Baby Fever, Part Seven
The following week, Callie found herself back in the Federal building seated across a table from two K.I.A agents and a lawyer she could not quite place in her head.
"Come again?" Callie swept the room with a look.
The lead agent spoke. "The Ragdollfellas want to settle out of court."
Callie rolled her shoulders back. "Aren't they under federal investigation?"
"Yes, it will be part of their debt to society."
"Their money doesn't fix what they did. Any of it." Callie wasn't stupid. "Everyone here knows my personal life front to back."
"We can sympathize with that." Agent Stripeton interjected.
"Can you?"
The female agent only answered with a gentle smile.
The male lead agent cleared his throat. "We understand the paternity test proves more than just the former case."
"What is that?"
"Your kit's claim to their money."
"That-that is his decision. I understand he is of legal age and capable of making his decision."
Agent Stripeton sat up straighter. "We have reached out to him and his family with all this information."
Callie reached for her glasses and pinched her nose. "Then, why am I here?"
"To inform you."
"A phone call would have sufficed."
"A phone call does not suffice telling you Bradley Ragdofella plans on fighting this."
"Color me shocked. Death, taxes and the money family fighting me."
"We have our case locked up." The lead agent assured her.
"Then, lock it up and leave me out of it." Callie snapped.
The three kats sat in stunned silence.
She stood up, proprietary damned. "I'm tired of this. My life has been interrupted and been subjected to nothing but scandal. Either you believe what he did to me or you don't. Either I'm mayor or not. I just want this behind me, but no one will let this die."
The lawyer finally spoke. "You fought so hard to get here. Why stop now?"
"Why continue?"
"Because I've seen you push through so much."
Callie sputtered and turned around. "So what? This doesn't make me noble."
"No, it makes you strong." The lawyer stood up as well. "You dared me to legally free you of your parents and you did it. You won that case."
Callie stopped mid-walk. "Professor Ginger." She let out a bitter laugh. "Now, my memory is clear."
"Calico," Professor Eleanor Ginger held a paw to her chest. "You can file a counter case for defamation and take them for all they've done. Money won't heal the wounds, for how your parents treated you..."
"Being raped and my parents declaring me mentally incompetent to have me fixed makes this a great situation!" Callie felt herself coming undone as she pulled at her perfectly made coif.
"Yes, even that. Do something positive with this situation. Buy a house, start a foundation, bless a friend, do anything with the money! But, don't give up on this. Any of this."
"Professor, why is this so important to you?"
"Because you aren't the only she-kat who deserves to be believed." The law professor snapped back. "Do you know how many other Callies there are due to him? They see you fight this, they'll come forward too."
"Why am I the sacrificial lamb?"
"Don't look at this as sacrifice, but your perfect period on a long sentence." Ginger walked over to her. "Either the family goes down from fraud, Bradley goes down for assault, or your kit takes them for all their money before the government does or you sue the pants of them."
Callie felt like that pucky, but scared kit again shaking in Ginger's office, fueled by pain and hate. At that moment, at age sixteen, she was going to fight for herself since no one else did.
"Pray tell, who would represent the fair mayor of MegaKat City?"
Professor Ginger slipped an arm around her shoulder. "I would be honored to represent you once more."
"Hey boss, another cool car is pulling up."
Chance looked up from the work truck they were repairing the engine on.
"Great." Chance started wiping his paws off on a towel. "Well, go make yourself presentable if she's cute."
The younger tom blushed. "Umm, I'll go organize stuff…"
Chance smirked. Jake had sent the president of Pumadyne's granddaughter to the junkyard to get her cute little car fixed...and the distraction that was a female for his helper.
"No, no, stay here. It's not the car for...what's her name? Linda? Leah?"
"Lily. Lily Rex." Dylan growled.
Chance snickered for a moment then turned serious when he saw the car stop and an older she-kat stepped out. With Mike Stray.
"I would have driven but we seem to be down a car."
Dylan's ears went flat. Yep, they still had to fix the grill of the sedan. Mike got to borrow the Mustang for the rest of the time.
"It's okay." Chance nodded toward the house.
"Need privacy?"
"Need a second set of ears actually. I want to believe that I heard this right."
Chance looked at the lady.
"Can we go inside?" She asked.
