Chapter 3

The next morning I woke up sore from moving boxes all day yesterday. I move to a bag on the floor that I haven't unpacked yet and pull out a black one piece swim suit. I walk to the bath room and change into the bathing suit. I look in the mirror and pull up my hair into a low ponytail. I grab the white robe that is hanging behind my bathroom door. I pull the robe on.

I walk down the stairs and out the patio doors towards the beach. I make it down to the beach front and stare out at the water. This place is making me nostalgic and I am not used to feeling that way. As I stare out at the water while standing on the water's edge, I think back to the summer my father and I spent here.

I am shouting as the cold water hits me. I laugh after the water recedes then shout again when the water hits my feet again. We are only at the water's edge but the water is still freezing as it splashes onto my feet. I jump up and down on the beach trying to avoid the cold water as it crashes around our feet.

"Hey, you want to know a trick?" My father asks me.

"Yeah." I reply.

"You plant your feet in the sand and you stand still through the whole first wave." He tells me.

"Okay." I respond not really believing him.

"Then the next wave's gonna feel warmer." He tells me.

"'Kay." I reply still not believing him.

"And then the next one after that's gonna feel warmer still. Finally, you're barely gonna notice the cold at all. Are you ready?" My father asks me.

"Yeah" I tell him.

"Here it comes." He announces.

"Okay."

We stand out ground while gripping each other's hand. The next wave crashes against our feet. I shout and then laugh with happiness.

"You must come from a family of polar bears." A female voice says at me breaking me from my reverie. "The water is ice cold."

"Only at first. After, a while you can't feel anything." I respond. I look to see that it is Belle Scarlett talking to me as she walks down the beach holding her shoes. She's dressed in white linen pants and a yellow blouse.

"Sounds like my marriage. You must be the new renter." She says to me.

"Emma Swan." I tell her as I cross my arms. "Word gets around fast."

"Like lightning. I'm Belle Scarlett." Belle tells me. She places her right hand out and I shake it. "My husband and I own the house you're staying in."

"Oh." I respond faking being shocked. "Oh wow, it's so nice to meet you. I can't tell you how much I love it."

"Me, too. Some good memories were made there." She states.

"Well, hopefully I can make some of my own." I tell her with a fake smile.

"So long as we don't have to take it out of your damage deposit. Welcome to the Hamptons." She tells me trying to intimidate me. I just smile at her as she turns and begins to walk away.

Belle walks away as I take of my robe and run into the water for a swim. I swim for twenty minutes to clear my head. I walk out of the water and grab my robe on the beach. I walk back up the path towards my house for the summer and walk inside. I lock the glass doors behind me.

I walk upstairs and shed the wet robe. I hang it behind my bathroom door. I shed the wet one piece and toss it on the floor. I step into the shower and let the hot water wash over me. When I am done in the shower, I grab a towel and wrap myself in it. I hand the wet bathing suit in the shower. I walk into the bedroom and grab a white tee shirt, leggings, and a brown cardigan from the bag on the floor. I change quickly and comb my hair.

I walk downstairs. I grab my laptop from where I hid it and pull up one of the videos of my dad's trial. I watch as the camera pans to Belle as she takes the witness stand.

The reporter on the news video says, "Federal prosecutors wrapped up their case for treason against disgraced hedge fund executive David Nolan. Taking the stand was Nolan's secretary, Belle Scarlett, whose testimony supported the damning allegations made by Nolan's former boss, Robert Gold. Gold's testimony detailed the scheme Nolan used to channel money to the terrorists responsible for the downing of Flight 197. All 246 Americans onboard that flight were killed."

I remember the day my father was taken like it was yesterday.

"What do you like better, dad, sea glass or starfish? Dad?" I ask my dad as I walk to where he is sitting on the couch.

"Starfish, definitely." He responds.

"Here you go." I hand him a starfish I had found on the beach earlier that day.

"Thank you" My father responds and moves to answer the ringing phone. He turns to me and asks, "Hey, do you mind going and looking after Sammy for me?"

"Sure" I respond as I walk towards Sammy, our golden Labrador retriever, who is by the glass patio doors.

Sammy starts to bark for no reason. "What's the matter, Sammy?" I ask him.

"Hey, everything okay?" I hear my father ask on the phone.

A group of people dressed all in black with guns and flashlights appear through the glass patio doors and grab our dog Sammy. I start to scream at the unknown person. "Daddy!"

"Whoa, whoa, what's going on?" My father says as he sits up and throne the phone on the couch.

"Hands up so I can see them!" One of the people in black shouts.

"What's going on? You're making a mistake, you're making a mistake!" My father shouts as one of them pins him to the ground.

"Don't, don't Daddy! Don't know!" I shout as someone grabs me and lifts me off the ground. I continue to scream and struggle against the person.

"Get your hands off of my daughter! Emma! Let her go! Emma!" My father continues to shout while pinned on the floor as they take me away.

That was the last time I saw my father. I focus back on the video I am watching on my laptop. Belle is about to start her testimony.

"David Nolan had everyone fooled, including me. I'm just glad I can help put that monster away." Belle Scarlett tells the reporter on the video.

I exit out of the video and begin to look through the photos I have taken and acquired of Belle Scarlett and Robert Gold's private affair. If only Regina knew what those two were up to. But she will find out in due time. Belle Scarlett was going to pay for her involvement in what happened to my father.