Chapter 50

Getting The Word Out

When they arrived back home they found me on the phone.

"...Yeah mom, I know it's...oh! They _just_got back." Covering the mouthpiece with my paw, I kissed my wife, and gave Kel a peck on the cheek. Gwen handed me the paperwork.

"Hey Mom! Yup, it's official! ...What? Oh, it says six or eight weeks, so figure late April or May, you and pops are going to be _grandparents!_Uh-huh--okay, here she is," I said, handing the phone off to Gwen.

"Hello...yup it's official, I'm under construction." Gwen chuckled. "What was that Helen? Yes! Sure, tell everyone. No no, I'm fine, really--oh, okay sure...RIICK...your dad wants to talk with you..."

From down the hall, I responded with "Bathroom."

"Hello? Oh, thank you Richard...yup, got a bun in the oven...yes were thrilled, Rick's in the bathroom; he'll be here in a minute--well we figure some time around late April, early May...nope, have no ideas yet. Too soon, you know. Okay thanks, here's Rick."

"Hey Pops! Yeah...thanks--uh-huh oh you _know_it! Well you've still got a while to get ready to be a Grandpa...don't worry, I will...okay C-ya buh-bye!" I said, hanging up the phone and a huge smile on my muzzle. I dropped to my knees, wrapping my arms around Gwen's hips, placing my head against her belly.

"Hey in there, I _love_you! And I'm looking forward to welcoming you into the world." I said, kissing her lower abdomen. Gwen ran her paw through my hair, skritching my ear and smiling down at me.

"You're_Silly_, Ya know that?" I stood, nodding and enfolding her in my arms.

"Hi, Mom." I beamed.

"Hi Dad," she said softly and drew me into a kiss. Kel sighed happily.

"You guys are going to be great parents." Gwen turned, drawing her into our embrace. "And_you_are going to be a wonderful_aunt..._Auntie Kelso..." I gave her a quick nuzzle. "_Auntie_Kelso...I like it." Kel grinned. "So how'd they take the news?"

"Well it was a pleasant, if not unexpected surprise. But they are_thrilled_." I chuckled. "They never_thought they would see grandkits, what with Kacy being a professional chef, and until I met Gwen here, they were calling me a _confirmed bachelor. They were surprised when we met on Friday, and were hitched two days later!" I shook my head, a sly grin on my muzzle. "Mom said she always figured she'd get some grandkits outta you my Love. Mom said that they absolutely _loved_you from the moment KC brought you through the door. _And_I _know_they would love you too, _Kel._Isn't that right hon?"

"Oh, most definitely. " Gwen nodded. "Richard and Helen would take one look at you, and you'd be as welcome as I am. And let me tell you, they are two of the most gracious furs you could ever meet. Besides...Max and Sally would probably fight over who got to spend the most time with you."

"Who are Max and Sally?" The vixen in our arms asked.

"They would be Rick's younger sibs." Gwen added, as I nodded.

"Let's see, Max is thirteen, and Sally is ten. Max is as big a science geek as I was at that age, though he hasn't blown anything up...yet. And Sally is a budding writer." I chuckled. "If you're not careful, she will write you into one of her stories...probably have you wandering the countryside with a Blazing Sword of Justice, righting wrongs and freeing the oppressed on a white horse..._Kelso the Sword-Singer_or some such..."

"Really?"_We both nodded. "That would be so _cool." she said, breaking the hug

"Oh, your _mother_called--she was actually _civil_this time, and asked that you call her back at your earliest convenience." I said flatly.

Gwen rolled her eyes and went to retrieve the phone.

"What's up Rick, doesn't her mom like you?" I shook my head, taking her aside.

"Gwen's mother--does not approve_of me. She comes from one of the blue-blood families, back east. Likes to think of themselves as American _aristocracy...upper crust, don't you know. When Gwen 'ran-off' with me, her mom took it as a personal affront to her dignity. Apparently she was in the process of arranging to marry her off to some skunk from Massachusetts. A wealthy industrialist and fellow 'pure-blood,' don't you know."

Kel's jaw dropped. "You're kidding?_Y--you mean she's...a _purist?" she gasped. I nodded sadly.

"Fraid so. She sees me as 'polluting the family bloodline' or so she said. Gwen's little bit of news should give the old bat a_coronary_." I chuckled evilly. "Personally, I don't give a damn _what_she thinks of me...but the last time they spoke, Gwen ended up in tears. And that is something I _won't_stand for." I growled softly.

"Perhaps we should be there for moral support." Kel offered. We found Gwen in the kitchen, leaning against the refrigerator, her voice_frosty_...

"Yes,Mother. Be that as it may...I was_calling to give you some _good_news..._No, I haven't left Rick; and as I've said before I'm not_interested in an _annulment!" she said with a snarl etched on her features. "I just wanted to_congratulate_you--you're going to be a _ Grandmother! _" Gwen held the phone away from her ear. Her mother's tirade could_easily_be heard from where we stood. After a minute or so of that, Gwen pounced with venom dripping from her words...

"I_love_you too, Mother...just_wanted to deliver the _good news, personally. Buh-bye." With that, she hung up the phone, chuckling victoriously. "Aah, that's_the trouble with i_vory tower_types...one good _whack_with a wrecking ball, and everything comes crashing down around their ears!" She grinned wickedly "_That_was g_ood, she _actually_dropped her sherry glass--I heard it shatter. You'd think I was impaling kits on skewers and roasting them over an open fire, with the way she went on..." she said, shaking her head and grumbling darkly.

"Well...KC_did_say they were wonderful, with the right sauce..." I grinned at my beloved. That brought her out of her grumbling.

"Ya know, I never thought I'd ever be able to top that catalog shoot stunt; she went BALLISTIC_over that!"_

"The 2000 Furdracks Christmas catalog? I've _still_got that one." I beamed.

"You're k_idding?_" Gwen blushed just a bit.

"Ooh I wanna see!" Kel chirped.

"Hold on a sec," As I disappeared down the hall, to return a few moments later setting a copy of the _ Furdrakes of Hollywood, Christmas 2000 catalog on the table. Kel sat mes_merized,_while Gwen and I stood at her side providing commentary as the Vixen 'ooed' and 'aahed' her way through the catalog. All too soon it was time to prepare for work, and just before we left I let it be known I wanted to frame the confirmation notice. Gwen rolled her eyes. It _was_after all,_a historic document, I pointed out.

"HEN-RY!_Come quickly. That _insolent_daughter of mine has caused me to _spray_the parlor _again." The matronly skunk called, "and watch your paws, I broke a sherry glass!" She coughed a bit at the intensity of her own musk. She was beside herself; what would Charles say now?

"M-yes, Madam..." The badger butler replied as he approached.

"If _Madam_would keep her tail _down,_when speaking with her daughter..."

"Muzzle IT, Henry. I don't pay_you for _advice!" she snarled. "I will _not_stand for _this!_After you finish with the parlor, get me Charles on the phone...perhaps he and a few of his _frat-boys_can _beat_some sense into that miscreant who assaulted my pure daughter." She stormed off down the hall.

"M-yes, Madam." the badger intoned, as he began spraying down the parlor with odor eliminator. The last time she did this, her daughter had appeared in a lingerie catalog, the butler mused.

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