Isobella had been getting the library ready for its opening all week, deliveries of books, new furniture, new computer systems all delivered on time, installed and with no problems at all. So far it had been a very smooth and successful operation. Young students from the local school had poured in to take advantage of the reading classes on offer that Mary Margaret was running. They had both been delighted that Henry Mills, the mayor's son, had joined. Mary Margaret had given Henry a present a while back, a book of fairy tales, but his life was so...lonely for want of a better word that he began to get a little confused between reality and the fairy tale characters in his book. The whole town was wary of Regina Mills, she could make life very difficult when crossed or when she perceived a threat, and this had a knock on effect on Henry. He was something of a pariah; no one wanted their children to be close to the mayor's son as no one wanted to be noticed by the mayor. In the few days of the library being opened, it had a steady stream of business each day.
The library had an unexpected visitor towards the end of Thursday. It was the last person Isobella had expected to see. It was her husband. He walked in as the last patron was leaving. "We're just about to close" Isobella called out from between the bookshelves as she heard the footsteps behind her. "Well that's a shame" A soft Scottish brogue replied. Isobella manifested from the other side of the classical works shelf to see Mr Gold standing there, as self assured as always despite the cane, which somehow in his hands seemed another sign of his power. "What do you want?" Isobella asked sharply, immediately regretting her reaction. It was just that she really hadn't expected to see him, and in truth was a little unnerved given that he had said the library was hers outright. At the back of her mind was the constant concern that this would be taken away from her; that this was a trick to win her around and once that was accomplished she would fall back into her old life with him. "What else does one want in a library dearie?" Mr Gold smirked, that damned incessant sexy smirk that advertised he was planning something. "I want a book" he continued. "Of course" Isobella replied, determined to be professional. "Anything in particular?" she asked. "50 Shades of Grey and the Karma Sutra" he stated, quite deadpan. At Isobella's shocked expression he assured her "Not serious, that one was just a quip dearie". Isobella smiled despite herself. Mr Gold walked towards her and handed her a slip of paper. "I believe this was delivered here today?" Gold continued. Of course, Isobella realised. The library had a delivery service and she'd taken delivery of a few orders that day but hadn't paid attention to the names on them. Isobella walked to the front desk and scanned the reference number. "Yes, it's in the back room. I'll just get it. What is it, if you don't mind me asking?" Isobella had always been curious about his reading tastes. He seemed to have every genre of book imaginable and seemed to have read them all. It would have taken her a lifetime to read all the books he had at his house. "Not telling." Gold replied, still smirking. Probably is 50 Shades of Grey and the Karma Sutra Isobella thought sulkily as she walked to the back room to collect his order. It's just a shame I'm not benefitting from that any more. Isobella shook her head at that thought. Best to stop thinking like that...Returning to the desk she put the still wrapped book in front of him.
"Well, if there's nothing else..." Isobella said, intending to return to her cataloguing. "Actually, there is something". There it is, the clause, the deal. There's always something. "And what's that?" Isobella asked, not quite wanting hear the answer. "Dinner" Gold replied, leaning forward slightly. "Dinner?" Echoed Isobella. "Yes, dinner. " "With you?" Isobella questioned. "Yes, with me" Gold replied "I was thinking tomorrow" he said to fill the silence. "Tomorrow?" Echoed Isobella again, a little stunned. "Yes, tomorrow" Gold replied.
"Dinner, with you tomorrow?" Recapped Isobella, disbelief clear on her features. Gold sighed. Surely he hadn't been that bad a husband. "Yes, dinner, with me tomorrow". That's all he wants? Dinner with his estranged wife? "Um, ok" Isobella said, not quite sure how else to respond. "I'll pick you up from your apartments at eight then?" Gold said, surprised that she had readily agreed. "I have one condition" Isobella said hastily, wanting to stay in control of the situation and not give Gold the upper hand. Despite Gold usually being the one to have conditions and clauses he didn't mind Isobella specifying any. As he recalled the deals she made with him back in the Dark Castle had always ended up fun for him. "I choose the venue" Isobella said at Gold's enquiring look. "And that would be where?" Gold asked. "Granny's diner!" Isobella said, a smile playing about her lips. She'd always liked discomforting Gold during their early years of marriage, and Gold had always enjoyed being discomforted. Gold winced theatrically and Isobella laughed at his reaction. Just like the old days she thought wistfully.
"Fine, Granny's diner it is. I reserve the right to be tetchy"Gold agreed. As he left Isobella watched him warily, wondering what his motivation was in asking her to dinner. There was always an ulterior motive with him. With trepidation she considered he may want to change the conditions of the divorce he had offered her. Had he asked her to dinner to ask her to sign the papers? She'd already done that, but she still wasn't sure how she felt about returning the papers to him. She hadn't prepared for the possibility that he may want her to now sign the papers. What's done cannot be undone, and in giving the signed papers to him she would be sealing that part of her life away forever.
Isobella moved out from behind the desk back to the classical works shelf to continue her cataloguing almost on autopilot, hoping to lose herself in her work.
Finishing her work for the evening and thoughts full of her husband, Isobella retired to her apartments. Ruby was working the late shift at the diner. Mary Margaret was illicitly meeting with David Nolan, and Emma Swan had Henry for the night, so she hadn't made plans. No matter, she was tired and Gold's invitation had given her plenty of food for thought.
Having eaten dinner Isobella crawled into bed, by now exhausted. Who knew running a library could be so tiring?