Chapter 2
After their respective meals were finished and the topic on the tip of their tongues carefully avoided until the precise moment, Regina found herself at a loss of words.
As someone with an extensive background in both the Spanish and English language, she even dabbled in French, the sudden inability to articulate came as more than a mere shock. It astounded her and frightened her in a way she has never been before or at least since her mother was still living.
She knew everything had the possibility of turning on its head and she was not quite ready for that. The lives Regina and Kathryn carefully molded around the weighted shadow of a past with Emma will crack. And she did not think that they are quite ready for the madness that is surely to follow the burdensome gift she is about to bestow upon her perfect little prince.
Granny, who had came to sit with the group after Ashley had cleared their plates away, cleared her throat and threw a warning look at two women over the tip of her glasses. She let the two women prepare themselves as well as call them cowards in the same grandmotherly no-nonsense wiser-than-all look. It was both frightening and sheltering.
Something that described Granny impeccably.
Damn, Regina knew the old harpy too well.
Granny turned her wizened form towards Henry, in order to allow her to speak to his face as apposed to his ear. Her expression was firm and solemn; another description that suited the woman perfectly. "I found my granddaughter, Henry."
Henry was able to raise his eyebrows in just the beginning of excitement before the old woman continued in a manner that was straightforward, clear-cut and almost painfully blunt.
"As it turns out she plays for that team you love The Boston Beakers or whatever."
Henry's eyebrows nearly went into his hairline as he froze in a suspended state of shock at the news.
And Granny continued on gruff and lukewarm.
"I'll have you know that I've been in communication with Ruby Lucas and—"
Henry's eyebrows rose and threatened to disappear into his thick dark hair and his mouth formed a perfect "O."
"—she gifted me with four tickets to their game. Seeing as the diner has been busy I am needed here. So I am giving them to you—"
Henry was squealing and it was such a high-pitched noise that has never been heard by humans before.
"—your mother, the blonde one and her husband." Granny finished despite not being heard by the raving boy.
The entirety of the dinner turned to Henry's screeches of, "are you serious?" and "we're going right?" even "am I dreaming? I might be dreaming!"
The two previous nerve-racked women smiled at the excited boy and their misgivings were forgotten. For now.
His screams reached new levels as Regina reached into her purse and pulled out a plan white envelope. Henry reverently reached for the proffered envelope with a slight tremor in his hands. Contents spread on the table before him and Henry's breath hitched as he read over the tickets.
"This is really happening." He breathlessly murmured as he ran his fingertips over the tickets. His eyes were shinning and his smile was huge as he looked at each occupant of the table and thanked them profusely for the tickets.
"Wait Henry. There is something else." Kathryn said finding herself swept up in joy of it all. Her smile was mischievous as she took a dramatic pause and delighted in his energetic bouncing. Slowly and with the impish grin still dominating her face Kathryn freed another envelope from Regina's purse but not without a signature eye roll from Regina first.
Henry looked on the verge of snatching the envelope from his aunt instead he impatiently waited as anticipation rocked through him.
At last it was placed in his hands and not a second later the contents emptied. Another of Henry's shrieking cheers echoed through the diner. The diner's occupants were watching the spectacle of the joyous boy with beaming smiles on their faces as Henry's innocence and the beauty that was his smiling face captivated them.
"LOCKER ROOM PASSES TO VISIT THE BOSTON BREAKERS! I GET TO MEET THEM!"
Granny had long since shuffled away from the eardrum-shattering boy but not without mumbles of, "the importance of library voices" and "he's lucky his face is good for business."
"DO YOU THINK I'LL GET TO MEET EMMA SWAN?"
It warmed Regina's heart to see Henry so happy at the prospect of visiting his hero. He had been so downtrodden lately with his soccer woes that she only realized that he hasn't been this happy since before the start of the short spring soccer season. Now she only has a couple of months to convince him not to quit before the summer league starts but she remained unsure. If playing soccer did not make him as happy as the chance to see Emma Swan, was he right in deciding not to play any longer? Or would his decision not to play result in him regretting ever making that choice?
One thing was certain to Regina in that moment: Henry's happiness revolved around Emma.
For Henry her resolve to face her past strengthened.
"When do we leave?"
Regina was too busy admiring the bright excited eyes of her son whom looked so much like his father in that moment to answer, as the sight both tore at and mended her heart.
"Now." Kathryn answered for Regina.
Henry jumped sideways out of the booth and flew across the diner and out of the door in record time. The bell at the top of the door rang manically from the force he exerted to leave the diner. Just as the bell was slowing down to soft chiming rings the door was yet again opened as a wide-eyed nine year-old came storming back in and slid to an ungraceful stop by gripping the edge of the table for balance. He reached over snatching the tickets and passes from the table and once again heading for the door.
"Come on!" He shouted over his shoulder at his stationary mother and aunt.
Kathryn took a deep calming breath and pushed her blonde hair from her face, a nervous tick. Without the beaming sun that was Henry a biting chill swept up in his wake and ran through the woman. As the thought of seeing Emma again left her numb and cold.
Regina gently wiped a tear from Kathryn's eyes. Out of the two of them Kathryn had the most to fear and regret. Regina had no doubt that it was weighing heavily on the woman and for Henry she put on a brave face. Maybe, for her as well.
Kathryn smiled and wiped the remaining tears from her face. Standing she looked down at Regina, offering a smile that was slightly too big and too enthusiastic to be real.
"Let's not keep your son waiting."
A tiny smile was offered along with a nod of her head before Regina too slipped out of the booth.
"I propose we get a speed radar and mark how fast she will run away from us." Kathryn jested.
Regina laughed good naturally at her attempt of levity. Although it was obviously forced and was so close to the truth it nearly left them cringing from the sting of it.
The pair walked slowly shoulder-to-shoulder, occasionally brushing the other in a feigned attempt of making it look like an accident, drawing what strength they could from the other.
Together, and with the shared weight of their mistakes, they walked to Regina's already packed car where a dancing Henry was anxiously waiting for the two women.
Settled in and making their way for the town border Henry, Regina and Kathryn headed for Boston, a soccer game, and Emma Swan.
Ultimately, facing their past, improving the present and hoping for a better future.
