"I met him, Leo. Earlier today," says Regina as she takes a handful of dried fruits and nuts beginning to eat one by one.
Since her mother ran away on a Christmas Eve, she has never been able to celebrate another Christmas. The four Christmases that came next had been just a long holiday for her, and she has avoided any sort of celebration with friends, Secret Santas, and most of all, every Christmas Dinner on the 24th or Christmas lunch on the 25th during all those years.
In two weeks the fifth Christmas since the incident that changed Regina's life will arrive, and her feelings towards this festivity remain the same, although now she has better control of her distress which increases each day the date gets closer to December 24th.
And that's exactly the reason why she doesn't put up a Christmas tree or any Christmas decoration, and after marrying Leopold she was relieved finding out that he, being an eccentric man, didn't care at all about the celebration itself or any traditions.
However, there is something she can't do without, and it's a generous amount of dried fruits and nuts that she refills in a tray she has on the coffee table of their living room, and in a bowl that remains on the table of their dining room since the first day of December until the very last one.
Regina thinks it's because when she was a child, her father had a tray of mixed nuts, decorated nicely with cinnamon sticks and clove, on his desk during the weeks previous to Christmas and he used to sneak some inside her pockets for her to eat later. Cora never allowed Regina to have any snacks between meals, and this was a sort of complicity between father and daughter, a little secret only both of them shared.
"I imagined you'd meet him this morning. No wonder why it took you so long to get ready and I also noticed you were off during breakfast ...your mind was elsewhere, darling," Leopold smiles warmly at her and then, continues, "How was it?"
"It was hard seeing him again, but better than expected. Uhm ...Still, I'm surprised about what I found out ...I thought some things were one way. It happened, they weren't as they appeared," responds Regina smiling sadly, as she thinks about everything Robin told her some hours ago.
Since the day Leopold made Regina an unconventional proposal, he kept his word and offered her his friendship and with that, his advice and an interesting view of things. Over time, Regina was surprised to find in Leopold a good friend and confidant. He was an intelligent, successful and generous man that never ceased to impress her with a different approach to whatever was troubling her. She would never have guessed that this man would become one of her best friends.
They have built their relationship based on mutual respect and trust. Each of them has been totally free to discuss any topic they felt the need to and have received from the other support and sincere advice to the best of their abilities.
Leopold has shared details about his early years, his struggles as a teenager and young adult, his life when married to his first wife, and his relationship with Phil. This one being the one topic that has been addressed more frequently between them lately. Maybe, because Leopold's marriage was, in fact, Phil's idea; or, perhaps, because Regina and Leopold are aware their marriage would be ending soon now that Phil can finally claim the properties and shareholdings of his father's companies as his, since his father's death some months ago. Or, because Regina, as a therapist, has an interesting way of making Leopold examine his choices, making him feel comfortable while doing what most people don't like to do: recognize which choices had been a wrong move, and the reasons behind them.
For her part, during these four years, Regina has been able to open up with Leopold and share with him her concerns about her father's health, talk openly about her mother, discuss their theories about where she could have fled with her lover, give details about some friends that kept her company in her apartment in Boston, and tell her worries if any of these became too pushy or more demanding. This has been part of their arrangement, and, since those encounters have been held outside town and handled discreetly, just as they had agreed, there was no big deal, other than Leopold's concern on Regina's safety.
However, although Regina has shared with him parts of her past and present life, the Robin topic has been addressed very few times, mostly at the beginning of their marriage or when Leopold brought it up to the conversation. And, this is something that has always made Leopold think it is still a painful subject for Regina and that she's not over Robin.
The few opportunities they've discussed it, Regina had been able to open up and share her feelings with Leopold, but she was never the one to introduce such a topic into a conversation. Thus, Leopold is surprised that this time Regina is the one that alludes to Robin on her own accord, and thinks she might have the need to talk about it.
