"Have you seen the new guy?" Leroy asked Mister Clark as he swallowed the last bite of his pancakes. "Looks like a monster."
"He is." Remarked Clarke.
"I know, right? He's practically bought the town over night. Been here a week and he already owns all of Main Street and half the homes."
"Granny, didn't he want to buy the inn and this place?"
Widow Lucas set Mister Clark's second cup of coffee down and then let out a sigh.
"He has." She said plainly. "The woman who owned it was Missus Potts, she is a friend. She got it from her husband after he died and I think she just wanted to retire from it all, I don't blame her."
"Yeah, but now the diner and inn are owned my a monster with a cane. What if he puts the rent up?"
"He hasn't. I think if he was going to he would have done it by now. Oh speak of the devil."
The two men and Widow Lucas silenced as they watched Storybrooke's newest resident enter the diner. Mister Gold had quickly gained a reputation as a monster thanks to his strict rules for his tenants, as far as they could tell, no one liked him. He had bought a small store at the far end of Main Street and turned it into a pawnshop that looked more like an antiques store that had been there forever. Then again that was exactly what Cameron wanted it to look like, it was his dream after all. His wedding present for Belle was taking a little longer than expected but after hiring a man named Ethan Dove as a sort of assistant things had picked back up.
Cam wasn't stupid he knew that no one in the town liked him, and to be honest Gold liked it that way. People paid their rent on time if they were afraid of the owner. He had always enjoyed business to be done efficiently.
"Mister Gold." Widow Lucas greeted, quickly making her way to him. "What can I get you?"
"Just coffee, sugar, no cream. Thank you Missus Lucas,"
Granny nodded and wandered off to get the monster his coffee for the morning. Mister Clark sneezed. Most people kept their heads down, but not Leroy, no he just stared at Cam like if he focused hard enough then Gold would burst into flames, turn to ash and solve all their problems. Cameron just ignored him, he had better things to do than have a public argument with a grumpy local. So far the only people that seemed to treat him indifferently were, Ethan Dove and Emma Swan, the town Sheriff. He had a feeling that Belle was going to get on well with Dove, they shared a love of literature, but he doubted anyone in town knew that bit about Dove.
Soon enough Granny returned with his coffee and set it down like it was cursed. He paid the woman but didn't make any effort to move, that set a little panic in her bones. He looked angry, but she couldn't tell if he was about to evict her or if that was just his face. So hard to tell she said to herself. Suddenly he pulled a small green box from his inner suit pocket and held it out to Granny, it was small, about the equivalent of a woman's palm. It also had a think gold ribbon tied in a bow around it.
"What's this?" She asked taking the box.
"It's for Ruby, give it to her when she arrives home would you?" It was a question but he made it sound like a demand.
"Em, okay. I will." She couldn't really say no.
With that Cameron left the diner with his coffee, sipping it as he walked. Leroy and Clark just looked at the box with gaping faces.
"How the hell does he know Ruby?" Asked Leroy.
"I have no idea." Answered Widow Lucas with a puzzled face.
"Open it."
"What if its a bomb or something? Don't be silly Clark." Leroy suddenly leaned away as Clark sneezed for the millionth time. "Do you ever stop that?"
Clark looked at him apologetically.
"I can't just give this to my granddaughter, what if its something inappropriate?"
"Then open it." Said Clark, then sneezed. "If its something inappropriate call Emma, if not then give it to her and see what Ruby says when she opens it."
Clark had a point, she could always call Emma if necessary. It would be entertaining she told herself.
"Alright, we open it."
With that Granny set the box down and carefully pulled the ribbon and pulled open the little green box. Granny pulled a confused face and turned the box so Leroy and Mister Clark could see. Inside was a little silver keychain, it held a reasonably sized silver 3D graduation hat with a tiny wolf etched into the metal beside Ruby's name in beautiful calligraphy style writing. There was also a small note stuck to the top of the box that read.
One for all of you, congratulations.
-C
It was safe to say all three were confused.
"What the hell?"
"Couldn't have put it better myself, Leroy." Said Granny.
"Well at least it doesn't look inappropriate." Another sneeze. "Will you give it to Ruby?"
"I think I have to, this looks like a graduation gift. He has to know her reasonably well so I guess he will ask her of she got it."
"But you're going to question her on it right?"
"Of course. Can't have my granddaughter hanging around with that man. He can't be good for her."