After reluctantly parting company with Martha Anderson, because she really would have liked to enjoy a little afternoon delight with her sister werecat, Frances Twist drove to the Town Hall and then walked the short flight of stairs up to the Mayor's Office. It didn't come as a surprise when the secretary said he was expecting her, but it was a far shorter wait time than she thought it would be before Frances was ushered into Martin Stovall's office.
"Please close the door on your way out. Thanks," the mayor told his secretary, before offering Frances a seat in front of his desk.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Frances started to report the latest on the status of Yvette Smith and Jennifer Harper, when the mayor interrupted her. "While important, that isn't why I asked to see you."
"Oh?" asked Frances, arching an eyebrow in surprise.
"It's about a... personal matter," said the mayor, before bringing her up to date on the situation between his daughter Julie and Eric Anderson.
"And they've been having the exact, same dreams?" asked Frances, after the Mayor finished speaking.
"At least as of last night. My daughter admitted to my wife that she knows her and Eric have been dreaming of each other since at least Saturday night, if not earlier. Hers have all been about being with him, even to the point of becoming Mrs. Eric Anderson and making him a were-merman on their wedding night, if not sooner. Other than being about her and them, I don't know the exact nature of Eric's dreams. Whether or not they've shared any of those..."
"Interesting," said Frances. "Having not seen your daughter beyond brief meetings during town social functions, I know what my first thought would be."
"That they're destined for each other?" asked the Mayor. "My wife said the same thing. Part of me is a tad concerned, considering Julie's only 14. Maybe it's an unfair comparison, but I knew plenty of women before I met and fell in love with Melissa, yet we were both adults then."
"And once that did happen, how did you feel?" asked Frances.
Whatever the mayor's initial response would have been was lost as he sat in his chair, looking at Mrs. Twist with a shocked look on his face. "The same as Julie feels about Eric now," he finally admitted.
"From what I've heard, your daughter's pretty intelligent with a good head on her shoulders. While right now, she may not be able to fully comprehend and deal with the emotional issues with no more skill than the average teenager, I'm sure she won't rush into anything," said Frances.
"I'm more worried about how she might react whenever Eric makes his decision," admitted Martin Stovall.
"You mean on whether or not he will ever become a were, let alone which one?"
"Yes. While I know there has been inter-racial relationships and marriages amongst the various were species, for better or worse, the aquatic weres tend to stick together."
"So if Eric Anderson ever does decide to become a were, but not one of the water based varieties..."
"It would probably break Julie's heart," admitted the child's father.
Frances Twist stopped to think about this for a moment. "I'm not in the best of positions here, professionally or personally. The Andersons are my neighbors and friends," she finally said, leaving out just how close she and Samantha had grown to Martha. "I can tell you that Eric's self doubts and fears do have legitimate, natural origins, and not just because of the rogue. Being at least as intelligent and... bookish as Julie, he was bullied and picked on back in Minnesota before they moved here."
"Great," said Martin, while slumping back in his chair. "Melissa said Julie got Eric to promise he wouldn't do anything rash, and to think any decision through first, but he might still decide to become one of the stronger, land based weres anyway."
"If he ever decides to become a were at all."
"So what can my wife and I do?" pleaded a concerned father.
"Be there and supportive of her, whatever happens," began Frances. "I can tell you that I not only suspect Julie might be the first real girlfriend Eric's ever had in his life, but that he truly does have feelings for her, so he will never intentionally hurt her. However, I can also tell you from first hand experience that intelligent people tend to listen to their brains at least as much, if not sometimes more, than their hearts. I know it was that way when I first met Samantha, and I was just on the verge of turning 13 then. Things worked out for the best between us, and a lot of other couples in town can say the same thing. There's just something special about Moon Lake..."
"I know," said the Mayor with a smile. "Since this all started, I can't help thinking about all the courting I had to do to win Melissa's heart. Maybe my daughter is right and that she and Eric really are her mom and me in reverse."
"Could be," agreed Frances, knowing some of the ten year history before Melissa Cooper finally became Melissa Stovall. "Even outside of Moon Lake there's a saying. True love conquers all. Just give it time and let the relationship take its natural course. Now then, since I'm here, would you like to hear the latest on Yvette Smith and Jennifer Harper?"
After bringing the mayor up to date, Martin Stovall said, "So you have your first therapy session with Harper tomorrow morning? Send me the bill. The town is splitting her adjustment expenses with the Skulk, although I hear Harper's already rang up quite a clothing bill."
"Considering the before picture Harry showed me of his fiance, compared to how she looks now, old socks are about the only thing that might still fit her. But you have absolutely no idea why the rogue would ask to see me?"
The mayor shook his head negatively. "Unless we bring in somebody from the college, you'd probably wind up doing her psyche evaluation, so maybe she wants to get ahead on that."
"She'd have to get up pretty early in the morning if Yvette had any hope, however slim it might be, of fooling me," Frances said confidently, as she rose from the guest chair she'd been occupying. "And as one parent to another, I can understand your concerns about Julie. Eric's probably her first real boyfriend, am I right?"
Martin Stovall simply shook his head affirmatively.
"Just take it one day at a time, sir," advised Frances, before shaking his hand and leaving the mayor's office.