Chance led the way.
Chance witnessed the grin break out on Dylan's face. "So I'm rich?"
"You are now comfortable. But, I would warn you to be careful, hence the trustee."
"Cool."
"I'm happy for you son." Mike nodded, "even if you are not my blood."
"Pfff, you're still my old man."
Chance smiled from his vantage point. He allowed the lawyer and the Strays to sit and talk.
Only because they did not object, he stayed and listened to some of the conversation.
The lawyer cleared her throat. "There are a few things I must warn you about. One, the possibility of you being called to testify, you or Dylan since there are three separate trials going on at once. Not likely in the paternity case since we have proven the father is Bradley Ragdollfella, but they will consider fighting the defamation. The fraud is a long shot given all the mounting evidence."
"And the second?" Mike asked.
"The birth mother hopes to meet Dylan if you so choose."
Chance turned around lest he choke on his black coffee.
Callie wants to see him?
The lawyer continued. "She insists she is not replacing the late Officer Stray nor undermining the Strays' relationship you have with Dylan, sir. She wants it known his adoption was never a choice, but she is grateful he was blessed with a wonderful life."
"Whoa." Dylan looked at his dad. "Do you think I should?"
"I..son, it is your choice." Mike told the younger tom.
"Mr. Furlong, what do you think?"
All heads turned to him.
Chance coughed, "Well," He exhaled. "Dylan, do you know why you were adopted?"
He couldn't let his ties to Callie influence this kit's life.
Dylan was not a younger Chance Furlong, but a reminder of the long way he came with Charles as a father. If he could somehow make a decent life, Dylan could shine with the backing of the Strays and Callie and some decent money. But, he also realized Dylan probably never knew the whole story. Maybe the kit would walk away from dirty money.
Dylan paused. "So, what's the real reason?"
The lawyer braced herself. "The reason for the criminal trial against Bradley Ragdollfella. Your DNA proves your biological mother did not consent to a relationship with your birth father."
Chance forced himself to see their reactions.
"I see. I mean, Diana knew she was a young kit, but…" Mike shook his head.
Dylan had no smart quirks.
"So, you understand the delicate nature of this case. She insists on avoiding calling Dylan to the stand as well as not being asked to testify also. Hence, a largely evidence based trial."
"DNA." Chance quirked.
"Exactly sir."
"Well," Mike looked to Dylan. "Got a lot to decide."
"Yeah, yeah I do..sir." Dylan stood and stared at Chance. "Can I knock off early, Mr. Furlong?"
"I see no reason why not." Chance nodded to both of them. "See you in a few days, Dylan. Good night, Mike."
Jake glanced up from his diagram of his latest prototype for Pumadyne based on his Glovetrix when someone knocked on the door. "Come in."
Amir knocked on the door. "Season Greetings!"
"Season Greetings," Jake smiled. "You're in a good mood."
"When the company turns a profit, it is."
"Nice."
"Finally a good year when the latest scandal only involves the soda change in the cafeteria."
"Very much, Amir."
"Oh, this came for you." Amir handed him an envelope. "I had to sign for it."
"Thanks." Jake opened the envelope and nearly dropped. "Is this a check?"
"From my view, it looks to be so."
"This-this is from the Young Foundation. With a bunch of zeros for Pumadyne."
"Yeah?"
"I'm-I'm not expecting anything."
"Oh, the three day weekend you took last month." Amir snapped his digits. "There was a meeting between the city planner, the Youngs and Pumadyne. The land out east got sold. Junkyard or something the Enforcers owed."
"They sold the land for the junkyard?" Jake's elation dropped. Chance's only means of supporting himself had been sold off. "I mean, the business we own, but the land."
"The city owned it, let us lease it then one of the Young kits changed their mind on a previous offer."
His friend made it clear from the moment the Pumadyne checks came. Chance did not want handouts as he ran their junkyard solely, now with employing the Stray kit.
He felt like it was his burden, his penance to keep the junkyard going for what punishment they reaped as Enforcers when Jake lost his first chance to get into the company...
"I..my friend and I run the junkyard, but he's taken it over."
Amir paused. "Early lunch?"
"Yeahh, Amir, I'm sorry-"
"I would rather you sneak off to surprise kats you love than chasing tail on the company dime." Amir pointed to his watch. "Just keep our three of clock today. It involves the security team."
