Good enough to be able to work, at least.

Even though Jess would have loved nothing more than to stay like this forever, work had to be done - and with Cathy and May promising to take care of the tracksuit wearing customer so Jess didn't have to wait on him, it turned out to be quite the normal workday. Well, as normal as it could be with fox ears and a huge, bushy tail; and as the morning went on, there were a few patrons that complimented Jess on her new appendages, lifting the Texan spirits. The one girl that cared enough to say something derisive was quickly stared down by May, one intense glare enough to stop her mid-sentence. The look Jess gave her boss was far less murderous, instead filled with thankfulness.

The day went on like this, work distracting Jess enough so she could at least function. But whenever there was a lull in activity, the memories were waiting for her, trying to pull her into a deep, dark hole. But somehow, May or Cathy were always there to chat with Jess.

"Oh, by the way - Charlie texted me," Cathy said as she sorted freshly washed glasses under the counter while Jess put out a new assortment of sandwiches. "She said she traded shifts at the hospital, so she's free tonight and she's going to hang out with you. No, you don't get to say no to that. You need someone with you tonight."

"Shouldn't she have texted me?" Jess replied, ears twitching curiously.

"She will. To be honest, I wrote her right this morning and told her about you feeling... not great." Cathy's smile was somewhat rueful as she stood up. "Sorry for kinda going behind your back... I'd come too, but I have a appointment with my dentist tonight, so no dice."

"No, Ah... Ah appreciate it..." Being alone with her thoughts and memories, with them crashing through the insufficient mental defenses Jess' mind had hastily erected yesterday... the fox girl's ears dropped at the thought, only to flick back up straight and quiver as Cathy put one arm around the Texan's shoulders. "Th-thanks for lookin' out for me..."

"Girl, you've been assaulted! What kind of friend would I be if I didn't do everything I can to help you?" The half-hug turned into a proper one, prompting a little 'aww' from one of the tables. Jess couldn't tell which one, once again a little overwhelmed by finding herself in Cathy's arms.

The rest of the day was rather uneventful, except for one early drunk just past lunch that had to be ejected from the premises by ways of Gabriel. But even that had been about the fact that the now ex-patron wouldn't accept that bagels usually didn't come with a side of fries, especially not in a café that didn't even serve fries in any way, shape or form. Jess did once again receive a few compliments for her 'intricate accessories', although most patrons cared more about their food than the soft fuzzy tail and ears of the southern belle. Understandable, really - Gabriel's cooking could have easily landed him a job in an upscale restaurant, but he preferred the relative calm of May's café.

All in all, it did make Jess feel better - it felt normal. A new normal, what with her new foxy features, but she enjoyed her work, interacting with people, and of course spending time with her friend and her boss. Thus, when the café had closed and cleaning duties were done, the Texan waited for Charlie to pick her up, sitting on the patio with May, just talking. In a short exchange of texts with Charlie earlier in the day, the southern belle had agreed to have the nurse come directly to the café so Jess didn't have to walk home alone.

"So, did ye tell Charlie about... that?" May finally said with a sideways glance at Jess tail.

"No, Ah... somehow, it never came up." Jess answer was a little shaky; despite everything so far, the Texan was worried how Charlie would react. That, and she wanted to ask her boss something that had been rolling around in Jess' mind since yesterday. "Uhm, Ah dunno how to approach this, but y'all said somethin' earlier, about a girlf--"

"Oh my god, Jess!" Charlie's incredulous shout made quite a few heads turn, Jess' and May's included. "What are those?"

"Ach, I thought ye'd recognize ears and a tail if ye saw them," May answered in Jess stead. The Texan was frozen in the spot, not sure how to interpret Charlie's outburst as her friend speedwalked over to her, still in her scrubs. "Yer a smart girl, so I'm surprised yer not..."

"I know what that is, but... how?!" Charlie sat down cross-legged and bent towards where Jess' tail was curled around her legs, only to freeze herself as she realized what she was doing. "I'm... I'm sorry, it... uh, it's so much floof... can I... can I maybe touch it?"

"Uh, Ah... s-sure?" The nurse's reaction scared Jess a little with her intensity, but even though Charlie was freaking out, it seemed to be a positive freakout.

"Sorry, I... it's just..." As strong as Charlie had reacted at first, as gentle was she as she ran her fingers through Jess' soft red pelt, sending pleasant shudders up the Texan's tail and spine. "It's so soft... just like Shirley's..."

"Wh-who's Shirley?" Jess barely managed to suppress a soft moan when Charlie leaned down to push her face against the southern belle's tail, sighing deeply as her nose dug into the fur.

"My parents' tabby cat, although there's probably some Maine Coon in her with how huge and fluffy she is," the nurse mumbled into Jess' tail as she gently ran one hand along its length, the other hugging the voluminous appendage against her breasts and face. Jess felt her muscles loosen, tail tip twitching and waving as the tension of the day seemed to melt away - and a certain heat began to build in her abdomen. "It feels and smells so much like her..."

"Looks like the two of ye will be fine," May grinned as she got up, reaching up to scratch between Jess' ears, making the Texan's eyes fall half closed as her jaw went slack. It felt so nice and soothing, and in combination with Charlie snuggling her tail... "Just make sure ye get home soon. No sleeping on the patio!"

"Uh-huh... just five more minutes..." Charlie's reply was muffled by Jess' thick fur, making May chuckle as she waved goodbye and disappeared down the boardwalk.