“WHAT!” Mike Lawson floored at what he just heard. His only granddaughter in the same house as the were-panther that attacked Eric last Friday evening; “I’m heading over there right now.”
“Michael Rupert Lawson,” Maggie using her father in-law’s full name; “you will do no such thing. So sit your ass down right now.”
Mike Lawson glaring at his daughter in-law for using his full name; sits back down. Seeing Maggie still in her were-panther/feline fursona with her ears pinned back like a pissed off cat; Mike just stews as he knows not to rile the woman up.
“You listen here Mike;” Maggie staring at the old man; “my daughter is in safe paws. Both Frieda and Eric are with her. If Benton was stupid enough to something horrible, we would have known about it by now! So sit down and just drink your coffee.”
“I don’t like it,” Mike grouses; “Spencer is half werewolf; she should be with her father’s pack.”
“Spencer is with her friends,” Maggie scolding the elder Lawson; “and bear in mind that just because Spencer is only one quarter were-panther doesn’t mean she is disqualified from joining the were-panther pride. She made her choice by accepting Frieda’s invitation on Sunday.”
“Sunday,” Mike Lawson looking surprised; “why wasn’t I told?”
“You were,” Maggie answering back; “you were just too drunk from the bourbon to listen or remember. Either answer is acceptable as far as I’m concerned.”
Mike just sits at the table silently as Maggie works the stove; frying bacon and some eggs. Staring at his coffee mug now empty, Mike sighs; “her name is Mindy.”
“Who,” Maggie looking at Mike questionly.
“The were-Doberman I met at the were-club last Saturday evening,” Mike getting up to pour himself another cup of coffee; “She is the reason why I hit the sauce hard on Sunday.”
“Why would you do that;” Maggie placing a plate of eggs and bacon in front of Mike.
“Because I felt like I was cheating on Colleen,” Mike looking at the food in front of him; “If it wasn’t for Evan, I’d still be feeling rotten and lousy.”
Maggie chuckles in between bites of food; “okay, what did my husband say?”
“Keep mom in your heart, but give this Mindy a chance. Twenty years from now, you might actually regret not exploring a second chance at romance;” Mike just starting to eat. “And it’s not that I forgot Spencer was heading to a gathering last night; I didn’t realize it was the pride headed up by Benton.”
*****
After having their morning showers; both Frances and Samantha were busy getting dressed. Hearing Ben and Alex leave for school; the two were-felines, now human and looking smart in their business attire. They each get a travel mug and fill it with coffee to go.
“Big day for you today;” Frances speaking up first.
“Apart from Martin having to be in court for his daughter,” Samantha sighing as she puts cream and sugar in her coffee; “nothing much. Just holding down the fort and what not. What is your day like today?”
“Seeing a new patient,” Frances answers; “Benton Knight. Should be an interesting assessment around noon.”
Both Samantha and Frances head to the front door and put on some coats for the chilly day. Heading outside they each get into their respective vehicles and drive off to start their day.
******
Both William and Martha Anderson; already dressed and in the car watch as Frances and Samantha Twist leave. Seeing it’s safe; William backs the car from the driveway and onto the street. Heading for the court house; William speaks up, “you think Samantha and Frances will be there as well?”
“I doubt it;” Martha answering; “their kid is not the one in trouble.” Martha referring to the fact that Ben Twist didn’t attack their son during freshman lunch of last week. Julie Stovall did; as well as attack Frieda as well. Finding out that Frieda began the process of turning Eric into a were-panther pushed the vengeful wer-mer over the edge.
“True,” William answering; “but it would be nice to have them for moral support.”
“We can always invite for dinner later tonight,” Martha responding; “but we would need to do some serious grocery shopping first. Now that Eric is a were and has the appetite to suit; we need to double down on the snacks and assorted drinks.”
“Don’t forget the sandwich meats,” William chuckling; “Eric and Spencer ate all that up on Monday.”
“As well as the leftovers;” Martha smiling.
“Turkey or ham this year for Christmas;” William trying to change the subject.
“I was thinking of trying my paw at a turducken,” Martha muses.
“Turducken,” William looking confused; “What is that?”
“A chicken stuffed into a duck, stuffed into a turkey,” Martha answering; “it should be interesting.
“And different,” William pulling into a nearby parking spot; looking at the courthouse entrance he sees throngs of reporters waiting about. Looking at Martha; “let’s hope they don’t badger us.”
As they get out of the car and walk to the courthouse; Martha and William breathe a sigh of relief as they pass by without being accosted with questions. Entering through the security cordon; both look on with apprehension as they see Benton Knight also in the building. The were-panther seeing the Anderson’s heading to the same court room Julie is to appear in; just gives a silent nod as he heads inside and takes a seat directly behind the prosecutors table. William and Martha take a seat a few rows behind him and patiently watch as some of the reporters they saw outside begin to filter and file inside.