"Yeah, I'm on it." Jake said, his stomach sinking.
Felina did pride herself on one thing in their marriage: money was not a big issue.
They kept their careers going, but even as she advanced, neither tried to pull the "who made more" card as a power mode. Chance acknowledged her financial weight, but had the maturity to let it be a moot point.
As of late, however, she saw his mind wander to the wallet. The tiny snaps of arguments came to a fever pitch over something as simple as a missed bill. Two strong attitudes resulted in two slammed doors and a ruined movie night.
She heard the glass doors open on the balcony then a soft knock on the bedroom door.
Felina answered. "Come in."
It sounded so weak. She was so tired and emotional and ready to drop someone (again. One recruit learned the hard way she could still use pressure points and took a trip to MK Memorial.)
Hormones wiped her by month six and it was ruining the Christmas season. They didn't even have the tree up yet.
Chance dropped to his knee and bowed his head. "'Lina, I am so sorry. I was wrong."
Felina waved her paw dismissively. "Let's not even rehash it."
"No, I am serious. I blew it out of proportion. I'll make sure it gets taken off in the morning." From behind his back, he produced a bouquet of peach and pink colored roses and candy. "Because I have a bad day doesn't mean I take it out on you."
"That-that is true. I appreciate it. It did hurt my feelings. I can acknowledge that." She inhaled the roses, curse his hide for getting back into her good graces. "These are nice."
"They don't wipe everything away, I just want to make sure I show you I am sorry. I don't want this to be just lip service." He took the bouquet and placed them in a vase carefully arranging them as if arranging the night over.
Felina frowned. "What happened, Chance?"
He fluffed up a few pillows for her then helped her lay back, slipping another pillow under her feet before sitting next to her. "Pumadyne sold the land the junkyard is on."
"They...what?" She almost sat up.
He made a motion for her to stay still. "Some corporation bought it from the city. Pumadyne and the city had some type of deal then this corporation out right brought it. It's all wrapped up in paperwork… I didn't even hear it from Jake or Callie until after it happened. Some kat was talking about it downtown and then I inquired...Kat's alive."
"Oh no."
"I don't know what to do."
"They would have warned you. You know Callie wouldn't make a deal like that and you know Jake wouldn't just take away the junkyard. I mean...the Turbokat…"
"I know..I thought I knew." He dropped his head in his paws. "Crud, the house..."
"House?"
"I placed a bid on that house we looked at."
Now, it makes sense.
It didn't excuse the blow up, but it gave it context.
"It was supposed to be a big surprise for us. We can't live here with a kit coming. I want my family to have that cool childhood you did, not my childhood." He finally met her stare. "I want so much more for us without feeling like we have to depend on everyone else."
Felina just listened, paws automatically on her belly.
Wordless, Chance crawled in the bed next to her and sighed.
For the first time in a long time, she laid in the dark and allowed her own thoughts to hold her instead of him.
Chance Furlong prided himself on being better than before: being a better tom than his dad, being better as a mentor, being better at improving communication with Aida.
It all felt like wrapping paper in the trash.
Dylan certainly did not need his help. The kit smarted up and started asking for checks from the Ragdollfellas, even deciding to help his old man and sisters.
Things felt weird as he saw Vic and his mom get closer.
And Felina had been leaving the condo early and coming home later, much later.
Things felt so cold and cramp and stuck in their condo. The blow up didn't feel healed, more of exposing the rocky foundation he thought he shored up. Withdrawing the offer on the house felt like the last blow. He nearly cried getting back in the tow truck.
God, did he feel stuck.
He sat in the junkyard on a pile of trash staring at the sky for an answer.
He was sure someone would be home with 'Lina. Though she wasn't one to get everyone involved in their affairs, someone had their eye on her.
Her mom or his mom or her uncle or a friend… she always had someone in her corner.
He wanted to be that kat proving that at least his marriage could withstand anything, not this sorry tom crying over spilled milk and not even home yet.
He always had Jake in his corner. They finally talked and that went downhill.
Jake maintained it happened without his vote. But, it happened.
Chance dipped his head. "God, I'm really lost here."
"They sold it?" Callie dropped her pen on her desk.
