A/N – Ahhhh. I am falling in love with this story, and I hope you all are as well. This chapter is the continuation from last chapter when Henry had just come home from the fight. I hope everyone continues with their support, and I will continue to write amazing chapters. Enjoy.
"How about, we finish up cutting the potatoes, and then I can catch you up on everything that just happened." She simply nodded. Lost for words. Which was certainly a first for her. But to me, it just made her look all the more cute.
We left the food to cook, and made ourselves comfortable on the couch in the living room. We each had a drink. I offered her a beer, but she said she was more of a scotch girl. So we got settled, and as we sat opposite each other, I looked in her eyes, and I couldn't read her. She seemed almost shut off from the world. Like she had built a wall around herself, and it would take a wrecking ball to remove it. But I wasn't planning to give up on her so easily. She intrigued me, and I wanted to get to know her. No matter how much work it would take.
"So, what was that all about in the kitchen? With Henry?"
"It is a really long story. But I guess I can try and make it a bit simpler. Feel free to ask me any questions along the way if you get confused at any point." She smiled and nodded. I took a deep breath and tried to think of the easiest way of explaining this, without outing myself to her just yet. Got to give the girl a small bit of mystery. "Okay, where do I start? Uh, well firstly, Henry's Dad. He was called Neal. We met when I was eighteen. I was out for the night with a few friends, and I was…looking to have a good time. We went out to this club in town. I wasn't exactly enjoying myself. My friends all went off on the dance floor, and I don't dance, so I sat at the bar on my own. Then," I stopped for a second just remembering the night. "I felt this hand on the small of my back. I thought to myself, great, someone else who wants to just try and by me a drink. I knew I was looking for a good time, but honestly I had never actually…" I needed to be careful about how I phrased this now. "…been with a guy. And I wanted it to be with someone that actually made me laugh and not just want to get into my pants. I turned around to look at who was holding me, and I saw Neal. And the first thing he said to me was, I take it this wasn't the kind of night you expected it to be. And just like that, I knew he was going to be my first guy. And he was. He took me home that night, and it was," I looked at Regina, and realised I might have been going into too much detail for someone I didn't really know. So I tried to reel it back slightly. "Nice. He was a gentleman, and kind. But, I just didn't feel any spark between us. There wasn't anything that made my heart sing. So the next morning Neal was gone, and I went back to being me. It was just a one night stand."
"But wait, I thought your husband only left you recently."
"He did." She looked confused and so I continued to explain. "Turns out the one night stand is more than enough. My period that month never came. So I took the test and it was positive. Say hello to Henry." I tried to make a small joke, but I knew the topic wasn't exactly the most cheerful. "So anyway. I got hold of Neal and told him. He was more than happy to be the Dad, but I didn't want to be his wife."
"Why not? I mean I know you said there wasn't any spark, but you must have had some other reason surely."
"You're right. I had my reasons, and for now I would like them to stay that. My reasons."
"Fair enough. Continue."
"Well, we decided for the sake of appearances and for Henry of course, we would get married, but we wouldn't actually do anything. And it worked. For about the first three years. When we were so occupied looking after Henry we didn't really have time for anything else. Then Neal started to get a bit more, exploratory." I could tell she didn't really know what I meant. "He was pushing to see what he could and couldn't do. So he would wrap his arms around my waist, or kiss my neck. And I just didn't want any of it. I just didn't want him to touch me. But he didn't always understand that. Then one day, he just couldn't take it anymore. He left a note on the dresser and was gone." I finished and dropped my head to look at my hands. I hadn't been able to stop rubbing my hands against each other. I was so nervous. This wasn't a story I liked to explain, and yet I seemed to be saying it more often than not at the moment. "So I guess in one sense you could say, I did actually push Neal out the door. And I never did anything to stop him."
"It wasn't your fault. None of it was. If you didn't love him, and you didn't want him to touch you, that is your choice. You're a person too and deserve to be treated as such. But if you don't mind me asking, why is it you didn't want him touching you?" I swear explaining this story caused more issues than it solved.
