20. Leviathan #2
“Here’s what I’ll do. We will compromise.
Michael, you will ensure Bones and Ruffus are tied up or brought inside each night.
Then, if there are any further chicken murders”—the crowd tittered with laughter, and even Sherman gave a half-hearted chuckle—“we’ll know for certain it wasn’t your dogs.
I won’t force you to replace Sherman’s chickens, but as penance for lack of animal control, I want you to give him a dozen eggs a week for the next two weeks. How does that sound to each of you?”
Sherman looked like he wanted to argue, but then he shrugged. “Sounds fair enough.”
“Will do, Levi,” Michael said as he sat down.
“That was well done,” June whispered in my ear.
I gave her a small smile. “Thanks.” Her praise sent a happy thrill through me. I turned to the crowd again. “Anyone else?”
Clare Thompson from Eugenia’s group, and Jennifer Black both raised their hands and approached my table.
“I’m guessing this dispute has to do with both of you?” I asked, eyeing them.
They gave each other a less-than-friendly look before responding two ladies gave each other a less-than-friendly look before responding.
“Levi,” Clare said. “Jennifer’s son Shawn has been picking on my daughter. I’ve told her about it, but she won’t stop him.”
“That’s not what’s happening,” Jennifer said. “They are having some disagreements, but I wouldn’t call it bullying or anything.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could say anything June spoke up.
“How often are the kids around each other?” she asked.
Both Clare and Jennifer turned to her, as surprised as I was to hear her address them.
“Uh, well, only at school,” Clare said.
“Yeah,” Jennifer agreed. “I’ve not seen them playing together any other times.”
“Why not try and get them together outside school time?” June said.
Clare shook her head, obviously confused. “Why would we do that? That would make him pick on her more.”
Jennifer huffed.
“School can be hard for kids. The stress, the sitting still, the rules. Sometimes they act out. Maybe Jennifer’s son isn’t actually picking on her on purpose; maybe he’s acting out due to the situation, and it’s getting directed at your daughter.”
Jennifer sighed. “Shawn is very rambunctious. I know he doesn’t like sitting still for hours during lessons. He may have some issues with self-control too. I suppose that could be the problem. He and Clare’s daughter do sit next to each other.”
“If they got to hang out more, played together outside school, they’d be able to understand each other better,” June explained.
“If your daughter knows him better, maybe she wouldn’t be as quick to be upset when he acts out, knowing that it’s not really directed at her.
And your son won’t be as willing to do things that irritate her if he’s better friends with her. Does that make sense?”
Both women thought about it, and each one agreed, though grudgingly.
“I guess we could do that,” Clare said.
“Yeah. It wouldn’t be too difficult to arrange a few playdates. You’re right. Shawn is very protective of his friends. He’d be less likely to do things that annoy or upset her if he knows her better.”
“See how this goes for a couple weeks, and if it doesn’t help, you can come back to Levi. I think a stern talking to from the alpha would straighten out any kid,” June said with a smile.
“Thank you,” Clare said, then returned to her seat.
Jennifer smiled at June. “I appreciate that,” she said, then lowered her voice. “I really do. He’s a good boy, he really is.”
“I’m sure he is. Just make sure he knows what he needs to do,” June said.
As Jennifer went back to her seat, I studied June.
The quick way she’d jumped in and found a diplomatic solution was exactly what I needed from a mate.
She was brilliant. I could picture her at my side, running the pack with me.
The smile on my face faltered when I realized that I was cheering June on for things Naphele was good at.
She’d been fantastic at resolving problems. Though, I couldn’t remember her ever being able to do it so quickly and efficiently.
Was this simply me subconsciously trying to look for connections between the two women, or was it something else?
June had proven herself here, so that wasn’t something I was misreading.
She was good at this, the same way Naphele had been.
It made me feel good, but also strange. I’d started out seeing June as a possible way to find my lost mate, but the more I got to know her, the more she showed me that she was her own person.
A person I was growing to care for. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
Should I be excited that I might have found a wholly new and special person?
Or should I be filled with guilt that I was possibly betraying Naphele and her memory?
Since there were no more disputes, I told everyone they were free to go. I barely noticed the noise of people leaving, because I only had eyes for June as she continued scribbling notes on her pad. As I watched her, I felt something swell in my chest.
It was an emotion I hadn’t experienced in a long time, and I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to feel it.