"Yes ma'am, the city planner signed off and wants you to meet with the Youngs."
A nice morning had been shattered. Here she was planning on a nice quiet get together with her friends and an office party to thank her staff when the secretary comes to tell her the Youngs now owned the land the junkyard was on.
Jake had done all the maneuvering to keep Pumadyne controlling the real estate while Chance ran the business.
No wonder Felina had gone silent this week.
She thought Callie and Jake had stabbed them in the backs!
Another thought struck here: The Turkbobat, their identities as Swat Katz...what would they do?
"Get the Youngs and Pumadyne here today now."
Callie grabbed her phone. Jake picked up after two rings. "They sold the land?"
She heard her husband sigh. "I wasn't there during the vote. I am asking Devona and Amir to check anything, everything."
"Oh Jake," Callie shook her head on the verge of tears.
"I would have never approved it, Callie, you gotta believe me!"
"Of course I believe you. I just-just don't know if they believe us."
"Crud."
She imagined seeing Jake with his head down in his paw.
This is not the way her Christmas was supposed to kick off.
"Not the usual way we toll for Christmas lights, Furlong, but I'll take it."
Felina allowed Chance to help her down from the Turkokat. Christmas was a week off and the couple felt the invisible walls between them crumble.
They both came home, realized things weren't getting better and decided to escape.
Remembering that it was her very last night before being grounded due to the pregnancy, Felina asked the impossible: to fly the Turbokat.
And Chance agreed.
So, the agile plane zipped through the city with one very round female pilot and one husband who just didn't care to be an adult.
They landed on a remote part of the beach where the ritzy kats with money lived and took in the cool night air.
Holding her in his arms with what felt like all the care in the world, Chance helped her drop her feet to the earth. "I owe you." Chance's easy humor returned despite the gravity of all situations. "That and I fear for my life. You really did drop that recruit."
"I didn't mean to press on his neck that hard." Felina huffed. "I was showing a pressure point."
"Sureee..."
She lingered in his embrace for a moment. "Can we not be enemies?"
He frowned. "We never were and I never wanted to be." Chance looked away. "If apologizing a thousand times to you a day helps, will you take it? I've been cruddy, 'Lina. I got you always."
"I miss you, Snugglebear." Felina couldn't even keep this grudge up long enough, forgetting even why they were at a cold war in their home. She allowed him to squeeze her tightly and shower her with kisses.
"I miss this. Please, please forgive me for being the biggest ass."
"Apologize with a cheeseburger and yes, I do."
The quiet and the distant shore wrapped them up as they hugged longer when Chance pulled back all of a sudden. "Did you just thump me?"
"Why would I do that…" She felt recognition hit her. "Chance, quick! Put your paw here."
He followed her reach and rested his paw there. "Okay, I'm resting my paw here...wait a minute…" His eyes grew big. "Is that the baby?"
As if answering a summons, the baby kicked back several more times at his paw.
"Kats' alive." He whispered with the goofiest expression on his face.
"So you were waiting on us to stop being dumb dumbs to come play," Felina spoke to the little life inside of her. "I'll ground you later when you come out."
"She's harsh, kit, harsh."
They chuckled more enjoying the show baby Furlong was giving them when it hit her… "Chance?"
"Yeah?"
She stared down at the plane. "The Turbokat is still parked on the beach."
"Oh." He slowly released her, now comprehending her words. "Ohhhh yeah. We should get back."
As quick as she could muster, they scrambled (can a pregnant kat really scramble?) to get out there.
Jake and Callie sat next to each other in the city council building, trying to enjoy the party instead of feeling like betrayers. Everyone else forgot the Mayor and the majority stock holder of Pumadyne were around once the merriment flowed.
Callie felt a shiver go down her back. Keeping appearances was not working and who had the AC going this hard in December?
Last week's importu meeting only made it clear. The city owned the former Enforcer land and junkyard then made an agreement with Pumdyne to lease it, who then decided to make a profit on the sale to the Youngs based on past meddling from Manx. She cursed. Manx's only effective real estate sale had now ended Chance's employment as junkyard purveyor and possibly killed the tightest of friendships.
"Can I have your jacket?"
Jake shook himself, graced her with a smile then covered her with his suit jacket.
