenny and the Jenkins spent the day at Mrs. Tachibana's house. The man who tried to break into our dorm room last night was apprehended, but was either killed or committed suicide while trying to escape police custody. Jenny was a little sketchy on the details," explained Karen.
"Understandable," said Leon, as Peter took a protective step closer to his girlfriend.
"As far as the Skulk know, the guy acted alone, but they're stepping up security and what Jenny referred to as border patrols, since it's still roughly a week to the wedding. Naturally she's a little shaken up that Dieter Wilhelm would go to such lengths, because there's still the unconfirmed suspicion that not only was this guy sent here to kidnap Jenny and drag her back to Alabama against her will, but that he might of had orders to kill Harry too," revealed Karen, while leaning against Peter.
"This has become more serious than first thought," said Leon, while realizing his quiet time tonight was quite fleeting.
"Hence my concern for Karen and her friend," replied Peter.
"Agreed. Besides the immediate personal security, we cannot risk outsiders discovering Moon Lake's secret as a were sanctuary, let alone learn that weres exist."
"Then what do we do?" wondered Regina, looking at everyone else.
"The best we can," was all her husband could say, before inquiring about dinner.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: One does the best one can in a multi-author, extended saga like Moon Lake.
It was established in a previous episode that Ife already had her first transformation, while I said in another that she hadn't yet.
Either way, she still can't get that "cute weretiger" at school to notice her.
♫Ob-La-Di, Ob-La Da, Life Goes On.♫ —tmw.