Hello again my dears! I am so glad to hear from so many of you about the first installment in this story. I hope you enjoy everything going forward.
Several of you have asked me to post a warning for those who do not wish to read a story in which a major character dies. Please know that, as with former stories, if I intend to kill someone or offer something unbearably sad... I always say so. If I don't, then there is nothing to warn you about. You may interpret that as you wish.
Thanks for reading. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.
"Please tell me you aren't considering this." Mallory Page pulled her long legs up onto the white leather sectional sofa in Regina's living room and swirled her wine in her glass.
Tonight was the regular meeting of Regina's book club. They'd long ago given up any pretense of reading and discussing books, much to Mary Margaret Nolan's chagrin. The young woman had actually enjoyed delving into the hidden meaning and symbolism of stories. But the other ladies—Mallory, Kathryn Goldman and even their resident bookworm, Lacy French—were more interested in wine and gossip and time with the girls than in any actual broadening of their mental horizons with a book.
"I didn't say I was considering it, Mal." Regina poured herself another glass of wine at the sidebar.
"No," Kathryn spoke up, "but you didn't exactly say it was out of the question, either."
"I think it's romantic," Lacy said from her place on the floor, with a faraway look in her eyes.
"Of course you do." Mal rolled her eyes but nudged Lacy good-naturedly in her shoulder with the side of her foot.
"Regina," Mary Margaret began, "I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, but I think you should take one of us with you if you do meet with her. What if she's a psychopath? I saw on Crime Time about a lady who went to meet a guy from the internet at a restaurant and she disappeared. The last they ever saw of her was this grainy surveillance video and—"
"Oh, for the love of Mike!" Regina interrupted. "I haven't said I was going to meet her. And Mary you seriously need to stop watching those true crime shows. It can't be healthy."
Regina took her seat at the end of the sofa and felt four sets of eyes burning into her. She looked all around, anywhere but at them, hoping they would let it go. That wasn't about to happen. She sighed and leaned forward, balancing her weight on her elbows atop her knees. She rolled the wine glass between her hands a few times, thinking.
"Ok. So, maybe I have been thinking about it. But I haven't decided."
A cacophony of sound rose from the quartet beside her. Mary Margaret was on the floor, walking on her knees toward Regina in a moment. Mal sat up and put her feet flat on the floor. Some of the cries were of glee, in favor and full support. Some were the voice of reason, suggesting she not make a hasty decision. Regina drank from her glass and waved them all back with one hand.
"Give me a chance to explain. I have actually thought this out… sort of." She sat back into the sofa and pulled her feet up. She grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it to her chest protectively. If not for the physical indicators in appearance and dress, these five women looked for all the world like teenage girls at a sleepover sharing a secret.
"Well, go ahead. Spill it." Mal huffed, sitting back. She would be the first to admit that since Regina moved in to the house across the street from her, pregnant and newly widowed, she had felt an overwhelming protective sense for the woman. She had learned rather quickly that Regina was a force of nature and didn't exactly need the kid-glove treatment, but still, the feeling had persisted.
Knowing she had the floor, Regina began. "So, like I said, Mr. Hollingsworth said she wants to spend the night with me. I was—naturally—shocked to hear this."
"Naturally." Kathryn chimed in with her usual sarcastic edge.
Regina ignored the interruption. "But, he didn't seem to think that was the important part of the story."
"Regina—may I call you Regina?—I think we can get woefully off track here if we focus on the fact that Miss Swan was indeed not asking about a sleepover experience featuring hair braiding and make-overs like a couple of high school chums. I think what we need to stick with is that you have the power to help a dying woman leave this plane of existence with a little joy." Bud Hollingsworth braced himself for another round of Hurricane Regina.
Instead of exploding as he expected, the woman pinched the bridge of her nose between thumb and forefinger and breathed deeply. "You've got two minutes before I walk out of here so use them wisely."
"Alright." He opened the folder. "Here is everything I've been able to learn about Miss Swan in the limited time I've had. While she had some run-ins with the police as a teenager, she is not a criminal. She worked until her illness for a small law firm in New York as an investigator. She had a neat little nest egg saved up and has cashed it and her 401K in.
So far, she has seen the Northern Lights, driven down Route 66, and gone backstage to meet Stevie Nicks in concert. All this, she did without our aid. But, despite her best efforts and her investigator's knowledge and favors to call on, she was unable to locate you.
Now, all I am suggesting here is that you call her. Talk to her. If you feel comfortable with it after talking, perhaps you could meet her for drinks or coffee or dinner. That is it. But that would mean more to her than you realize." The man took a too large bite of his chocolate muffin and chewed, dusting crumbs off his tie. He swallowed hard and took a drink of his coffee. "She's quite enamored of you. At least, the memory of you. And deep down I think she just wants to talk to you."
"Damn." Mary Margaret wasn't one to swear so the word coming from her mouth caught everyone off guard.
"Damn indeed, Mary." Kathryn said, mulling over Regina's story. She hadn't given all those details earlier.
"So you see, I am… maybe… considering at least calling her. What harm can it do?" Regina waited for the negative reaction she was sure to get from Mal.
"So… does this mean you are gay? Lesbian? Bisexual? I'm confused." Mary Margaret looked embarrassed by her own questions but Regina could see from the curiosity in everyone's faces that it wasn't just Mary who wanted to know.
"I'm… not sure." Regina said, shining a light into her own heart and wondering what she might find there with some thoughtful introspection. She'd never been with a woman. Never dated one. But she had had a crush on a girl in college that had terrified her. Mother would have disowned her for even a crush, let alone something more.
"Not sure?" Mal said, raising a skeptical brow. She always looked right past Regina's veneer. Good thing they were friends. She would make a dangerous enemy.
"No. I'm not sure. I haven't really considered it before. My…" She hesitated. Talking about her mother, even with these friends, was difficult. The woman hadn't been easy to live with during Regina's growing up years. "Let's just say my upbringing didn't allow for such things so I never let myself explore the idea. But…"
Both Kathryn's eyebrows rose toward her hairline. "But…." She prompted Regina to go on.
Regina sighed and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. "But… but I admit when I saw her photograph I felt… drawn to her. She is very attractive. And I would be…." She hesitated again before plowing ahead. "I would be open to examining the possibility of a relationship with a woman. If and only if the right woman came along. I'm not saying this Emma Swan is that person. I'm just saying there is no reason why I should redefine my sexuality just to call her. Right?"
There was a long moment of contemplative silence. Everyone seemed to be processing the whole situation.
"I think you should go for it." Lacy laid a gentle hand on Regina's bare foot on the sofa.
"Me too," Mary said definitively. Kathryn nodded her agreement.
"And what about you, you old dragon. What do you think?" Regina looked at the woman who had been her friend, confidant and support for these last twelve years, raising Henry alone in a new city that was now more her home than Storybrooke, Maine had ever been.
Mal studied Regina for a long moment before shrugging. "I think…" She looked at all her friends and smiled. "I think, I live right across the street and I'll be happy to sit for Henry for a couple hours. And if she does come home with you… flick your porch light a few times and I'll come running with a kitchen knife and can of pepper spray."
It was settled. Regina was going to call her.
