The ride to Spencer’s was eerily quiet; not because Frieda had little to say to her mother, but the fact that the car was the Tesla she got Amanda for Christmas. An electric sports car with all the features; far more efficient than Benton’s Lamborghini Veneno. Frieda knew when she bought the car, her father flipped his lid with the purchase price; three hundred thousand dollars for the navy blue delight cruising down the streets of Moon Lake. Frieda didn’t care that it resulted in Benton putting a thousand dollar monthly spending limit on her card afterward; the expression on her mom’s face when it was delivered on Christmas day was priceless. Even Benton could not deny his wife’s delight at driving the sleek automobile; feeling a small pang of jealousy when Amanda took a spin in it the very first day she got it.
“Frieda,” Amanda speaking; breaking the silence that was over them. “You do realize that you made a mistake in posting that we are getting a dog,” Amanda looking at her daughter; “your father would have come around in the end.”
“I was just trying to save on the inevitable argument,” Frieda mumbling; not feeling like speaking at the moment.”
“All you did,” Amanda sighing; “was just substitute one argument for another. When your dad says we would discuss something,” Amanda pulling up to the Lawson house; “it’s not him blowing you off or anything. You father will discuss it; just when he is ready too.”
“I didn’t want to wait a month for him to get around,” Frieda answering; “dad is notorious for procrastinating what he considers trivial.”
“That is true,” Amanda chuckling; “mowing the lawn is one thing your father finds trivial. But on a more serious note,” Amanda continuing; “your father doing this whole father-daughter day, that was unexpected. Even I was surprised at it; you owe your father an apology for the stunt you pull.”
“Why,” Frieda grousing; “why should I apologize?”
“Because Benton had that rare day,” Amanda looking at her daughter; “that he really did want to spend time with you. Your stunt spoiled whatever moment you two had.”
“There is always tomorrow at the picnic,” Frieda seeing Spencer and Eric waiting for her at the front entrance.
“Not really,” Amanda sighing; “chances are you will be spending it with those two over there. There is a press conference your father wants to attend,” Amanda continuing; “plus tomorrow is the last day before school starts. As such,” Amanda being serious; “a 9pm curfew will be back in effect.”
“What if I have a babysitting job,” Frieda trying to argue.
“Not tomorrow you won’t,” Amanda not buying Frieda’s excuse; “but we will talk about that at a later date. So enjoy your night with Spencer and Eric. After tomorrow you three will just have to make do with your nightly skyping until Friday.”
Frieda doesn’t respond as she gets out of the car. Watching her mother drive off, as Eric and Spencer get behind her and then sandwich her with a hug. Not paying attention as she digests what her mother said; 9pm curfew starting tomorrow.
*******
Benton was in the kitchen finishing off his cold cheese burger as he looked at the posts and comments his daughter made on social media. Pausing to look at the baby in Spencer’s arms; her brother Evan Lawson Junior. Benton could help but feel a slight pang of regret.
“Perhaps Amanda and I should re-address the whole second child decision; a part of me does wish I have a son.”
******
“So what’s the deal,” Eric asking Frieda; “what did your mother talk to you about?”
“Curfew and dad stuff,” Frieda sighing as she was escorted inside the home; “after tomorrow, the only time we’ll be able to be together after school will be on Friday’s and the weekends.”
“Then we better make tonight count,” Spencer gripping Frieda; “but not right now. You need to see my brother,” Spencer looking gleeful.
Dragging Frieda upstairs with Eric following behind; Frieda gets a look at the now completed nursery. The Tardis Blue paint on the walls, the crib just off to the right of the nearby window with a change table close by. Seeing the nursing chair with Maggie sitting in it. The were-panthress/feline hybrid in her fursona slowing rocking in the chair with a tiny baby suckling on her breast. The look on Maggie’s muzzle as she purrs said it all; pure contentment as the newborn baby fed from her bosom.
“how soon will he be done feeding?” Spencer asking her mother.
“I just started,” Maggie purring; “it will be awhile. If you three are planning any fun; do it someplace else, because I will not have your loud noise making wake the baby.”
“Rec room at my place,” Eric grins.
“I ask,” Spencer watching her brother feed; “so Frieda can hold Evan Jr. for a bit.”
“Not today,” Maggie feeling protective; “your brother needs his sleep after he is done. I will be napping soon after, so your father will be on diaper duty. Maybe tomorrow,” Maggie watching Evan Jr.
Spencer sighed as she watches her mother close her eyes; purring as Evan Jr. continues to feed. Seeing that nothing is going to change right this minute, all three leave the nursery and head back downstairs to see Spencer’s father and grandfather watching a pre-season game of the Seahawks. Despite the volume being low; she could hear the commentators clearly as she was a were. Knowing her father put the volume down low so as not to wake his son and seeing the baby monitor next to him; Spencer knew her father heard the conversation she had with Maggie.
“You going out,” Evan looking at her daughter.
“Over to Eric’s,” Spencer seeing some player stats being explained on the television; “we’ll most likely be spending the night.”
“Have fun,” Evan looking at Spencer; “but remember, school starts Tuesday so be home before 9pm tomorrow.”
“Mom said something similar to me,” Frieda speaking up.
“You may have forgotten the summer break is nearly over,” Evan smiling; “but we parents haven’t.”
“It’s no skin off my nose,” Mike grinning; “if you want to play hooky on your first day like before.”
“Dad,” Evan growling at the elder werewolf; “that’s part of the reason why Spencer got held back a year in the first place; "skipping school and getting into trouble, so don’t encourage it.”
“If it gets your goat,” Mike laughing loudly; “I’m going to encourage Spencer as much as I can.”
Mike’s loud laugh could be heard throughout the house; so could the shrill cry of a baby that was just about to nod off after being breast fed. Evan giving his father a dirty look, as he gets up and heads to the nursery to help Maggie quiet down a cranky baby.
“Oops,” Mike giggles as he watches Spencer, Eric and Frieda leave; “I forgot I have a boisterous laugh.”