She is lying down on the couch, with her head on a cushion and a blanket covering her feet, while Leopold is seated on his favorite armchair with a drink in one of his hands. Both were trying to find something to watch on Netflix; however, after Regina's confession, Leopold put the remote control on the table and turned to look at her, waiting for her to talk next, but after some seconds of silence he's the one who talks, "Do you want to tell me? I'm here for you, dear. I'm all ears."
"He's a single man. He lived a nightmare. The mother of her son died some months ago, and he's staying in town, it seems. Shit, Leo ...I thought he was just being a dick all these years ….when actually he was struggling to survive ...he was another victim of my mother and his father's shit," answers Regina as she stands up to grab another handful of nuts.
"I bet Emma knew everything," she whispers to herself but fails, because Leopold answers her, "Of course, dear. Not in vain she's the best detective this police station has. Even with the low crime rate here, she has made a name and David has received several requests for Emma to lead investigations in other cities."
"But I think this time wasn't because of her superpowers or deduction skills. Killian and Robin had been drinking two nights ago. I guess that's how she knew and convinced me to give Robin a chance to explain his side of the story ...and now I can't stop thinking about him. I had everything sorted out in my life, Leo ….I ...I was ...content with our agreement ...and now, I ...I don't know what to do. I ...I am conflicted."
"You are not conflicted. You never stopped thinking about him, dear. Who are you trying to fool? Not even Graham or Jeff helped you move on ...and, I bet for Locksley it has been the same," replies Leopold.
Leopold's words prove how well he has gotten to know Regina during the last years because it happens he's damn right. He has figured out Regina never stopped loving Robin although she has never confessed it to him explicitly.
"I ...I tried to forget him, I did ...but, everything and everyone in this town kept reminding me of him ...and now, with him here and with the possibility of him staying...I ...I'm back to square one! I … I ...this is so hard, Leo …He began asking about us …and he wants to know ...but, I didn't tell him anything …you don't have to worry ...still I know he won't settle with what I told him ..."
Regina stutters, goes back and forth, has difficulty to finish her sentences, and tears are beginning to cloud her eyes. Leopold notices it immediately, so he stands up and sits by her side.
"Regina, stop, please …" he gives her his glass and continues talking slowly " ...please take a drink. It will help you relax and breath, yes dear, one ...yes, two ...that's it, darling ….keep going ...three …here we go ..." says Leopold as he caresses her back in a soothing up and down movement. "Are you feeling better?"
She takes the glass from him and drinks twice before she answers him, "Yes, thanks Leo. I'm sorry. I don't know what is happening to me ...I ..I just feel overwhelmed, with no control over my emotions. It's like if by seeing him ...talking to him again, the door of the room where I kept painful memories, distressing situations, disappointing thoughts just opened, unlocking all of them ...and, now, everything I thought I overcame is unleashed inside my head, all at once ...I'm standing where I was four years ago, and I don't like this feeling, Leo."
"Uhm ...I don't think you're exactly in the same place as four years ago, Regina. Don't you feel excited knowing he's back? The fact that he's single hasn't made you hope that you both might have a second chance? I've seen that look in your eyes, a special glow that hasn't been there before."
Regina bites the sides of her mouth and mmmmms as taking her time for disaggregating each statement Leopold said. She knows, as well as Leopold, this is a professional deformation which makes her have a view in the eyes of a therapist, and for therapists each single word has been chosen for a reason, most times subconsciously, and has a meaning for the one who talks, and an impact on the one who listens.
And, in fact, all her doubts and feelings of distress began with the words Robin said some hours ago I never moved on. I never could. If he'd only said that he did move on, that he found someone, that he started a new life, she would have accepted it and continued living her life, just as she did all these years. But learning both of them haven't been able to get over the other one brought back all the memories of the years spent with him and, Regina realized that without knowing, Robin gave her the worst thing someone can give anyone: hope. She hates herself for having some expectation that things might be different between them. She already had the taste of what it's like to have hope, just to see her dreams vanish in the blink of an eye, and that's exactly where her conflict comes from: she doesn't want to be through that again, but has hope that maybe this time it doesn't have to be that way.