"My own reasons. And that is all I am going to say for now."
"Okay." We sat in silence for a moment. She placed her glass down on the table and shuffled closer to me on the sofa. She leant forward and was leaning on her legs which were up and crossed on the seats. "But you can't blame yourself for any of this. There are just some things that are out of your control, and this was one of them. What you need to do right now, is be strong. For Henry," She paused and placed a hand on my leg. It sent a shiver through my body. Her touch was just so comforting, so reassuring. "And for yourself." I put my hand down on hers, and looked her in the eyes.
"Thank you Regina. It has been a long time since anyone has said something like that to me." We sat holding hands for a while. It was strange how comforting it was just to know someone was holding me. Someone who made me feel something.
"Emma?"
"Hmm."
"I have one more question"
"Shoot."
"If you married Neal, does that mean you haven't been with another guy since?" I was so glad she asked that the way she did.
"Yeah. I haven't slept with another guy since I met Neal." I didn't even realised I had done it, but at some point during our conversation, I had moved closer to Regina slightly. And I'm glad I did. I could hear Henry moving around upstairs, climbing out of the bath and moving to his room, when I suddenly realised. "Regina, I have been forgetting to ask you, you spoke to Ruby Lucas about babysitting for me right?"
"Yeah she gave me your number to call you, but I keep telling myself I will just talk to you when I see you, then I forget to talk to you about it." I noticed she was staring straight into my eyes. Like she was trying to find something. I couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh.
"No worries. But do you actually want to do that? Babysit Henry for me?"
"Yeah. I love kids. And Henry looks like a good kid, he just has lost his way a bit over the past few months. And you look as though you could use the break. I take it you haven't been able to go out in a while."
"Well, I did have a babysitter, but lately she has been busy and now she is gone altogether."
"Huh?"
"Different story for another time." I waved her question away, because I didn't even know the answer to the question myself. She smiled at me, and when I saw that smile, I lost all sense of feeling. My whole body just went numb. And I just sat there, looking at her smiling at me, and I could have quite happily done that all day. But turns out my phone had other ideas. "I'm sorry let me just grab this." I moved up off the couch, and my leg went cold from the loss of Regina's hand. I picked up my phone and went into the hallway. It was Belle. "Hey Belle, what's up?"
"Emma!" She sounded panicked, but not the fearing for her life kind so I figured she wasn't in danger. "I am freaking out a little bit."
"Belle, just calm down and tell me what is happening." She took a deep breath and slowed right down to speak.
"Well, Ruby came round this morning before work, and you'll never guess what she did," Actually, I have a pretty good idea. "She asked me out. And I said yes."
"Belle that is amazing. But I am slightly lost as to why you're freaking out."
"Because she asked me out for tonight, and I have no idea what to where or what to do. Help!" I knew she would be as nervous as hell, but she was calling me for fashion advice. I don't think she was quite in her right mind.
"Do I have to come over now? Henry got sent home from school after getting in a fight, and I have some company round." She stopped the minute I mentioned Henry, but I knew she hadn't missed the last part.
"Okay, you can explain the Henry thing to me when you get here. But who is your company?"
"Regina, the babysitter Ruby told me about the other day."
"Well that's perfect then. You can leave Henry with Regina, and then you can come and save me. Now hurry up." She didn't even give me a chance to answer before she hung up. She wasn't exactly giving me much of a choice. And I didn't really want to leave Henry with Regina. They had met each other for all of five seconds. Maybe if I had a small word with Henry, and Regina was alright to look after Henry it would be alright. I kept running things through my head, before walking back into the living room.
"That was my friend Belle. Apparently she is having a major crisis and needs my help. But I don't really want to take Henry with me. He needs to rest." I scratched the back of my neck almost feeling awkward for asking her this. "Would you mind watching him for a little while? If I don't go help her, she will come storming over here, and things won't be pretty." She tried hard not to laugh, but she couldn't hide the small smile that was gracing her lips.
"Yeah, no problem. I have my laptop with me so I can keep working on the event whilst you're out. And I can text or call you, I have your number. Actually do you want to add my number so you know it's me when I call you?" I got my phone back out, and started typing in Regina's details into my contact list.