Poor tom, he felt worse. Chance was the brother he never had because his blood kin was so awful.
"Feeling better?"
"Less cold, thank you."
The weather switched moods quickly and the jackets and gloves were out. Wind chills were cutting them. At least the warmth of it touched her as she slipped her hands in the pockets...was this a piece of paper? Callie pulled the paper out of her pocket. Scanning it revealed it was his copy of the agreement to become a board member of Pumadyne and his controlling interest detailed out… Jacob Robert Clawson had possession of any of Hackle's stocks, voting interest as a board member, control of the weapons division and Chance Anthony Furlong owned any land sales made by Pumadyne...land sales...
Callie stood up and slipped out the room for better lighting. Did she read that right?
Chance Anthony Furlong owned any land via a transfer from one, Professor Nathan Hackle. Hackle sold the land to Chance. Not Jake. Land that included parts of the beach outside of the city and one very important piece of real estate that made them currently sick.
Callie ran back inside and pulled Jake out whatever conversation he kept up for pretence.
"Umm, so if you wanna leave-"
"Jake, you don't own the land."
"Huh?"
"This contract from day one you went to Pumadyne, did you really read it?"
"I scanned it. Hackle sold everything from Pumadyne to me."
"No, he sold you Pumadyne's stocks and the weapons division. Chance owes the land."
"Chance?"
She pointed to the print. "Hackle knows both of you right?"
"Well yeah, Hackle helped both of us...you know…get started." Jake scratched his head. "I always wanted a board seat, but Chance wasn't a suit type. He would talk about buying land all the time to have space for cars and planes to work on."
"That's it!" Callie exclaimed. "The Youngs can't own the junkyard or anything on it because the sale is illegal. Pumadyne would have had to go through Chance for it first."
Jake picked Callie up and spun her around, "Callie, you're a genius!"
If anyone questioned why the mayor and a Pumadyne board member were screaming in the hallway like kits winning the lottery, they didn't even bat an eye.
The phone rung and Chance groaned. "It's Saturday, shut up."
The ringing was not to be deterred.
"Crud…" He groped for the phone. "Furlong residence."
"Mr. Furlong?"
"You got him."
"I'm Eleanor Ginger, a lawyer from the law firm Ginger and Skypes."
"Ohhhkayy." The land sale.
"The estate of Nathan Hackle reached out to me to contact you."
"The estate of...he didn't, did he?" Fur stood up on Chance's back. He already lost one mentor. He didn't need to lose two.
"No, no. Hackle is still in poor health, but still alive."
"Kat's alive." Chance did not want to attend a funeral this close to Christmas,
"I know the holiday is in three days, but I must see you today. Clarifications must be made on the land sale."
"Of course." He added, determined to tell the group off then move on with his life. He and Felina would figure it out. They had to.
If the lawyer could sense any tension, she may have wanted to leave.
Felina stopped in her tracks. Callie and Jake were sitting with the lawyer that called Chance this morning in casual clothes. None of them had talked since the revelation of the land sale.
"Should I-" Felina hated how they both mourned a friendship and losing the chance at the house. Her best negotiation training would not cover this.
"No, 'Lina, Stay. Let's be mature about it." He growled low.
"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Furlong." Ginger greeted them both. "I seem to be running into you a lot, Mr. Furlong."
"Same, but I don't know if this is a good thing."
Felina took a seat next to Chance, leather jacket and jeans for both of them.
Callie and Jake tried to look positive even as Chance glowered.
"I wanted to clarify Hackle's sale of his assets. I think there has been a misunderstanding."
"And that is?" Chance dared ask.
"Your part in it." Ginger spoke as she turned pages. "Mrs. Clawson reached out to me and we discovered Pumadyne missed a key part of the agreement Mr. Clawson signed."
"What's that?" Felina slipped her arm in Chance's, hoping he got the silent message to listen first, fight later.
"Pumadyne should have never sold the land without consulting you..."
"Exactly, because it's my junkyard." Chance huffed.
"...or the land behind it."
"Land behind it?" Felina jumped in before he said more with a paw on his chest. "Excuse me, I thought the city owned the land."
"No, the city leased it to Pumadyne then sold it, but honestly you can sue both the city and the Young Corporation for being negligent. They never consulted the original owner."