So, after one or two minutes that seem like one or two hours, she speaks.
"Well, you're right. Who am I fooling? Definitely not me, and it seems I've done a shitty job fooling you, so to be honest, yes. Yes, I'm excited that he's back and, yes, I think we might have another chance ...and ...uhm ... those feelings have been awoken when he told me he never was able to move on."
"Regina, the way things have sorted out in the last months for Phil and me ...and for you, these last days is a sign that maybe the time has come to put an end to our deal. It's time for both of us to be with the ones we love."
"But a divorce takes time, Leopold. Robin would never act upon his feelings while I'm married, so I guess I just have to wait and expect no one gets in the way during that time."
"Yes, you're right. But, at least we can begin talking to our lawyers immediately and save some time. So, please pack. We're going to Boston. And, don't worry, Locksley won't be going anywhere soon. Let me take care of everything, dear."
He's fucked!
He should have known better; he's no stranger to this town, he should have anticipated that a meeting with Regina wouldn't go unnoticed and that her husband would eventually find out. And, it happens that not even 24 hours after their encounter he receives a message from an angry husband.
Locksley, meet me at the cannery by the piers. You won't want to miss this. LB
So, by his fifth day in town Robin has already pissed off the most powerful man in Storybrooke, and due to his past story with Regina and his father's background as the motherfucker who had been banging other man's wife for years, there's no way he can come out of it unharmed.
The choice of place is what worries him most. Not Granny's or any other public place in town suitable for a cup of coffee and a civil conversation in the presence of some witnesses; not the lake, which never fails to gather many visitors regardless the time of the year it is; not Leopold's office, one of the few modern buildings in town, and the workplace of many in Storybrooke, who wouldn't have missed his presence there. No, not any of those places. Instead, Leopold summons him in an abandoned factory by the piers. Shit! A place that has been abandoned for decades, the perfect location to keep someone against their will and beat the shit out of them without drawing any attention.
Robin thinks it's possible that Leopold won't even be there and he'll come face to face with a bunch of men, hired by Leopold to teach him a lesson so that he won't dare to talk to his wife ever again. Rumor has it, Leopold is fond of using some unorthodox methods to obtain what he wants, at least that's what he has heard, and he knows that behind every town rumor there's a thing or two that are true. Even though he once hadn't given a shit about town gossip, time proved him wrong.
People always said his father was a playboy and a hypocrite, and he chose not to believe; for years he heard gossips about Cora Mills being an ambitious bitch who had married Henry Mills for convenience and status, and even though he never liked the woman, he decided not to trust those rumors; even before Cora's actions were in public domain, the town's chit-chat had said Cora cheated on her husband and that turned Henry Mills into the town laughing stock, which he opted to disregard, as well. So, everything he's heard in the past has proven to be true to one degree or another.
And, there's no way that this would be any different with Leopold Blanchard and what people talked about him behind his back. Over the years he heard this man had a secret and eccentric life, a man that would use any method to achieve what he wanted, a man no one would want to get in his way, and one that preferred male partners rather than those from the opposite sex, although he has never been seen with one.
It seems everything he heard for years about Leopold Blanchard was true, except the rumor that he had a thing for males because it happens that he married the most stunning woman in town, who had admitted to love her husband.
This fact only leads him to the conclusion that he had pissed off the wrong man and that there's no other reasonable explanation for Leopold Blanchard's interest in meeting him, other than an angry jealous husband confronting his wife's ex. The only doubt Robin has left is which method of torture will Leopold be using: electrocution, beating or maybe threatening him to harm his son if he doesn't back out.
He once failed to gather enough courage to talk to the woman he was madly in love with, and this time she might not be there, but this meeting is about her. So, not showing is not an option. He won't make the same mistake twice, even at the risk of losing his own life.
