{Now that the 2017 Christmas retail season is over, I'll hopefully be back on a "normal" schedule by next weekend and contributing to ALL the various Moon Lake threads once more soon after.—tmw.}
"Well, I hate to interrupt such an important discussion, but Betty and I could use some help serving," said Lisa Jenkins, while coming back out of the kitchen.
"I'll be right there dear," replied her husband Henry.
"If we're on the verge of dining, I should wash up," realized Elizabeth Harper. "Where's–"
"I'll show you," offered Lisa.
"But what about serving dinner? Shouldn't you be in the kitchen?" wondered Elizabeth.
"Our marriage is an equal partnership," answered Lisa proudly. "My husband knows what to do. Besides, he has plenty of help," she added, looking at the others gathered round the room.
"Okay," replied Mrs. Harper meekly, before Lisa began leading the way down the hall.
"Okay kids. Who wants to help?" asked Henry as he started towards the kitchen, to which John and Janice Harper answered by eagerly following him.
That left James Harper, Junior and the newlyweds alone in the living room, since Huck Jenkins was still in the kitchen with his fiance.
"Mom seems a little... distant," observed Jenny Jenkins, nee Harper. "Even more than I thought she'd be with everything going on."
"Yeah. About that," began her oldest brother. "With dad pretty much incapacitated in the hospital's ICU ward, for whatever reason, mom's transferred her submissiveness from him to me."
"Because you're the oldest male?" surmised Jenny's new husband Harry.
"So somehow we've also got to get mom more independent of dad too," realized Jenny.
"True, but as long as we don't take advantage of the situation any more than absolutely necessary, it might be a good idea to wait until after she's done her part in transferring parental custody of John and Janice to you," said James.
"Then that would put the burden of strengthening her on you," Jenny realized, while putting a comforting hand on her brother's shoulder. "You're going to have a lot on your plate as it is getting them back to Alabama, let alone dealing with the consequences of dad's heart problems and probably not being able to work any more and—"
"One step at a time sis," said James Junior. "I don't even know what kind of medical insurance dad has, let alone what benefits he might still receive from his job with Dieter Wilhelm in jail and—"
"That name is never to be repeated in this house ever again," said Henry Jenkins, as he came back into the room carrying the platter with the main course for Sunday dinner. He was being followed close behind by his Harper volunteers, who each were carrying a side dish.
His oldest son Huck was bringing up the rear, carrying the empty glasses while using his cane for support since he was starting to feel a bit tired again. Betty followed close behind with a pitcher of iced tea in each hand.
"Anyway, I don't envy your position," commented Harry. "We should at least come up with some possible ideas before your group heads back home, although I seriously doubt Doctor Twist is willing to make such a long distance house call," he added with a smile.
"Who?" asked James Junior.
"The therapist who helped me transition from normal human being to furry vixen, along with dealing with my family issues," Jenny whispered in her brother's ear.
"Do you think she'd at least consult on mom's case long enough to give me some advice before we head back home?" asked James.
"We can ask," answered Jenny, "but someday, what about you and your fiance moving to Moon Lake too?"
"Well..." began James, having not seriously considered the possibility before now. "That would depend upon how successful I am with mom and dad, along with the job opportunities available, but would we have to—"
"First: mom and dad are definitely staying in Alabama, no matter what. This place is a sanctuary in a lot of ways, and I intend to keep it that way. But no. I already count as the Harper family were, so you and this girl you've kept secret for so long won't have to gain a fur coat unless you really want to," replied Jenny. "Although there may be another addition to the were population whenever you do come back."
"You mean I'm going to be an uncle?" James asked in disbelief.
"No. Harry and I won't be starting a family for another couple of years yet, but Janice keeps talking about becoming a mermaid when she's legally old enough to do so."
"They have such things here? I thought it was only anthropomorphic animals," commented her brother.
"To misquote the Bard, There are more things here than are dreamt of," said Harry.
"We'll definitely talk more about this later, along with what to do about mom and dad," said Jenny. "Whatever happens, I'm definitely not letting you leave Moon Lake without having at least some ideas about what to do, if not an actual game plan to follow." Then she looked around and realized that, although everyone was starting to take their places at the dinner table, the gathering was incomplete.
"Say, shouldn't our mothers be back by now?" she asked, to which Harry could only shrug his shoulders.
MEANWHILE...
After washing up in the downstairs bathroom, Lisa Jenkins was giving Elizabeth Harper a very brief tour of her home by showing off the family pictures hanging in the hallway.
"And that's my boys from just a few years ago," she explained, pointing to a more current photo. "Huck had just graduated high school, and Harry would be entering it that fall."
"You have a lovely family," commented Mrs. Harper, with about as much emotion as if she was commenting on the weather.
"I almost didn't," replied Lisa, before biting her tongue.
"What do you mean?" asked Elizabeth.
"Some henchman of that jerk your husband was with almost killed my Huck thinking he was killing Harry to keep him from marrying Jenny," answered Lisa, angrily.
"WHAT?" exclaimed Elizabeth. "We didn't... that is—"
"A parent should never outlive a child, and my husband and I almost did," protested Lisa. "Huck was on the operating table for hours. For a while, it was even touch and go at best. If not for—" and then she stopped herself from mentioning anything about a were's constitution health wise.
"I swear to you Mrs. Jenkins. My husband and I had no knowledge or participation in such events."
"Probably not," conceded the other woman. "But just the same, if your husband hadn't of been so pig headed about who he believed his daughter should marry..."
"It is a husband's place to—"
"It's the 21st century Mrs. Harper. Such outdated ideas should have disappeared with the horse and buggy," said Lisa. "No self respecting woman nowadays lets her husband walk all over them. It isn't right." Then she finally managed to collect herself. "But I'm not being a gracious hostess. The others probably have dinner on the table by now and are waiting for us. Shall we go join them?" she asked, before leading the way back to the dining room.
Elizabeth Harper could only nod her head affirmatively and silently follow the matron of the Jenkins family, although both women had a lot on their respective minds.