"Okay, I am going to have a quick word with Henry, and then I should be off. Thanks again for being able to do this. It really is a huge help."
"No problem. Really. I'm here to help with anything you need me for." Oh. How the hell does she get in my head so easily? I got up from the couch, and headed up to Henry's room. I heard him move out of the bath earlier, so I knew he would be lying down on his bed. Probably reading a book. I knocked on the door lightly, in case he had gone to sleep. I crept into the room, and saw him sitting up on the bed with a book in his hands like I thought he would be.
"Hey kid. How you feeling?" He lowered his book, and looked up at me.
"Alright. The bath sort of relaxed everything. It doesn't hurt so much anymore." I perched on the edge of his bed.
"Good. Okay that makes what I'm about to say slightly easier I suppose." He looked at me with a curious face. "Belle just called me said she is freaking out. She needs me to come over and help her with something." He started to look disappointed, but I knew something that would persuade him. "If I don't go there, she will come here." He instantly started to panic.
"Go. Go. Go to Belle and help her with whatever." He was practically shoving me off the bed. When he first met Belle they got along really well. Then when she found out he had a love for books like she did, she became insufferable. Trying to force read Henry all her favourite books. He liked to read, but at his own pace, and his own style. I stood up to show I was leaving, but I leant down to give him a kiss on the head first. Something he hasn't let me do for a long time now.
"Thank you. I shouldn't be too long, but Regina is downstairs and if you need anything just give her a yell."
"Wait, who's Regina?" I made my way over to the door, and stood in the doorway.
"She is the woman you saw in the kitchen with me. She is working with me at the gallery for the event next month, and she is also your newest babysitter."
"Um, okay. And you trust this person to look after me?" I thought about it for a second, before realising something.
"I trust Regina with you Henry." I trusted this woman with my son. I trusted her with the thing I cherished the most. And I trusted her with my whole heart. I left his room, and headed back down the stairs. I grabbed my handbag from by the door, and went to speak to Regina one last time. "I almost forgot. When the food is ready, just serve it all up, and give one of the plates to Henry. He won't say no to food. Have whatever you want. There are drinks in the fridge. If Henry needs anything I said he should just give you a yell. Uh, am I forgetting anything?" She got up from the sofa and moved round to where I was standing.
"Coat." She pointed to the front door, where my coat was hanging on its hook. "It started raining about five minutes ago." As I looked back to Regina she started rubbing a hand up and down my arm. It was soothing, and made me feel a bit less stressed about leaving Henry. I had done it before, but it wasn't easy leaving him with someone new. No matter how much I trusted her.
"Right. Thanks again." I made for the door, and grabbed my jacket. As I slung it over my arms, I heard Regina's heels clicking towards me. I turned and I almost walked into her. She was so close. And so vulnerable. I could just so easily give into my desires. I could lean forward a fraction and feel those soft supple lips upon mine, but I knew if I did, there would be no going back. I hadn't been with anyone I cared for like this. It was so new to me. And it scared the shit out of me. "I should…I should get going." She started to smirk slightly. Never said a word and nodded. I fumbled to try and find the door handle behind me. I couldn't turn around. It was like my body decided to freeze up. I finally opened the door, and backed out, almost tripping over the door step. As I closed the door behind me, my senses finally came back to full usage. I took a deep breath, and tried to calm my nerves which were buzzing throughout the entirety of my body. I quickly got into my car, and drove straight to Belle's.
XXXXX
"Emma! Thank god. Get in here." She yanked me through the door, not even giving me chance to say hello. She pulled me through to her bedroom where I saw at least ten sets of clothes sprawled out across the bed. "I have no idea what to where, and I really want to look nice, but I also want to be comfortable, but I don't want to come across as underdressed, or not really bothering." She hadn't stopped since we got to her room. I went over and placed one hand on her shoulder and used the other one to cover her mouth.