Robin takes some precautions, though. He's not a dumb man and has a son to look after. He tells his sister and brother in law that he will be meeting Leopold Blanchard at the cannery upon his request. At least, if he doesn't come back in two hours, someone would know where to begin searching for him. And, for once in his life, he is grateful that his sister is married to another powerful man in town, and owner of the other half that doesn't belong to Leopold Blanchard, so he thinks at least that fact might help protect him. Leopold Blanchard wouldn't want to piss off Ethan Gold.
...
Robin arrives at the cannery fifteen minutes in advance, he's nervous and needs to know what to expect. He takes a look at his surroundings in search of any signal that this might be a trap, but nothing seems to be out of place.
Not so long after having arrived there, he hears a car approaching, and he spots a black Porsche with dark windows coming closer. The car stops a few feet away from where he is, a driver steps out and opens the door of the back seat, only to reveal Leopold Blanchard who remains seated and doesn't even make an attempt to leave the car.
"Get in, Locksley."
Shit! He should have suspected Leopold wouldn't be torturing or killing him in the specific place he summoned him, and, if he ever thought of having a death wish, he thinks it's time to begin thinking in one.
Robin gets into the car, and, as soon as he is seated, it begins to move. They drive away from the piers, taking the road that leads deep into the woods. Shit.
"So, Locksley, it seems you had the nerve to contact my wife," begins saying Leopold not even bothering to look at Robin. But Robin seeks Leopold's gaze, nonetheless, and stares directly into his eyes. He won't show fear and, in fact, he isn't afraid. He's nervous, yet not scared a bit by the older man.
"Yes. We met yesterday. I had to talk with her ...and, we did just that," explains Robin, without taking his eyes away from Leopold. He wants to show this man there's nothing he needs to be ashamed of or that might avoid him from giving an honest and true look.
"Are you aware how much you hurt her by not contacting her four years ago, Locksley? You disappeared from her life when she needed you the most."
Robin is surprised and confused, to say the least. He has been expecting something like don't you dare talk to my wife ever again, or, maybe next time I hear you got near my wife I'll kill you, Locksley, or perhaps no words and a punch in the face from an angry husband, instead. Still, what he reads from the tone of Leopold's voice, the look in his eyes and the expression on his face, is consideration, worry ...and, yes, care.
"I know. And that's why I needed to talk to her. I wanted to explain how things were for me ...I asked for forgiveness, Mr. Blanchard. And even though it wasn't granted to me, that was my only expectation on that meeting," clarifies Robin. He won't let Leopold Blanchard have the slightest doubt about his intentions with Regina.
"Was it?, Locksley. I don't think so ...and that doesn't have anything to do with the bastard of your father."
Okay, maybe, deep inside Robin's mind and for a fraction of a second, he might have hoped something different from that meeting. He has his feet on the ground; he's not a dreamer; he's an adult, and one that has tasted heartbreak and loss, more than once actually, so he knows the difference between a wish, a desire, something where reason doesn't play a part and the harsh fucking reality.
"Look, Mr. Blanchard, I can assure you that I know my place and, definitely, it's not near Regina. I respect your marriage. You don't have anything to worry," states Robin, but before he can add something more, he hears Leopold talking.
"Uhm ...when I married Regina I knew she was an amazing woman, but living with her, talking to her every day, spending time together gave me the chance to know her in a completely different level, and I found out she's the most fascinating creature I came across ...there must be very few women of her kind …She's smart, witty, independent, a competent professional, organized, tender, passionate, she does not do things halfway, in whatever she commits, excels, she's classy, elegant, sophisticated, well mannered ...and besides all of that she's beautiful, her features are perfect, and her body ...well, I've seen how people stare at her, men and women, young and old, single and married ...all of them fall under her spell ...You know, I have a theory about why people tore her apart all those years ago. It was envy, Locksley, pure jealousy and those shits were happy that for once Regina Mills had a stain and that there was something about her that wasn't pure perfection, and they took pleasure with her suffering."
Wow! If Robin had any doubt about Leopold's feelings towards Regina, there's none now, because after Leopold's speech it's clear that this man genuinely loves her.