"And that's-"
"You, Mr. Furlong, are you not aware Nathan Hackle left any more real estate to you?"
Felina felt Chance jump to his feet. "Whoa, wait a minute...I thought Jake owned it all."
"No, this is where the clarification was needed. Pumadyne did such a piss poor job of explaining terms, all of you should sue." Ginger rolled her eyes. "Hackle divided all of his assets from Pumdyne equally. Since he has no named heirs, Hackle had the law firm write it to what he felt was best: Jacob Clawson assumes the seat and stocks, Chance Furlong gets land. Both roughly equal the same value."
"The chair of the board tried to sway the vote the day Callie crashed the meeting. He hoped to get both." Jake exclaimed. "I had a copy of the terms literally shoved into my pocket."
"I thought I did my best to review everything." Callie squeezed Jake's paw. "Then that day went down hill and it was a moot point."
"I'm...not going to lose anything?" Chance asked.
"Pff. I would sue for you. They need to redo any and all records of sale, all parties involved. Plus, pay you a fee for being stupid."
"There's literal a stupid tax?" Chance blinked.
Eleanor Ginger chuckled. "No. But, there should be. Shame on all parties involved."
"I'll make sure the city planner signs everything ASAP with an apology." Callie insisted.
"And I will make sure Pumadyne returns that check." Jake stood. "Felina, buddy, we are so sorry."
Felina managed to get to her feet. "If this means Chance still has a business to run, it's all good." She gave him a smile. "Right?"
Suddenly, she became the meat between a strange hugging/crying/apologizing sandwich where she wasn't sure who was crying, who hugged and who apologized out of the four of them.
His wife spoke as he pulled a chair out for her. "The next time everyone decides to cry it out, can you not do it on the pregnant she-kat?"
"Sorry Felina." Jake blushed.
"We're just so happy we didn't-" Callie clasped her paws.
"I'm happy this is over. I was stressed." Chance admitted.
Their server grabbed them some drinks.
"Let's celebrate." Chance took his glass. "Toasting to better things."
"Amen." They all agreed as glasses clicked happily then fell into various conversations like old times.
"Afternoon folks." A kat in beach wear spoke to them. "I hope I'm not interrupting, but I wanted to at least speak."
Chance waved the kat over. "You're selling the house for your buddy, right?"
The realtor of the beach house stood as they sat. "That'd be me."
Felina traded a look with him then spoke, "Still no deal on the house?"
The tom shook his head. "Yeah, lost an offer a week back, but then city told me I gotta set up a meeting with the kat that really owns it. Apparently, the government can't figure out how to pick up the phone first and get a hold of the original owner of the land. So, I get to ask the tom or lady to let me get something out of it at least. I can sell the house, just not the beach front it's on."
"Sorry to hear that." Felina sympathized. "Lovely place."
"Hey, it happens." Chance shook paws with him, hoping to not bring the pain up anew. He saw it in her eyes. That place was hers in her heart.
"Good luck folks and congrats on the kit." The realtor said his good byes and stepped outside.
"Excuse me." A few minutes into lunch and his cell phone started singing in Chance's pocket. A glance at the number revealed a number he did not recognize. "You three start without me. Can't have the new mama starving."
He missed whatever teasing Felina lobbed at him to find a quieter spot to answer the call. "This is Chance Furlong."
"Yeah, Mr. Furlong, the name is Tommy Rex. My buddy owns a beach house that needs selling, but I learned it was on your land..."
"Come again?"
"The city controller gave me your information. You own the land, right? The beach front by the junkyard. It's a pretty sizable acre between the junkyard and the place, but they said it's all yours."
Chance zipped back inside toward his table.
Felina must have seen his face across the room because she tried to get to her feet. "Chance, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!" He swiped a French fry from his plate then kissed her on the cheek. "I need to get Tom be right back."
His table mates stared at him as he slipped outside.
Searching the crowd outside, he found Tommy Rex leaning against an old VW Bug in the parking lot. "Tommy?
"Yeah...oh, Furlong, sorry I'm on a call."
"That's because we're on the same call."
Tommy looked down and heard the distinct echo that came from phones being so near. "Welp. Don't need this then." The tom hung up. "You own the beach front."
