"A corn maze, huh?" Emma asked as she popped a fry into her mouth and looked across the formica table-top at her son whose eyes were lit with the thrill of adventure. Personally, the blonde was willing to grant the boy nearly anything since he had come out of the mine unscathed. She had been torn between the urge to tack his ears back and the urge to cuff him to her side permanently.
"Yeah! We could get the whole town involved!" He pumped a fist in the air. "We could do it like a Harvest Festival or something to raise money for the nuns."
The Sheriff tapped her finger on her lips in contemplation. "It's a bit short notice, Henry. I mean it's half-way through August." And unseasonably cold.
"But if we get the word out now, we would still have time." His voice took on a pleading quality and she looked deep into his eyes.
"Why is this so important to you, kid?" He looked away and shrugged, but Emma wasn't having it. "I will help you get this going, but I want you to be honest with me. What is this all really about?"
He looked up at her with his sincere eyes. "Well, after Graham…" he trailed off and Emma's stomach lurched. "I know you need a new patrol car…and the town could use a pick-me-up."
The blonde considered his words. Yes, Graham's death had been a surprise to all. The man had been acting very peculiar the days leading up to his accident. Emma wondered, not for the first time, if the car's collision with that tree had been purely accidental. All she knew was that her friend had been dead on her arrival and the patrol car completely mangled. Forcing the mental pictures of the former sheriff's lifeless eyes from her mind, she re-immersed herself in the conversation.
"Henry," She began slowly and quietly. "I appreciate your concern. It makes me proud to see how much you care for this community. We will do the Harvest Festival, but no more worrying. Deal?" She asked and he smiled and nodded reaching across the table to shake her hand.
"Henry." Came a scolding voice from behind them as Regina slipped through the door of the diner. "You were to come straight to my office after school and begin your homework."
"I had to speak to Emma." He argued.
"I'm sure whatever pleasantries-" She began with a flash of anger in her eyes, "that you and Sheriff Swan needed to exchange, could have been done during your scheduled visitation time."
"But this was business." Henry said. "She's going to help me with the Harvest Festival."
"Henry, we've discussed this already-"
"Emma believes it can happen." He said stubbornly, raising his chin half an inch. The blonde fought to keep the emotion from her eyes when the brunette turned her narrowed gaze to her face.
"She does, does she? Well, forgive me if I do not trust a woman that would set fire to my office only to be seen saving me from it."
Emma sighed, "We've discussed this. I didn't do that, Gold did. So as far as I'm concerned, all I did was save your sweet ass from a blazing inferno." The blonde crossed her arms over her chest and raised her own chin a bit.
"Henry, go get in the car."
"But-"
"Go." She said in a tone that was not to be argued with and then sat down across the table from the defensive blonde and smiled wickedly. "Sheriff, I'm going to allow this little project to go forward, do you know why?"
Emma considered the woman a moment, "No, but I'm sure it's because you think it will make me look foolish." She said shrewdly.
"As a matter of fact, it is; not that you need any help." The brunette sniffed and looked at her red leather jacket disdainfully. "You see, when this project fails, as it invariably will, due to a lack of sufficient planning and funds, Henry will see that you have failed him."
"And what about when it succeeds?"
"Dear," Regina smiled unpleasantly, "You should not kid yourself."
Emma stood abruptly. "We'll be having a town meeting in a few days, I suggest you attend to at least give the impression that you give two shits about your son's happiness." The blonde snapped at her and then strode out, leaving Regina with an empty and unsatisfying sense of victory.