"I see you love her Mr. Blanchard, and I'm glad she found someone that sees all of that in her ...which, in fact, is nothing but the truth." Robin smiles sadly as he thinks in every word another man said about the woman he loves, and tries to leave aside the uneasiness that the fact that someone referred to her as passionate leaves in him because picturing her with another man in any passionate, intimate scenario hurts too much.
"Yes, I love her, Locksley. She's everything any man would want, and that's why I never understood how easily you disappeared from her life. If I didn't know any better, I would say you didn't love her, but I know that's not the case. She didn't deserve any of this in her life … the mother life gave her, and certainly, she didn't deserve the way you vanished."
"She didn't deserve any of it, but at least you were there for her, Mr. Blanchard ...and I want to thank you for that. You stood for her, you made her life better. I'm glad that at least my departure brought you into her life," adds Robin, and he would never have guessed that he would be thanking another man for being close to his Regina. But, from what Leopold just told him, it appears this man, made Regina's life better, and he hates himself for that, for giving someone else the opportunity to be there for her in the way he should have been.
However, Robin's thoughts are interrupted by Leopold, and he comes back to reality, to the back seat of a car and to the company of a man he has hated for years.
"Locksley, what I will tell you next ...I hope you won't take in a wrong way." Leopold makes a pause, looks at Robin, sighs and continues talking "My marriage to Regina isn't what you think ...our marriage isn't a conventional one. I came to her life for a different reason than what you think and I need you to believe in what I'm going to say next ...and I don't know if it's too much to ask, but I need you to trust me."
Both men are staring deeply into each other's eyes, and with his eyes glued to Robin's, Leopold admits "I love her, yes, but not in the same way as you do."
Robin doesn't understand what he just heard, needs some clarification, so he begins to talk "Mr. Blanchard…"
Nonetheless, Leopold doesn't let him finish "Look, Locksley, I haven't gotten where I am by being fooled by idiots like you, because, believe me, any man that runs away from Regina Mills is nothing but an idiot ...So, just stop pretending you don't love her because anyone can see from miles away that you're still in love with her."
Shit. Things are heating up inside the car, and Robin can't hide his uneasiness after what he just heard, that happens to be nothing but the truth. How come this man could have figured out his true feelings? Has he done such a shitty job during these four days he's been in town trying to pretend he is over her, that a man he barely knows and with whom he hadn't crossed a single word until half an hour ago, has found out the truth?
"How I feel towards Regina doesn't matter. I won't disrespect your marriage. I told you, you don't have to worry." Those are the words that Robin comes up with upon hearing a husband easily admit that another man is in love with his wife.
"Uhm ...What if I told you that things between Regina and I are not what they appear to be? What if I told you that my love for her is not romantic, but as a friend? ….a good one, but still a friend. What if I want to give Regina a gift, the chance to retrieve something ...someone she lost years ago? What would you think if I told you, you still might have a chance with her? Will you trust me?"
Is Regina's husband saying what he thinks? Is this a Christmas miracle? The perfect gift ...the one that's been on top of his Christmas list for years? Another chance with her? Robin is confused, but he has his feet on the ground, and knows those Christmas miracles only happen in fiction, in children's movies and never in real fucking life ...least of all, in his.
And, he curses himself for the millisecond he got his hopes up and loses the little control he still has.
"Are you fucking with me? Is this a joke? Because if it is, it's not funny …Or, is this a kind of test you want me to fail, so you can beat the shit out of me?" asks Robin. His face shows nothing but anger and surprise, and right at this moment, he's using the last dose of good judgment left in him, for not breaking this man's nose and step out of the car.
"I understand your bewilderment, Locksley. But this is no fucking joke. You need to take a leap of faith if you want her back. Can you be in Boston in two days, without your son, only you?"
Shit. He'll have to think about this. What if he gets there, only to find out it was just the way a jealous husband found of getting rid of him and make him disappear without a trace. If his own father betrayed his own family, what would prevent a complete stranger to do the same thing to him?
