Frances Twist managed to catch up with the Stovalls just as Melissa was officially being discharged from Moon Lake General Hospital and offered them a ride home.
The couple gratefully accepted the gesture, but little was said between the three of them on the way back to the Stovall's residence, although Frances was happy to see in her rear view mirror that Martin and Melissa were sitting next to each other in route. He with an arm around her. She with her head on his shoulder, and both of them holding hands.
Either despite or because of everything they've been through, their marriage is on the mend and I feel the relationship will only grow stronger from here, Frances thought, confident of her diagnosis.
When she pulled into their driveway, Frances asked, "Do you need anything?"
"No. We should be fine from here," said Martin, while helping his wife out of the car. "Thank you and Samantha for everything you've done for us, both professionally and personally," he added.
"No problem. That's what friends are for, but if you do need either of us, don't hesitate to ask," said Frances, before pulling out and heading for home.
As she headed back to her house, Frances activated the hands free set in her car.
Considering it was still early yet, she tried calling her office assistant Rudy at his house first.
"Hello. Sanchez residence," said a voice Frances didn't recognize.
"Hello. I'm Doctor Frances Twist. Is Rudy still there or has he left for work yet?"
"Just a second," replied the voice, as Frances heard the sound of a phone being set down on a counter.
A moment later, Rudy came on the line and said, "Frances. Is everything all right?"
"As well as can be expected, under the circumstances. Melissa and the baby are okay. I spent the night at the hospital between them and my mother."
"You sound tired," commented Rudy.
"I am. When you get to the office, I only need you there long enough to cancel and reschedule all of today's appointments," began Frances, thinking over everything that needed to be done. "Keep the phone forwarded to the answering service, but tell them to add Martin and/or Melissa Stovall, along with Benton Knight to the emergency contact list; at least till we open Monday. After all that's done, take the rest of the day off with pay. I'm going home to get some sleep," she added, since Frances never saw patients over the weekend unless it was an emergency.
"You expecting more trouble on either front?" wondered her office assistant.
"I hope not. At least not with Benton, but better safe than sorry."
"Okay. Will do. You take care Frances and I'll see you Monday," said Rudy.
"You too," said Frances, before ending the call.
As Rudy hung up his phone, the person who answered it asked, "Is everything okay Papi?"
"Si, my little one. Now you better finish getting ready for school. The Were Alert ended last night and the bus will be here soon."
When Frances pulled into her driveway, she wasn't surprised to see Ben's car gone. After all, it was after 7:30 and the high school started before the Junior or Elementary schools.
She was tired and weary. Everything ached from trying to sleep in chairs off and on all night, but she still had one more phone call to make.
"You know the routine," a familiar but recorded voice said before the beeping sound indicated it was time to leave a message.
"Samson. It's Frances. Everything's all right on my end and hope it is on yours too, but I was up all night between a patient and mom and just now getting home to bed. If you need to call me about anything short of an emergency, please make it later this evening. Otherwise, I hope you're doing well."
Then Frances managed to get out and secure her car before staggering into her house.
After making a brief check to see there were no notes pinned to the fridge or messages on their home answering machine, Frances made it upstairs to her final destination.
Kicking off and picking up her shoes first, she silently opened the door to the master bedroom and walked inside before closing it behind her.
Then Frances smiled.
Before her was the love of her life, her wife Samantha, curled up in bed asleep with the curtains drawn to keep the daylight from disturbing her.
As Frances hastily took off all her clothes, she noted the kittens playing with each other in the jumbled heap of Samantha's outfit from yesterday.
We've both have had trying times of late, but we still have each other, Frances thought happily, even as her nude human form shifted to her werecat fursona with each step she took toward the king sized bed.
Then, as one furry werecat curled up to another, Frances heard Samantha sleepily begin to purr in contentment as she put an arm around her mate.
Frances soon fell asleep nestled next to her wife with a smile on her feline muzzle.