"Dinner will be ready within the hour. Thanks for your help," Lisa Jenkins told her daughter-in-law Jenny.
"No problem," the newlywed said. "But wasn't Janice supposed to give you a hand?" she wondered.
"She said she was working on something. Last I saw of her, Janice took my spare yarn and the old crochet needles I gave her and went up to the room she's sharing with her brother. Speaking of which, where is John? I haven't seen him since you three came home."
"He isn't helping Henry with something?" Jenny asked in return.
"No. Henry's taking a nap right now because he wants to clean out the storm gutters along the roof eaves tomorrow."
"I know Harry's finishing up some college homework, which is why I'm not with him right now. My husband says I'm too much of a distraction," Jenny said with a sly smile.
"I know the feeling," Lisa replied. "That old adage is true about just because there's some snow on the roof doesn't mean there ain't a fire in the furnace, if you know what I mean," she added with a wink.
Both women giggled at that before Jenny said, "Maybe I better go look for John," as she took off her apron.
Leaving the kitchen and walking through the dining room, her search didn't take long, for the objective was standing in the living room of the Jenkins home, staring out the window.
Jenny just stood in the dining room doorway watching her youngest brother and wondering what was on his mind.
Although in her human form right now, the werevixen stealthily approached on quiet feet.
Not wanting to scare the boy, she silently sat down on the family sofa and waited.
John briefly turned his head to look at the wall clock on his right, then resumed his vigil at the window.
Hmm... thought Jenny, glancing at the clock herself. He's probably looking for Ginger O'Toole, but it's still too soon for any were to be out and about publicly in their fursona.
Jenny was wondering how best to approach him, but the matter was taken out of her hands as John turn and was surprised to see his oldest sister sitting there.
"You gave me a bit of a fright there," he said, trying to catch his breath.
"Sorry. Being a fox, I can be very quiet at times, and didn't want to disturb you," Jenny said in apology. "What's on your mind?"
"Nothing you're not already aware of," John admitted, sitting down next to her.
"Trying to figure out whether you're gay, straight, or bi? Your feelings toward a certain weretigress and how the answer to the previous question will affect whatever your relationship is to be with Ginger O'Toole? What's happening with mom, dad, and Jimmy back in Alabama?"
"Along with not wanting to be a burden to you and Harry since gaining custody of me and Janice. What school will be like once we're finally enrolled."
"You and Janice are not burdens," Jenny told him, moving close enough to give John an encouraging hug. "Harry and I both want to help and look out for you two. Let alone the rest of the Jenkins. I'll admit, the school stuff has me a bit concerned, for Alabama seems to be dragging their heels acknowledging the custody switch. At the rate things are going, I hope you and Janice don't have to wait until after the winter holiday break to start school."
"That would put us back half a year," realized John. "Depending upon where Moon Lake academics are in comparison to our previous schools, we might have to finish out this term in our previous grades and start fresh where we should be next fall."
"I know, but it's out of my hands," conceded Jenny.
The two were silent for a moment before she asked, "Is that the only reason you were staring out the window?"
"No. I guess I have a date with Ginger tonight," revealed John.
"Really?"
"Yeah. She's just going to meet me at the curb when I take out the trash and we'll talk for a while. That's all," John hastily added.
In her weretigress fursona, Jenny knew but didn't say. "You don't have to explain anything to me," Jenny told him. "Whatever happens, I... WE all want you to be happy."
"Not all of you..." John said, thinking of their parents.
"Mom and dad are non-entities in this, as far as I'm concerned. All us Harpers have... stuff to overcome because of them. Even me."
"Huh? I thought Dr. Twist cured you?" a confused John asked.
"To a point, yes. I'm much better now than I was. I'm happy both with life in general, as a werevixen, and as a newlywed, but that doesn't mean I still don't have problems, let alone nightmares like anyone else. Let's face it kiddo. Mom, and especially Dad, really did a number on all of us. Even with the best care money can buy, those kinds of pain don't disappear overnight."
"I guess not," John said, slumping back on the sofa as Jenny released him.
"But hey. You and Janice both have bright futures here in Moon Lake. You can be anything you want. Figuratively and literally, if you decide to join were society," Jenny pointed out.
"What about all this talk over revealing were existence to the world?" John asked.
"Just because the Town Council is thinking about it doesn't mean it will actually happen. From what I hear the subject's come up before, and in the end the most anyone ever did was make better preparations for protecting weres."
"But I don't want to see anyone, let alone any were, get hurt."
"Especially Ginger."
Those words caught John by surprise, and in the end all he could do was just nod his head in agreement.
He was silent for a moment, staring up at the ceiling. Then John Harper turned to look at his sister and said, "If it was just me and her, I think I might have already gone furry and roared a few times with her already. Yet I can't help thinking about what might have been between me and Stephen if not for our folks, let alone who this weretiger might be that keeps popping up in my dreams of Ginger. Of course, thoughts of Dad on the 'divine warpath' against weres in general, let alone us if he ever found out keep screwing things up to the point I'm not sure what to do," he admitted.
"You live your life the way you see best for John Harper. Let others worry about their own matters," advised Jenny.
"And if I don't know what's best for me?" John asked in return.
"As far as I know, there are no deadlines. You'll know the answer when you find the right one for you." Jenny then glanced at the wall clock and said, "Now then. Could you please go upstairs and remind Janice she promised to set the table tonight? By the time that's done, it will almost be time to wash up and eat dinner."
"Okay," John said. Then he turned and gave Jenny a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks."
With that John rose and headed upstairs as Jenny just sat there in amazement.