Disclaimer: I do not own the Once Upon a Time franchise.
Chapter Twelve
Emma and Henry wandered down to the park that Saturday morning to meet Jefferson and Grace. "Now," Emma looked down at her son as they walked, "you're certain you're going to be okay without me?" She asked. She and August had decided to go furniture shopping for the day while Henry had his playdate with Grace. The sofa was really uncomfortable and they decided that since they were going to stay, they may as well replace it. Mr. Gold had people coming to put the current sofa in a storage unit so he could put it back once August and Emma moved. Mr. Gold had been so helpful with helping them settle in. He actually seemed a bit different than Emma's initial impression of him and she was growing to like Mr. Gold a bit. August didn't quite agree with her assessment.
Henry let out an exasperated sigh that reminded Emma of August. "Yes, Momma. It's just hanging out with Gracie. We'll be fine. And Uncle Auggie gave me a phone with your number and his number in it." The day Emma agreed to the playdate, August came home from the library with another burner phone for Henry. He'd decided that Henry should be able to get in touch with them 24/7. Emma felt a bit foolish for not thinking of that herself.
"Right." Emma agreed as they approached the park, "Still, if you need me or Uncle Auggie, we'll be here so, so fast." She promised.
"I know, Momma." Henry looked up at her concerned, "Momma," he tugged her hand and she knelt in front of her on the sidewalk outside of the park, "are you worried that" Henry looked around to see if anyone was listening to them, "he will find us?"
Emma suddenly realized that her own fears and hesitancy were seeping into her son and she felt like the worst mother in the world. And she didn't know she could feel like she'd done an even worse job than she had felt when Henry asked her to leave Scottsdale and Walsh. "No! Henry, no!" Emma told him honestly. "I'm just still getting used to the new town." She told him. "And I want to make sure you feel comfortable too."
Henry gave his mom a tight hug, "I love you, Momma. And I'm okay. I promise. Have fun with Uncle Auggie. Get a red sofa please." He requested.
Emma chuckled and pressed a kiss to his forehead, "I'll see what we can do about a red sofa." She promised. "And have fun with Gracie and Mr. Jefferson."
She watched as Henry dashed into the park where Grace stood by the swings talking to another child she didn't recognize. "They'll have fun today, Emma." Emma looked to her left to find Jefferson walking toward her. "And I promise to watch out for him." Emma nodded, so Jefferson continued, "He's not allergic to anything is he? Or is there anything I should be worried about?"
Emma shook her head, "No, he eats anything and can find fun in almost any activity."
Jefferson nodded, "Sounds good. It's supposed to drizzle a bit this afternoon so I thought I'd take them to the library. Belle is holding a children's reading. Grace loves to read. I just hope it all clears up for the movie tonight."
Emma looked up at the sky, it did look like there was a little rain in the clouds. "I hope so too. Otherwise August will be devastated. He's more excited than Henry about the movie." She chuckled. "Well, I'm going to head out. August and I are going furniture shopping." She waved goodbye, pausing to turn and call out, "Oh, and August bought Henry a little cell phone so he has that if he needs us. Both of our numbers are in there."
Jefferson watched as Emma walked off and gave his head a little shake. Emma and August were very interesting people. And they seemed to be a bit paranoid. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the two of them, but he figured it was a mystery best spent figuring out another day. Instead, he wandered into the park and sat on a bench, watching as Henry pushed Grace on the swing, the two of them laughing as she squealed, "Higher, Henry! Higher!"
Emma and August perused the living room section of the small furniture store just off the main downtown strip. "Okay, August," Emma finally started, "the other day you just drop a bomb about researching something in Colorado and since then you've been avoiding telling me what's going on."
August dropped down onto a leather sofa, moving around as he tried to determine if it was comfortable enough. "Not so much avoiding as nervous." He finally admitted.
Emma sat on a different sofa, not really liking the feel. "Are you going to Colorado?"
August stood and moved to another sofa. "I'll have to, but not right now." He watched as Emma chewed her lip uncertainly. "I won't go unless you're comfortable, but I think this could actually be good." At Emma's arched brow, he continued, "If I'm seen in other parts of the country, that would probably be good. Likely it'll lead Walsh on a wild goose chase across the map. And even if he spots me, you won't be there. And neither will Henry, so he won't find anything."
