Jenny Harper-Jenkins just stood there, watching the SUV carrying the remainder of her biological family to Seattle, where they would catch a flight back to Alabama.
Harry, wondering if Jenny was okay with the separation, gingerly put his arm around his new wife.
Jenny just smiled as she pressed closer against him, but turned to look at Doctor Tora Tachibana and asked, "Can you tell me how long my father has left?"
The doctor just shook his head and replied, "If he gets the heart valve replacement in time and drastically changes his lifestyle for the better like he should, anywhere from at least another 8 to 10 years. But even if he takes the medication I prescribed and follows the diet I suggested, James Harper Senior only has about two months at most without the operation."
"I don't think even Jenny's father is that stupid to not get it," observed Harry.
"No dear," said Jenny calmly. "Doctor Tachibana is referring to the bureaucracy and red tape of dad's insurance company. When mom, dad, and James Junior get home; the insurer is going to want dad examined by one of their physicians. Maybe even refer him to another for a second opinion if they don't like the results of the first one. Even then, how long would it take to process and authorize the operation?"
"An emergency, life saving procedure like this should be put on the fast track, but even then I can't say for sure," admitted Tora. "I did all I could to ensure your father the safest trip possible, but I personally wouldn't have allowed the man to fly if it was solely my decision. Yet his insurance company insisted on someone back there examining him before authorizing the operation, provided they allow it at all."
"Is there any reason why they wouldn't okay it?" wondered Harry, asking the question before Jenny could.
"His age versus the cost and what he could do in life afterward. Frankly, your guess is as good as mine, for I gave up on trying to figure out insurance companies long ago," admitted Tora, as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, it's out of our paws now," replied Jenny, knowing she was just among fellow werefoxes at the moment.
Then she turned to Harry and said, "Come on Harry. Let's go home and make sure John and Janice get settled in."
MEANWHILE...
During Freshmen Study Hall, Eric Anderson managed to write his fiance Julie Stovall a note explaining how he met Spencer Lawson and everything that had happened since.
The best he could do for delivery was to give it to his newfound friend Arthur Curtis when he saw the fellow were-mer on the way to their respective 4th period classes, who promised to give it to Julie, because he still had 5th period Algebra with her.
Yet that didn't stop Spencer Lawson from saying hello to Eric in the hallways of Moon Lake High School between 4th and 5th period classes.
"Hey handsome. How's it going?" she asked, stepping as close to Eric as she could without risk of violating the school's Public Displays of Affection policy.
"Err... Okay," replied Eric, knowing he had a test coming up in his last class of the day.
Spencer moved her face as close to Eric's neck as she could and sniffed him. "What's that tantalizing scent you have on?" she asked.
"I'm not wearing any," he answered.
Then Spencer let out a small growl. "Natural musk. I love it."
"I'm not sure were-mers have a musk," Eric meekly protested. "Look, I've got to get to class."
"Me too," agreed Spencer. "Say, maybe after school..."
"Don't know," was all Eric said as he took off, not wanting to be late.
Damn! I came on too strong again! What the hell's wrong with me? Spencer wondered, as she went to her own class. At least he didn't say no, she realized with a smile.
ELSEWHERE...
What the hell am I going to do? Liz Brookshire wondered, as she headed off to her next class at Moon Lake College.
I can't let that lowly normal Karen Yuletide be engaged to, let alone have a chance to marry MY Peter, she thought, thinking about the werelion prince of Moon Lake who was more interested in the blonde art student than her. Yet I can't do anything that risks physically harming her, or I'll be in serious trouble with the Pride, Liz realized, not wanting to risk the wrath of the werelion king, Peter's father Leon Talbot. But I've already tried luring Yuletide away with the promise of a tempting job elsewhere, and she was too stupid to accept it!*
Walking into her class, she sat down and waited as the professor was preparing to address those assembled.
"Okay class," said the professor, as she finished taking attendance. "Today in English 301, we're going to continue our examination of classic literature by looking at the works of Robert Louis Stevenson."
With that, she pressed a button on her laptop computer as the first slide of her Power Point presentation was projected onto the display screen behind her.
Liz Brookshire looked up and saw the collection of books on the screen. As she started reading the titles**, one cover in particular caught her eye.
THAT'S IT! I'LL KIDNAP HIM! Yuletide will be safe, sound, and unharmed; and I'll have plenty of time to show Peter that I'M the one he should marry! But when and how? Brookshire asked herself, now completely ignoring the lecture.
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*In our past episode "What About Peter?"
**Including Treasure Island, The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyl and Mister Hyde, and Kidnapped.—tmw.