Chapter 4

I pull out my phone and call Tamara as I put on the façade of running errands in town. I am really looking for Belle Scarlett at the South Fork Inn. I am eating lunch at the restaurant inside the Inn, waiting patiently for Belle to walk into the Inn.

"Ems, please don't kill me." Tamara says when say answers the phone. She sounds stressed.

"Well, that depends, what am I not killing you for?" I ask her with a smirk.

"Standing you up this afternoon. I have a million-dollar art auction to deal with." Tamara responds.

I spot Belle Scarlet as she walks into the South Fork Inn. I snap a quick photo of Belle entering the Inn and then place my phone back at my ear.

"Oh, there's no pressure there. You want me to pick up your dress for you?" I ask her as I continue my conversation with Tamara.

"Oh, you're a lifesaver." She tells me.

"Oh, please, I'm sightseeing, you're working. I got you covered." I respond.

"Thank you" Tamara replies.

"Bye" I tell her as I hang up the phone.

I look at the photo I snapped of Belle Scarlett quickly. It's not the best photo but you can tell it's her so it will have to do. I look up to see Robert Mills walking through the lobby of the Inn typing away on his cellphone. I grin as Robert walks down the hall.

The waitress approaches me and asks, "More tea?"

"Please." I respond with a smile as I stare at Becky the waitress' nametag.

I know just how to reveal that the two of them are here together. I continue to finish my tea and I pay for the lunch I just had. I walk into the bathroom and crush the pills I have in my purse. They won't kill Robert Mills but in this quantity they will mimic the symptoms of cardiac arrest. I walk back out into the hall and through a doorway marked employees only.

I grab a spare uniform and the name tag I swiped from Becky when she was on her break. I slip into the employee bathroom and change into the uniform. I put my glasses onto my nose and pull my hair into a ponytail. This would have to do. I walk back to where room service is housed and listen until Belle or Robert order's room service. I overhear a waiter talking about the room Belle walked into. When he isn't looking as he was hitting on a female waiter, I poured the crushed drugs into the tomato soup and I stir them in.

I walk away and slip back into the bathroom. I change out of the uniform, take my hair down, and take off the glasses. I change back into the pink button up shirt and jeans I was in earlier. I fold the uniform and place Becky's name tag on top of it. On my way out of the employee section of the Inn, I place the uniform back on the cart I swiped it from and leave the same doorway I came out of. I exit the Inn without anyone noticing me and I walk across the street. Now it is just time for me to wait and see what happens.

\*****/

I walk towards the South Fork Inn as a Robert Mills is rolled onto the street on a stretcher. Belle Scarlett is wildly asking the paramedics questions Robert's condition. I walk quickly over to Belle.

"Belle. Belle." I say as the paramedic's places the stretcher into the ambulance. I finally catch Belle's attention. "Emma Swan." I tell her. "My… my god. Is this our husband? Do you need a ride to the hospital?"

"No, I don't. I…" Belle responds frazzled.

I watch as Belle takes one last look Robert and the paramedics bustling equipment around him before walking away quickly. I smile as I watch Belle run away from the ambulance and Robert.

\*****/

I walk out of the dress store where I am picking up Tamara's dress for her before I leave this part of town. I hear a dog barking in the distance that sounds a lot like Sammy. I take off my sunglasses to get a better look. I notice Killian and Sammy in the small park across from the dress shop.

"The whole point of fetch is to bring the stick back. Do I really gotta explain this again?" I hear Killian say to Sammy.

A small smile forms on my lips. It's been too long since I have seen either of them. I hear Sammy barking as he runs away from Killian and towards me.

I here Killian shout, "Come here."

I remember when Killian and I were children and we used to play with Sammy on the beach.

I see a young boy running down the beach. Sammy is running next to him. The boy is in a light blue shirt and khaki shorts. He has light blue eyes and shaggy brown hair that falls in his eyes as he runs.

"Come here, Sammy, I found a stick for you." I tell Sammy as I pick up the stick and Sammy bites on it.

"What's his name?" The boy asks me.

"Sam" I tell him.

"He sure likes sticks." The boy comments.

I throw a stick into the water for Sammy to fetch. "Fetch it, Sammy." I tell the puppy.

"Nice throw." The boy tells me.

"Thanks." I respond with a smile and a shrug..

"I'm Killian." The boy tells me.

"I'm Emma." I respond.

I walk over to the small park where Killian and Sammy are. I step over the rope lining the park. I know I shouldn't being doing this right now. But I haven't seen Sammy since the night I was taken from my father and I missed him.

"Come on, Sammy, pick up the stick. Where're you going?" Killian asks Sammy as he wanders off and continues to walk towards me. "Get back here. What are you doing?"

Sammy is now sitting in front of me.

"What are you doing? Sammy!" Killian shouts.

Sammy stays sitting in front of me with his paw raised as if he was waiting for me to recognize him. I recognize you, Sammy. I just can't show it. I am not Emma Nolan anymore. I am Emma Swan and Emma Swan doesn't know Sammy and Killian. I sigh and I let myself slip for a moment because I miss the life I remember as a little girl.

"Sam?" I whisper the question so Killian can't hear me.

Sammy jumps into me and I laugh as I hug and pet Sammy. Killian is now running towards us.

"Sammy, Sammy! Get down! What's the matter with you?" Killian asks Sammy as he kneels next to him and begins to pet Sammy with me. "I am so sorry, he's not normally this friendly. He's kind of an old grump, actually." Killian says me. He looks into my eyes and I get lost in them.

Killian has grown up so much since we were kids. He is a man now and he is handsome. I had a crush on him when we were children and I feel those feelings reappearing as I see him now kneeling a few feet in front of me. But I can't let myself feel for him. It's not why I came back to the Hamptons and he would just ruin everything.

"Mmhm." I manage to respond as I continue to stare at him.

"Uh, he got mud on your dress." Killian tells me.

"Oh, that's not big deal." I tell him as I look down and try to wipe the mud off of the plastic covering the dress.

"There's an Earl and Emma's dry cleaners right around the corner. I'll walk you over." Killian states as he points behind me in the direction of the dry cleaners.

"Oh, that's okay. Um, I got it. Thanks." I say as I get up and begin to walk toward my car. This was a stupid idea. I shouldn't have walked over to where Killian and Sammy were. I should have gotten in my car and driven away without looking back.

"Well, hey. Uh, tell Earl and Emma that you're a friend of Jack Porter's. My family owns the tavern down by the docks, the Stowaway. What's... what's your name? I'll... put you on the official comp list." Killian asks me a small smile forming on his lips.

"You don't have to do that." I tell him shaking my head.

"Well, I'm not picking up the tab. Sammy is. He feels terrible, don't you?" Killian says as he rubs up and down Sammy's sides.

"Thanks anyway." I say as I walk away from them and towards my car.

"All righty, then. You have a great summer." I hear Killian say behind me. I can feel him staring as he watches me drive away.

What was I thinking? I shouldn't have done that.