"First of all take a deep breath." She did as I told her to. But I could still see it in her eyes, that she was panicked beyond belief. I am going to remove my hand, but I need you to stay quiet so I can talk. Okay?" She nodded and I slowly released her. She did as I asked and stayed silent. "Now, let's take a look at what you have." I quickly scanned a few of her clothes. A few were eliminated straight away. Others were alright, but I knew she had better. As I was looking over her clothes, I thought I could fill her in on what happened to Henry. "Henry got into a fight at school today. That whey he got sent home. Apparently some boys at school were picking on him and saying stuff he didn't want to hear, so he started a fight. I don't know what the other guys looked like, but Henry has some cuts and a few bad bruises on his stomach and chest, but he is holding strong. He's a strong boy." Then I finally narrowed it down to two possibilities. The first one was a dark blue dress with lighter blue polka dots. It had a high neck line, with some netting on the chest. It stopped around middle of the thigh, and it did wonders for her figure. The other was a dark blue sequin dress, which tied up at the back. I held them both up in front of Belle. "Choose." She kept flicking between the two dresses, but her eyes rested on the polka dot dress. She didn't even have to say anything, I just discarded the sequin dress on the bed, and handed Belle the one she chose. "Now go get changed." I left the room so she could change in peace. I made myself comfortable in the living room, flicking through a few things on my phone. Sorting a few e-mails out. When I heard Belle coming downstairs, I turned my phone off, and waited for her to come into view. She looked stunning. She came down the stairs and was like a new woman. She had so much confidence when she walked. It was surprising what an outfit could do for a person.
"So, what do you think?" She held her hands out slightly so I could get the full look of her.
"Ruby won't be able to take her eyes off of you tonight." She tried to hide the blush crawling up her neck, but nothing was going to hide that flush of red. "So do you know what made her want to ask you out?" I had my own idea, but I wanted to see if Ruby had said anything to her. Judging by Belle's face, she did.
"She said I should ask you." I couldn't help but smile. I knew she wouldn't be happy when I told her, but she was so happy now, she wouldn't be mad at me for long. "Emma. What did you do?"
"I might have told her about your little crush." Belle readied herself to scream at me. "But in my defence she told me that she had a crush on you first. I just helped you on your end." She relaxed slightly. Still not happy about me spilling her little secret, but she moved over to the couch, and took a seat. I joined and tried to explain myself. "Well, Ruby came round my house on Saturday after I got back from work. And we talked about…" I paused remembering the conversation, and decided I would tell her my story some other time. She needed to focus on herself right now. "Stuff. And I asked her what she thought of you. And honestly Belle I didn't think she was going to shut up. She had been wanting to ask you out for a while, but you being the coward you are, she thought you didn't like her." Her face became a scene of worry and guilt. Then I thought about the conversation once more. "Well, that's not entirely true. She said she didn't know if you liked women. So I gave her a helping hand. Are you complaining?" She turned red once more. I'm pretty sure all she could think about was Ruby and how much they were both going to enjoy tonight. "Look, I can stay for a bit longer if you want to talk, but I do need to go back at some point today. I still have to work with Regina on the event."
"Wait, what? I thought you said Regina was your babysitter. Why would she be helping you with you gallery event?"
"Oh that's right you don't know."
"Know what?"
"The people that were meant to be helping me with my event originally were fakes, so we had to hire a new company. Graham called Mr Gold's place, and turns out the person Ruby was telling me about for babysitting, is now also the person helping me plan the event. Which basically means I am going to be spending all day with her at work, and then some nights, she will be coming home with me to look after Henry when I go out." There was plenty more to the story, but I thought I might let Ruby tell Belle. Ruby had done me a huge favour of suggesting Regina to me. She may not have introduced us, but she did tell me about her in the first place. And she helped me to open up about being into her. I felt like I owed her. And I knew how much she loved to gossip. This would be a massive scoop for her to share. And then I don't have to deal with the hundreds of questions I'm sure Belle will have for me afterwards.
"Oh, okay. I guess that makes a bit more sense now. Well if you want to head home feel free. I have another few hours before Ruby gets here. I just wanted to be ready early in case I thought something was wrong. You know what I'm like."
