Johanna was wary of Judge Turpin's gaze on her as they walked down the street. The sign for Granny's Diner was a few feet ahead, blinking and buzzing periodically. Johanna sighed. She could count the difference between the seconds the sign buzzed and how many seconds it took Judge Turpin to look away momentarily if they were doing something like crossing a street.
It took about six seconds exactly.
For the rest of that time, Johanna was acutely aware of Judge Turpin's attention. Having been her adoptive "father" for all these years, she knew he was probably being overprotective, but she knew how he truly felt. She knew her biological father was out there somewhere, but whee exactly, she wasn't sure.
"So, my dear," Turpin piqued her attention once they approached the diner, the noise of people escaping the front door, "how do you like Story Brooke so far? Not quite like home, I suppose?" Johanna shrugged. Living with the Judge in London wasn't going to feel any different than living here, she knew.
"I suppose," she said, quietly fighting the urge to mention Anthony. She knew how he felt about the boy, as well as their engagement. The day he found out- no, the very minute- Anthony and his employer, the strange Mr. Todd, whisked themselves away to America.
Or so the story went. Judge Turpin had tried convincing her that she was seeing people that didn't exist, even going so far as to throw her into Bedlum's Insane Asyum. She shivered at the memory- the girls there were truly pitiful, and she hated knowing that she was one of them, even if only for a few minutes after faking that she indeed was pretending to see poltergeists.
"You know I truly am sorry, Johanna," the old man said as they walked into the diner, "but it was for your own good." Johanna ignored him, instead looking out at the crowd. Construction workers were at the bar, a waitress running around on a pair of roller blades wearing skimpy red shorts and handing out tall glasses of soda. everyone seemed to be pretty friendly with one another.
And she hoped Anthony was here somewhere because dear God, she couldn't stand spending another minute with the judge. As they took seats at a booth by the window, the waitress rolled up to them, handing two sleek laminated menus to the Judge, who smiled in return.
"Thank you," he said. The waitress flipped her brown hit over her shoulder, and Johanna could see two red streaks dyed underneath.
"I'm Ruby, I'll be your server today," she said, poising her pen over her notepad. Sighing, Johanna opened her menu, stealing a quick loo at the girl's bright smile, her teeth two perfect rows of pearls.
"I'll just have the breakfast platter," Judge Turpin said,"the same for Johanna." Johanna glared at him- not even allowed to give a food order! Ruby raised an eyebrow at he, then at the judge, "Is that all?"
"Yes," the man gave her the menus, sliding out of his seat, 'now if you excuse me for a moment." The two women watched as he disappeared into the bathroom, and the waitress rolled her eyes.
"Okay, obviously you don't want the breakfast platter, so what do you want?" Johanna glanced at the bathroom door, then at her- was she crazy?!
"No, really, it's fine," she said.
"Listen my job is to make sure your full and a happy stomach is a happy customer," Ruby said, "so I'll get you some pancakes and bacon to go." Johanna nodded as the girl began to scribble in her little notebook.
It felt wrong to go against what the Judge had ordered for her- but it was just food, so it really shouldn't have mattered.
I guess it's because he's made my decisions for me for my whole life, Johanna thought, thanking the girl as she rolled away to go behind the bar alongside an older woman. Ruby winked at her as Judge Turpin came back, grunting as he took his seat in the both. Johanna smiled back, Judge Turpin calling her attention once more.
"So there's a new hair dresser's opening up later today," he said, "why don't we go get a haircut then?" Johanna brushed her fingers through her boon hair. It had always been long, at least halfway down her back, and she liked it that way. No way she was going to chop it off because some creepy old geezer wanted her to.
But she didn't protest. Instead she heard herself agree:
"Okay I guess."
Judge Turpin smiled, reaching across the table to clasp her hands in his.
"I'm so happy you're with me, my dear," he said, and Johanna recoiled, pressing her back into the padded leather seat.
She wished Anthony was here in this town because she couldn't stand another minute alone with the Judge.