Underneath The Surface

Chapter 6

Holding Her Breath

Regina tried to smooth the wrinkles from her slacks, but it was a futile effort. The only thing that would help her clothes was what her body needed as well.

A good washing and rest.

Emma saw the motion and knew that it was as much Regina's desire to look as good as possible as it was a nervous habit. "Well, let's go knock."

Emma strode the rest of the way to the wide, white steps trusting Regina would be right behind her. She knocked, hoping someone was home.

They didn't wait long before the door was answered by a teenaged girl, clad only in denim cut-offs and a white t-shirt.

"Hi, Cam dropped us off here, said we could find a room?"

"Sure, come in and I'll get my mom." The girl stepped aside and opened the door wider. "MOM!"

Regina winced at the girl's unladylike bellow, but said nothing. Emma shut the door behind them and turned in time to see a woman come down the stairs.

When she reached the bottom of the staircase, she held out a hand. "Hi, I'm Patty and this is my daughter, Callie."

Emma introduced Regina and then herself and explained that Cam had dropped them off. Callie mumbled something about a drawing and retreated to another room.

"So you say Cam dropped you off? Just like her to not even come in to say hello, the lout." Patty smiled and led them into a sitting room. "I only have one room available right now, due to it being bear season. It's a fair size, but it's only a queen sized bed, I'm afraid."

"I'm sure it'll be fine." Regina smiled.

Emma looked at her companion and blinked.

"How did you find Cam? Would you like some iced tea? You must be thirsty."

They agreed, and Patty hustled into the kitchen before Emma could answer her question.

When she came back, she brought a tray that held three large, frosted glasses. "I hope you like it, I made blackberry iced tea on a whim this morning."

Emma took a glass and passed it to Regina first, then took one for herself. "It smells great, thank you. Cam found us wandering around out in the woods. We were travelling cross country, but I'm afraid I fell asleep and hit a tree. The car bounced and wrapped itself around another tree. We barely had time to get out before it went up in flames." Emma lied and looked at the floor.

"That's horrible!" Patty exclaimed. "Are you both all right? How long were you out there?"

"We're fine, but we were wandering out there for days. In fact, I'm not even sure what today is..." Regina added.

"It's Tuesday, at 2 in the afternoon. So everything you had..."

"Is gone. So I'm afraid we've arrived with just what we're wearing." Emma wondered if she would have to account for her lies later in life, but she was very sure no one here was ready for the truth. "We have money, and my bank card, but..."

Patty was waving off Emma's faltering explanation. "Don't worry about that right now. You ladies must be exhausted. I'll show you to your room. Rest, and then we'll worry about the rest of it later." She noticed both of them had already finished their tea. "Would you like more tea to take upstairs with you?"

Regina smiled that thousand watt smile that Emma loved so much and held out her glass. "Yes, please."

Regina looked around as they were shown to their room. The staircase was solid wood, with a sturdy wooden bannister to match. The walls were wood panelling half way up, a soft butter yellow above, and a wooden trim that matched the stairs. There were windows everywhere, all covered over in the same drapery, a light and summery print that looked it belonged in Granny's B&B. All of the windows were open to let in the summer breeze, and the smell of cinnamon came from somewhere within the house. Finally they came to the top of the stairs, and here Patty turned right. She stopped at a solid looking wooden door. "This is your room, Callie is across the hall. Mine is on the main floor. It locks, for privacy, here's the key." She handed it to Regina, who smiled her thanks. "You have your own bathroom with a shower. Towels are in there as well. I'll let you ladies rest. Just come find me if you need anything."

"Thank you." They both said together.

As Patty went back down the stairs, Regina unlocked their room.

It was much like what they had seen of the house, warm wood and butter yellow walls, though the drapery here was a little heavier and darker. The furniture was cherry wood, and all a matching set. The bed was a massive four poster, and very comfortable. There was a white wicker chair and a matching desk along one wall, and a dresser along the opposite wall. Emma sat in the chair and took her boots and leather jacket off. "I need to wash some of this dirt off me. Ugh." Emma glanced at Regina, who was also taking off her boots. "So you're okay with us sleeping together?" She found herself holding her breath while she waited for a sarcastic comeback.

They both ignored the unspoken innuendo.

"Afraid I'll bite, Emma?'

"Should I be?"

Regina only chuckled in response.

By the time Emma emerged from the bathroom, feeling a little cleaner, Regina had removed her jacket as well, laid down on the bed and was fast asleep. Emma shrugged, laid down beside the former mayor and was asleep soon after.

A light rapping startled Emma awake and it took her a couple of breaths to remember where she was. When she realized someone was knocking at the door, she swung her legs off the bed and went to answer it. Patty stood on the other side.

"Emma, I'm sure you ladies must be hungry, and I have dinner almost ready. You're both welcome to join us if you'd like. There is a diner down the road if you'd rather not..."

Emma shook her head. "We'd love to, thanks!"

Patty smiled. "That's great, it'll be ready in about ten minutes. At the bottom of the stairs, turn left and follow the hallway all the way to the back, then right."

"We'll be there, thank you.'

Just as Emma was closing the door, Regina sat up. "I thought I heard voices."

"Patty invited us down for dinner, thought we might be hungry."

"That's an understatement."

"She said ten minutes, so you have time to freshen up or whatever."

Regina nodded and went to wash up.

They cleaned up as best they could and followed the directions to the dining room. Callie was pouring water as they came into the room and from the other direction, Patty came in bearing a large, steaming dish.

"I hope you ladies like lasagne!"

Regina gave a small chuckle under her breath. "We do, thank you."

"Grab a seat anywhere you like."

Emma took a chair at the opposite end of the table from their hostess and Regina took the chair on Emma's right.

Salad was passed around, followed by the lasagne and a frosted pitcher of iced tea. Emma knew there would be questions, and while she ate, she pondered how to best answer. Thankfully, Regina took control of the conversation right away.

"Is there some sort of mercantile in town where we might replace our clothing?"

It was Callie who answered. "A couple of buildings past the Sneezing Moose is the BuyWay store. There's not a lot that's cutting edge fashion, but it has your basics."

"I'm sure that will do." Regina replied. "Do you know what time they close?"

Patty swallowed a mouthful and answered. "They're open until eight, so you'll have time to go after dinner if that's what you'd like."

Regina nodded and glanced at Emma.

"I think that's what we'll do then. We're going to need clothes other than the ones on our back." Emma spoke up.

The four of them ate in silence for awhile. Emma glanced up at Patty and noticed their hostess looked as if she wanted to ask something.

"So, Callie, did I hear you say earlier that you draw?" Emma asked quickly.

The teen nodded and launched into a long explanation of her dreams to become an animator. She talked about going away to an arts based college, the high standards of Disney and Pixar and the technology she would have to learn. Then she prattled on about a drawing she was doing and talked about her frustration with shading. "Would you like to see it?"

Emma and Regina both nodded and the girl bolted from the room.

"Thank you for indulging her," Patty said with a smile. "Not many adults take her seriously. She's a fine artist."

Just then Callie came back into the room. "Tell me who you think it is." And she dropped the sketchbook at Regina's elbow.

Regina was just finishing her glass of iced tea when she glanced down. She gasped and began to cough. Emma patted her on the back until Regina had regained control. Regina flicked her eyes to the paper and then quickly back to Emma.

Emma turned the sketchbook toward her and immediately understood Regina's choking.

Staring back at her, in pencil, was her mother.

Snow White.