"Unfortunately I do." She tapped my arm, and I headed for the door. I stood in the doorway, and turned to face Belle for a final minute. "Do me a favour tonight and ask Ruby what the deal with Regina and me is." Her expression was complete confusion, and before she could say anything else, I jumped in to answer her unspoken question. "Just do it. I owe her a favour. And something tells me you might find it interesting what she has to say." And with that I closed the door. As I made my way back to my car I pulled my phone out, and typed a quick message to Ruby.
Tonight, Belle will ask you a question. Answer it fully and don't hold anything back.
I sat down in the car and didn't even turn the engine on before I got the reply.
How will I know what the question is?
Trust me, you'll know. Enjoy your date.
I didn't receive a reply, so I just assumed Ruby didn't want to question it any further and left it. I pulled up at my house, and just sat in the car for a minute. I thought to myself, in the time of knowing Regina I have come clean to my two best friends, and felt so much freer for doing it. I thought that maybe being with Regina would be good for me. I can finally be me, and not have to hide any part of me. And then I thought about how my family would react to me being a lesbian. After all those years of them seeing me with Neal, I think it might be a bit hard for them to digest. Mom certainly won't be happy. She is very old fashioned in that sense, and has always wanted me to find a good guy that will treat me right, and look after Henry. And she thought Neal was that man. And he was. For Henry at least. Just not me. And Mom never knew because we were always sure to act specially lovey dovey around her. I took one last breath, and got out the car. As I entered the house, I was met with a round of laughter, followed quickly by some loud moaning. I followed the noise to the kitchen to find Henry and Regina on either side of the counter with a book in hand.
"Hi guys. What's going on in here?" Henry was first to move.
"Regina was reading me the story Snow White and the Seven Dwarves."
"Am I missing something? I thought that was a story about how a young girl was forced to run away, live with dwarves and finally finds her true love. I don't remember it being overly funny though."
"It's not, but Regina keeps telling me all these different back stories to all the different characters. Like for example, the Evil Queen. She wasn't always evil. But Snow White had the Queens first love killed by not keeping a secret. Then she was saying how all the dwarves have their own separate stories. The dwarf, Grumpy, is a drunk who calls everyone sister. But my favourite one is how she managed to snake Little Red Riding Hood into the story. She is Snow Whites best friend. But the twist there is Little Red is also the big bad wolf. Her cloak keeps her from changing. It's the coolest thing ever." Henry was bouncing off the walls with excitement. I looked aver to Regina who hadn't moved from where she was standing, and just shrugged, as if she had no idea what Henry was talking about. Henry finally took a breath, and relaxed slightly. Regina finally backed off the counter, and walked up behind Henry.
"Henry, remember what we talked about earlier?" His whole face and body instantly deflated. He nodded his head whilst looking at the ground. "Can you go wait in the living room?" She walked right past me, heading for the living room. I turned back to Regina who had taken a few more steps closer to me.
"What was that all about?" I pointed behind me to where Henry had just disappeared to.
"Well, when I went up to give Henry his food, I had a little chat with him." I wasn't really sure how to take that. A woman who barely knew my son, having 'a talk' with him. "After he said a few things, I thought it might be a good idea for him to talk to you."
"No, that won't work. We don't talk, we scream at each other. And never get anything accomplished."
"Exactly. That is why I told him that when you got home, you two would sit down on the couch, and actually talk to each other." I thought about what she was saying. And she had a point. We needed to talk. The system we had right now, really wasn't working. "He needs to know his mother is here for him. But he needs to hear it from you." I took in what she was saying to me. Took a deep breath and moved into the living room. As I sat down on the couch, I noticed Henry fiddling with the hem of his shirt. He only ever did that when he was scared or nervous about something.
"Henry…"
A/N – Okay, going to leave it there. The talk will be in the next chapter. It might be up tomorrow, or it might be up Sunday, not sure yet. Hope everyone is enjoying the story, and that you stay with it. Let me know what you think, and I'll see you next time. Goodbye my lovelies.