"I own the beach house already. It's my land." Chance said it again to make it sound real. "I own it. And by proxy the house?"
"So says the city and all the paperwork. Had a devil of time getting through it all due to a mixup."
"Tommy," Chance held his paws out. "I own the land. This is perfect."
"How?"
"I can buy the house. We can come up with a deal of some type because it's my land."
Tommy scratched his bread. "Yeah, yeah you can."
"Busy right now?"
"Just this." Tommy Rex mentioned. "Trying to get it done before the holiday. Wife wants me home with all the grandkids this year."
"Grab a crab patty and let's talk." Chance placed an arm around the older tom and led him inside.
An hour later, feminine screams of joy drowned out Tom Rex for the moment. Other guests shared a few dirty looks.
Tommy Rex checked his ears. "I guess that means he'll be signing some paperwork after the first of the year."
"Exactly." Chance beamed. Now the glow turned up higher on Felina. They had her dream house.
"So, I get parcels of land sold to me in exchange for the house? That means you still have all the junkyard land, the house and the beach front the house is on?"
"Yes." Chance affirmed. "And if you like the woods, Felina's willing to sell her parents' cabin and a piece of the land so it gets rented out. She wants to keep it, but not have to worry about upkeep."
Felina nodded. "My family had their fun, it's time for some other kits to experience that."
"That...could work...I know a kit who worked for me, his family's big on all the outdoors stuff. My grandkids are bookworms and don't do outdoors. Let me talk to him after the holidays then we discuss it when I don't look like a beach bum."
"Than you so much, Mr. Rex." Felina's smile embodied everyone's gratitude.
"Tommy, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Chance declared to the table.
"Aww shucks, I'm just glad you two got it. Some many stuffy paws here wanted another party bin, but I wanted another family in it, especially since two families with kits are on both sides. Let those rich kits stay on their side of the beach."
"Sorry for all the craziness with the paperwork." Callie mentioned. "My city planner has been swapped."
Tommy Rex gave Callie a look. "You're...you're Mayor Briggs-Clawson."
"The one. But, you can drop the Briggs. I'm going by my married name."
"If you're the mayor, then you've met my Devona."
"Devona?" Jake almost dropped his drink. "You're Devona's husband, Thomas?"
"Blech. She calls me by my first name. Tommy works for everything."
Jake slapped his forehead. "I'm Jacob Clawson, the new board member."
Tommy's eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh yeahhh, she talks about you and Amir a lot. Even wants Lily to drop by to see the new lab." Like a grandpa, Tommy pulled out his wallet and showed pictures. "Lily's my grandkit from K.I.T Smart as a whip, just can't drive. She came down to see us and her parents. Her car ended up at the junkyard, I think it's fixed."
Chance laughed into his drink. But, has Dylan's attention.
"Tommy, we apologize for all the confusion. The land sale happened when Jake and I took an unexpected vacation." Callie's slight blush earned a raised eyebrow from Chance.
Is that what happened… He seemed to ask Jake in his head. Jake, as if answering back, gave him a dirty look.
He glanced at his wife. Felina smiled in that funny secret way. Yep, they were 'busy.'
"Naw, don't feel bad. The Youngs want some type of foothold here. Can't blame them. Manx promised them something." Tommy waved dismissively then took another sip of his drink.
The mayor spoke, "...And yet has to deliver…" Callie perked up. "I know what the Youngs can buy instead!"
"You do?" Felina finished off her burger.
"Pumadyne needs funding for the separate building for the weapons division and biotech they want to start up. Tommy, what if Pumdyne and the Youngs could get together?"
"Devona would be game. She wants to be retired and in the old Winnobango by the spring."
"Tell your wife to set up a meeting with the city and the Youngs, I'll do the rest."
"Well then," Tommy Rex sat back, carefully putting his photos away. "I better leave you a card, madam mayor. I promise I clean up when it's important." He pointed to his beach bum look.
"Tommy," Chance turned serious. "I owe you."
"Just enjoy life and the new kit. I'm an old tom and got to see my kits and grandkids grow. Do the same." Tommy made sure to make eye contact with all of them as he said this.
The server came just in time with desert. And they all had something to celebrate.
Chance looked at the ocean sky outside the window.
God, I owe you.