He can't be sure if it's because of Leopold's gaze that seems honest, or his words that finally did an excellent job convincing him, or his desire to believe he might have another chance with her, but before he realizes he's nodding his head.
"Okay, Locksley. I'll give you some instructions later and be sure to get to Boston not later than December 20 ...if things go as planned you'll be back to open gifts with your son on Christmas morning."
"And if they don't?"
"Well, in that case, you'll get earlier to your son ...don't worry, Locksley, either way, you're coming back to this fucking town … Oh ...and take a dark suit with you. You'll need one."
Something's troubling her. She has felt it since she and her husband had an emotional talk two days ago, yet she can't identify exactly what bothers her so much.
This feeling is affecting her ability to complete simple tasks. That's how she finds herself spending an alarming amount of time packing very few items for a brief stay in her apartment in Boston, which, in fact, shouldn't take that long, considering every piece of clothing she might need is already in that apartment, hanging in her closet or neatly tucked inside her drawers.
She is a quick packer, always has been able to choose the right outfit for any occasion in record time, but this time the lack of concentration is making very hard for her to finish gathering her stuff. And this is only a sign that whatever is bothering her is tampering with her ability to focus, to organize her ideas and be done for once with the damn suitcase.
Regina decides to do what she does best and begins examining the events of the past few days trying to find what exactly is bugging her. Yet, she realizes so much has happened in her life during the last week that it could be anything (or everything) because it happens all she thought had already been sorted out, is not. Her life is upside down again.
She needs a drink for this and decides to head to the bar and choose something that can help her find an answer, among the selection of alcoholic beverages Leopold has stocked the bar with.
Could it be the fact that her marriage is about to end, hence taking her away from her comfort zone? Or, might it be that Robin's presence in town troubles her, and now that she knows it's possible that he stays in town permanently, she needs to learn to be around him, but in a different capacity than the way she knew? Or, perhaps it's about her visit to Boston, the one Leopold has assured her would be to visit their lawyers? Or, maybe because something in Leopold is off?
Or, might it be because people in town are beginning to look at her differently? As if they were wondering when will she do to Leopold what her mother did to her father? And, it happened that, just the day before, she had to deal with that shit all over again. It was difficult enough having to deal with everything that happened in her life lately and with a Monday morning after a sleepless Sunday night, to tolerate any nonsense, besides that. But, it seemed someone had other plans for her and wanted to test her patience, because, as she waited for a cup of coffee in Granny's counter, she noticed Tink approaching her, and knew beforehand how a conversation with her would go. Tink had been Regina's friend for years, more accurately, Robin's friend, and was the one that played matchmaker for both of them. Over time Tink became as close to Regina as she was to Robin, so she had been equally heartbroken with Robin and Regina's breakup, just as if she were one of them. However, Regina never approved Tink's way of sticking her nose in private matters between them and intruding in any disagreement Robin and Regina had. Tink was consistently telling Regina to give Robin another chance, that they were meant to be together, that they were soulmates and blah, blah, blah (as Regina said when the woman infuriated her) if it happened that Robin had done something to piss Regina off.
So, that Monday morning, when Tink had whispered to Regina asking if she knew Robin was back in town, failing very much so to be subtle because Regina is convinced more people heard Tink's question, Regina had felt exposed again to town gossip and rumors. And the brief encounter between the two women had ended with an utterly annoyed Regina answering she didn't have time to gossip about boys. However, Regina was aware it would take more time for her to get to her car (that was just across the street), than Tink and Regina's words to spread over town. That is exactly the shit she doesn't want to deal with ever again in her life!
Thus, after two vodka tonics, in the quietness of the living room, she arrives at the conclusion that Leopold's behavior is what bothers her the most, although the other questions she has asked herself have something to do with her distress in some way. Leopold's change of attitude has no explanation for her. He has always been so easy to read, but the more she thinks about it she realizes something's not right. He's different, odd, mysterious even. Definitely, there's something going on that she isn't aware of and that he's hiding from her, and that particular fact is responsible for her distraction.
