Samantha was floored with what Frances just told her; the man that tried to ruin them just because he could not accept a lesbian couple that was prominent to the town.
“You’re telling me that the man who tried to get me fired, to have your licensed revoked;” Samantha clearly upset, “is your new patient? What are you not telling me?”
“Samantha you know how I am with Doctor Patient confidentiality,” Frances telling her as they pull into the driveway of their home; “I cannot tell you.”
“This I don’t accept,” Samantha starting to fume; “you promised me we would have this Christmas for ourselves. Now I have to share it with a bigoted were-panther?”
“I don’t like it any more then you do,” Frances trying to remain calm as she tries to cradle to kittens that are distressed over raised voices; “I never planned to receive an edict form the elder council. And you know of all people should know one cannot refuse to receive one.”
“I know,” Samantha grumbling; “I’ve had several sent to me in regards to new families moving into town.” Looking at Frances, “but why now?” Why do they have to issue one now?”
“Samantha,” Frances shaking her head; “I can’t tell you-“
“Yeah I heard,” Samantha snapping back; “Doctor patient confidentiality. But Benton isn’t your patient yet. So don’t use that excuse on me.”
“Benton Knight was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder this morning,” Frances stating as she gets out of the car; “since you know of the feral ward in the hospital sub-basement, I trust why you now understand the gravity of the situation.”
“Shit,” was all Samantha said while still in the car. Being the town’s chancellor made her privy with lots of the town’s secrets; some of them good like the Were Club and the new restaurant Grrrrrrr, a place she was hoping to take Frances to one day. But the feral ward was one of the town’s dirtiest secrets. A place she knew weres where placed when they when off their medication or became too savage to contain.
Getting out of the car and heading inside; Samantha sees Frances on her phone as Ben is dangling string above Jasmine and Saffron. Samantha hugs Frances as she gets off of her phone.
“Sorry,” She states; “I didn’t realize it could have been that bad.”
“That’s okay,” Frances putting her phone away; “I just talked to Lance Knight. He will be over shortly. Ben will have to leave for a few hours. He can’t listen in on this conversation.”
*****
Lance was sitting in the Twist’s kitchen absently scratching the ear of Jasmine as she tried to play with Saffron’s tail; quietly observing Frances reading the scroll that he handed to her; Samantha observing the scene as she prepares a pot of coffee.
“To be honest,” Frances putting down the scroll; “I was expecting to receive this in a few days. Doctor Abigail Robinson only called be about the patient referral this morning.”
“Tachibana convened an emergency council meeting upon Benton telling her himself of his condition,” Lance answering.
Samantha snorts, “of course; he’ll do anything to save his own ass. It’s not like he cared about anyone.”
“My brother cares deeply for his wife and daughter Mrs. Twist,” Lance answering; “It’s for them that he agreed to take the tests for bi-polar disorder last night.”
“That and he is scared shit of being locked in the feral ward,” Samantha snapping back.
Lance was taken a back; he never mentioned the feral ward; “I never told you about the feral ward. How do you know about it when most of the elder council didn’t know of its existence until today?”
“Samantha is the town chancellor Lance,” Frances trying to be calm; “she liaisons with the council often when welcoming new families as they move into Moon Lake. It’s her job to know where the skeletons are hidden and have a plan to deal with them if they ever rear their ugly head.”
“And I take it you know of the wards existence as well Frances,” Lance asking.
“I know about it because of my profession,” Frances answering; “As a psychiatrist I deal with all sorts of patients. Benton isn’t the first bipolar were I have been ordered by the council to treat.”
“Any of those patients already in the aforementioned ward,” Lance asking; “or is doctor patient confidentiality applied?”
“Only one,” Frances answering; “but she died.”
Lance being present to Andrew Curry’s moment of grief during the elder council session knew exactly who Frances was referring to. Deciding it is best to not open that door he sips the coffee Samantha handed him. Putting the coffee down, he looks at Frances.
“I know the council is ordering you to treat my brother, but you know of the repercussions if he doesn’t maintain treatment;” Lance trying to think of what to say next but is interrupted.
“Before I can begin seeing and treating your brother,” Frances stating; “I must first review the medical file that Abigail will be sending me come Monday morning.”
“That’s fine,” Lance stating; “but there are a few things you might want to know. Background information about my brother.”