Emma hummed and sat on a red leather sofa. "That's not a bad idea. Any word on him or anything?"
August shook his head and moved to sit next to her, "Nothing. I haven't heard anything from the police department, but I can't dig too deep or he could hear about it."
Emma sighed and rested her head on August's shoulder, "I think I need to figure out how to relax, to just assume that he won't find us. I feel like there's this weight on my shoulders, a pit in my stomach, and a cloud over my head."
"Wow," August wrapped an arm around her, "All of that?"
Emma snuggled in, enjoying the fact that after all of this time August was still like a big brother for her and she could still lean on him and open up to him about her fears. "Yeah, but I want to be happy and to be carefree, plus Henry is noting that I'm still so tense."
August nodded, "You are, I can feel you looking over your shoulder all of the time." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, "Emma," he whispered, "I think it's time to let it go and to move on a bit. I know that it's hard to do that when you're still married to him, but I think we're safe here. It's time to enjoy that. Once we've been here for a bit maybe we can figure out how a divorce is possible."
Raising her head, Emma looked over at August, "Yeah, I think that sounds like a good plan." She paused, "Maybe we can host a picnic at the park next weekend?" She suggested. "I can cook and we can have all of the kids out."
August agreed, "That sounds nice to me. I think the people here are nice and they want us to be a part of the community too." Emma hummed in agreement. August decided to change the subject, "I like this sofa." He finally said.
Emma ran her hand over the leather, "Me too." She agreed. "And Henry wanted red. I'll go find a sales person and get a delivery date set up. Mr. Gold said the movers could come any time. We just need to let him know when the new sofa is being delivered."
August grunted, "I'm still hesitant to get too involved with Gold."
Emma gave him a knowing smile, "Could that be because you wish you could be involved with his wife?"
August snorted, "I'm not stupid enough to get involved with her." He stood and moved around her to find a sales associate himself. He definitely didn't want Emma examining his feelings for Belle. Besides, Gold was a little off, but in a familiar way. And August was quite determined to find out why that was.
Jefferson had been right about the rain during the day, but it ended as quickly as it came, bringing with it bright sunshine and clean, crisp air. It was a nice night for a movie in the park.
Emma, August, Jefferson, Henry, and Grace walked together from Granny's down to the park with blankets and some snacks and to-go drinks courtesy of Ruby, who said she'd meet them there once she was sure Granny would be okay without her. When they arrived at the park, Regina and Tink waved to them and they wove around the people crowded in the park for the movie to find their group. Everyone was already set up, and Henry and Grace immediately settled onto a couple of blankets with the other kids.
Once Emma was certain Henry was settled with some lemonade and fries, Emma took her own cocoa over to where Killian was seated, "I'm surprised to see you here." She murmured as she sat down.
Killian grinned over at her, "You know Mary Margaret, she invited even those of us without kids, and there's no way to decline an invitation she hands out."
Emma smiled softly and nodded, "I can see how that would be the case." She glanced at him sideways, "Well, I'm glad you're here." She finally whispered.
Killian swore he felt his heart flutter a bit at her look and words. He hadn't felt anything like that in a long time. "Me too, lass."
As the opening credits began to roll on the movie, Emma drew her gaze away from Killian to focus on the movie playing in front of them. She was going to do her best to enjoy her life here.
Walsh West and his father, Conrad West, sat in a booth in a diner just outside of Scottsdale with a man who seemed to run with a bit of a darker part of society. The man was a private investigator who was going to start searching for Emma and Henry. The local police department couldn't figure out where she'd gone to. They located the cab driver who'd taken her to the bus depot, but they couldn't find her on any of the security footage and none of the attendants seemed to remember her or Henry. When it came out that Walsh had never adopted Henry and that August Booth was still listed as his guardian if anything happened to Emma, the police had told Walsh that Emma could leave him and take Henry and there was nothing he could do about it. And Walsh had no reason to even file a report over August.
And Walsh didn't like being told no.
Walsh's father didn't like being told no either. Particularly when they'd donated so much money to the police department. Instead, they decided to hire a private investigator recommended by a state congressman Conrad and Walsh West funded.
Simon Sanders took a look at the photo of Emma, Henry, and August. "I'll find them, Mr. West." Sanders' told him, "And I'll get your boy back for you." He slid the photo in his jacket pocket and stood, leaving the father and son alone in the diner.