Chapter Two:
Hook
The morning dawned bright and clear. Since the weather had cooperated nicely, I drove us to the fairgrounds in the afternoon. Anyone that paid too close attention, I'm sure the four of us (Naveen and Tiana had gone a little earlier to get set up) looked quite a sight. Alice was in her trademark blue dress and white apron, her long blonde hair pulled back in a blue bow. Robin would have made her father proud, looking much like he, complete with a bow and quiver. Of course Zelena had used a glamour spell to give her skin the green tint it had been once before, and donned a black, pointed hat and black dress. I'd slapped on a blood red vest over a black shirt, leather pants, and a long leather coat, completing the ensemble by replacing my prosthetic with my trademark hook.
Once we parked and made our way to the Rollin' Bayou, I took up post near the rear of the truck to ensure no one tried to enter that wasn't supposed to. People came and went, Zelena mingled and pointed people in Alice and Robin's direction to sample Rollin' Bayou's famous beignets. More often than not people turned to the truck to place their order.
During a lull, Alice came to refill her tray. After she'd handed it off to Naveen, she turned to me and wrapped her arms around me.
My smile was automatic. "What was that for?"
With a shrug, she picked at the apron. "You looked like you needed it."
Well that was a sharp knife to the heart. Still, Alice had a special way of looking at the world. I joked, "Do I look that bad?"
"This was supposed to be fun. You don't look like you're having much fun."
"I am."
"No. Margot and I are having fun. Sabine and Drew, they're having fun. Even Kelly is having fun, but you're standing here all alone."
"But I'm not alone. I'm here with all of you," I pointed out.
She shook her head.
"You're alone, but I'm going to change that," she smiled in her bright way.
"Tilly," my tone took on a warning, but she wasn't listening.
She took the refilled tray from Naveen and bounced away murmuring something that sounded a lot like, Papa needs true love.
I hoped the crowds distracted her from that path. It was a path I knew would never happen. Not after what happened the last time I'd fallen in love. The pain had been too great. It had cost me too much of myself. No, two ships passing in the night suited me just fine.
Dusk was falling fast, and with it, the crowds swelled one final time. Just a little longer, I told myself. I was tired, dead on my feet, and ready to kick back.
Business for the Rollin' Bayou has been steady and busy, pushing Tiana into the next round of the competition. That meant that we would all be back out here tomorrow doing it all over again.
"Rogers?" Tiana peered our.
"Aye?"
"Would you mind running this to the dumpster?"
"Not at all, love." I took the bag and crossed over to the nearest rubbish bin.
So, this is what had become of the great Captain Hook? A trash collector for a princess—queen, I mean. Long ago, I would never have been asked such a question, but I suppose people could change. If they found the right motivation.
I returned to my post, eyes scanning the crowd for my daughter.
She was kneeling in front of a dark-haired boy of about eight, if I had to guess, dressed as a pirate. Beside them stood a woman, but her face curtained by long, dark hair. She was a sight—curves in all the right places.
Alice glanced toward me, then returned to chatting animatedly with the boy.
A loud noise from inside the truck caught my attention and I turned and peered in the back. "Everything alright?"
"It's good," Naveen called out, on his knees as he reached for a stainless steel bowl he'd dropped.
I wasn't quite sure of that, but left it alone.
"Detective, look who I found!" Alice said from behind me. I turned to find her standing hand-in-hand with the young pirate. His face was full of excitement, which doubled when he saw my hook.
"Whoa! Is that real?!" He asked.
"It's as real as you and I, m'boy!" I tossed a wink at him and went down on a knee, holding the hook between us so he could get a closer look.
"That is so cool!" He exclaimed after a quick inspection. Then, he frowned, "You don't look like Captain Hook in the cartoon, though."
I lifted a brow. "They couldn't fit all of this devilishly handsomeness into a cartoon now, could they?"
The boy laughed.
"What's your name, lad?"
"Brantley," he offered a hand, which I shook.
"Well, I must say young Brantley, it's a pleasure to meet another dashing rapscallion like myself."
The resulting giggle twitched my lips into a smile.
The woman from before stepped up beside Alice, stowing a receipt and wallet in her purse, a printed Rollin' Bayou paper bag tucked beneath her arm.
"Mom! Mom! Look, it's Captain Hook! He's got a real hook and everything!"
She grinned down at him, "That's awesome, kiddo!"
Her pretty grey eyes flitted over in my direction, back to her son, then darted back to me and stilled.
A barrage of images flashed through my mind's eye—memories from Hyperion Heights. Her stepping up in the line beside me to order her coffee at the café. The dazzling smile she sent me when she caught me looking at her. I felt the chagrin heat my cheeks all over again. The chuckle that escaped me when I recognized her at a painting workshop, the way even her voice smiled as she asked me if I was stalking her. The laughter over drinks at Roni's. How soft her lips were when I'd stolen a kiss before putting her in a cab. Walking along the water's edge, eating at a pizzeria, picnics in the park. Passion-filled nights in my bed. The way my heart hurt when she told me she'd accepted a position in Texas. Walking along at the bus terminal, subdued, her glancing over her shoulder. Tears swimming in her eyes as she pressed her lips to mine and whispered, "goodbye". Watching from my car as the bus pulled out of the station and headed for the interstate, debating whether or not to pull the bus over and beg her to stay.
I snapped back into reality with a jolt.
"Liv—Olivia?"