She doesn't like surprises. People acting mysteriously around her are only a reminder that something she isn't aware of might be happening, and this only leads, deep inside her subconscious, to the event that marked her life: her mother leaving her family for the guy two blocks away. And, the same sensations of uneasiness, nervousness, anguish, distress ...are coming back.
And the more she thinks about Leopold's behavior, the more convinced she is that he's planning something.
Her suspicions began with the several times she caught Leopold talking over the phone with Mrs. Chang, the housekeeper of their apartments in Boston. There's no need to be in contact with Mrs. Chang that much, which makes her think something out of the ordinary is happening.
Leopold Blanchard is the owner of several properties in Storybrooke and other cities, but the only ones he's fond enough to manage personally, besides his mansion in Storybrooke, are the two luxurious apartments he owns in Boston. One, destined for his exclusive use, and the other, which was his wedding gift for Regina, for hers. No one knows about those properties, except for Phil, Regina, Leopold and his lawyers.
However, even though Leopold and Regina spend most of their time in Leopold's mansion in Storybrooke the two apartments they when they are in Boston are taken care of by Mrs. Chang, who's in charge of keeping both apartments stuffed with groceries, clean and with the bills paid on time. So, if by any chance Leopold or Regina decide to get there without previous notice, they'd find everything working ...just as if they lived permanently there.
Mrs. Chang doesn't need any reminder or special instruction to do her job just as Leopold and Regina expect. That's exactly how this has worked since they got married, and Mrs. Chang has proved to meet the expectations of a boss as demanding as Leopold Blanchard. Not once has Regina arrived and found things out of order or something that didn't work or some service canceled due to lack of payment. Always her apartment has been waiting for her as if she had been there the day before, even if sometimes she hadn't set foot in it for a month.
Therefore, the three or four times Regina has caught Leopold talking over the phone with Mrs. Chang during the last two days is enough to make Regina think Leopold is hiding something from her.
Then, it had been Leopold's insistence on a particular choice of clothing he insisted she should take to Boston: a specific elegant black dress. Under other circumstances, she would just have packed the dress without question, but this time is different, and she tells Leopold that she won't need such a fancy dress because she doesn't have plans to attend any event in Boston. His maybe there's something waiting for you, dear, and you'll be grateful for this dress makes her think he knows something she doesn't.
But what confirmed Leopold is up to something was his odd behavior just the day before, followed by a two hour period where he was nowhere to be found, and something he let slip in an innocent conversation, this morning during breakfast.
They were having breakfast chatting animatedly about town and the newly elected mayor when Leopold said he hoped this time the Mayor would be competent enough to fix the road that leads to the woods, because it was so damaged that people inside a car kept jumping that much that I almost had Lock..er...luck that the passenger next to me wasn't on my lap.
Locksley. He was about to say Locksley. She just knows it. That's the way he names Robin. Never by his first name. It has always been Locksley to him.
She looked at him and asked "What did you just say? Why were you taking that road, anyway? It leads nowhere," and his attempts to cover up his lapsus linguae and to change the topic were far worse than his slip, which only helped her confirm her suspicions.
However, Regina decides to trust Leopold on this, yet pretending nothing's going on doesn't help her and is the reason for her distress, anxiety and lack of concentration.
Leopold's let me take care of everything two days ago gives her enough confidence to think he's got everything solved and whatever he's planning is under control and shouldn't make her lose any sleep. Leopold has earned her trust and, certainly, Regina knows he won't be planning anything that might make her feel uneasy and uncomfortable. During the time they've been married, he has shown nothing but care and concern for her. He has been a true gentleman and not only has honored their deal, but also has gone further by trying to assure that their agreement didn't make her feel like a prisoner, and the truth is she never felt that way with him.
So, Boston it is! (and, whatever Leopold has planned.)
As she finishes packing her last item of clothing, she hears Leopold calling her "Regina, dear, the driver is ready to go."
Little does she know, Robin Locksley has just checked in, in an exclusive hotel in Boston, only a few blocks away from Regina's apartment.
To be continued ...