Regina Swan-Mills
I watch as Emma slowly pulls out of the driveway while I produce a corky wave goodbye. My wife smiles brightly, showing off her cheeky grin that does certain things to my heart, before she drives away. I sigh as I walk to my mother's car, knowing she has been eyeballing me the whole time and now I have to face this woman alone. How, after all these years, does she believe now is an appropriate time to barge her way back into my life?
My mother steps out of her overly expensive vehicle, that screams, 'Look at me! Look how much money I have'. She doesn't bother walking any closer as she just lingers in the doorway, expecting me to come to her.
"Now that you are done making a scene, are you ready to have a proper discussion?" Her words are ice cold, sending a chill down my spine.
I hate how she still intimidates me after all these years...
"Well I hope you enjoyed the show mother. I have a class and if you wish to speak with me, you can return this evening. We can have a proper conversation including Emma," I explain formally because old habits die hard. Even after all these years my mind is still trained to speak properly for my mother.
"Oh, come now dear, there's no reason to have your blonde toy around when we speak."
I grit my teeth as a hot burning burst of anger rages through my blood. After all this time, my so-called mother is still doing her best to degrade me. I know whatever jab she can stick into a conversation, she will stab away.
"First of all, she is my wife!" I seethe, "second of all, insult Emma again and I will never speak to you ever again, that's a promise." My mother chuckles as she waves off my threat.
"Calm down Regina, stop being so melodramatic. I will see you this evening at seven sharp," she commands as she spins around effortlessly and completely unaware or maybe just unaffected by the anger radiating off of me.
"I mean it mother, don't step foot in my house tonight if you plan on insulting Emma or Henry!" I warn as I turn on my heel and hop into my car as if I have somewhere to be.
My hands shake violently as I start my engine. My mind races with too many disturbing thoughts of how everything and anything could go wrong tonight. I peel out of my driveway, screeching my tires against the pavement below. I drive off in such a rush with murderous thoughts on my mind, I hardly recognize the drive out of my subdivision.
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The water gushes from the sink as I rinse the last of our plates from dinner. My nerves are shot at this point from spending the entire day worrying about what's to come with my mother's visit. While cooking dinner, while eating my meal and even now, cleaning the dishes, I feel lost and only functioning because the autopilot button switched on in my head.
My wife is dragging a large spoon through the Rocky Road container while our son waits patiently at the kitchen island. Henry's practically licking his chops staring at his other mother preparing his dessert. Rocky Road has always been his favorite, just like his blonde mother.
"Is that enough?" Emma innocently asks as she displays the bowl, with only half a spoon full. The amount is not even deemed worthy enough to call a bite.
"Mom," Henry whines her name with big puppy dog eyes in hopes she will take pity on him.
"Mommy's pregnant, I need the rest for myself," Emma enthusiastically defends her actions before she pops a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. My wife slowly drags the spoon against her velvety tongue in the most teasing manner.
"Your mom used to eat so much Rocky Road when she was pregnant with you," I inform Henry. A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth from just the thought of Emma and I back then, so young and carefree.
"Remember when you went out to buy me a pint and Ruby walked-"
"Stop right there Emma!" I scold holding up a hand.
My wife leans forward and bites my open palm. She scrapes her teeth against my flesh with her adorable nose crinkled.
"You're impossible," I mock rolling my eyes.
"You're adorable!" She counters with a cheeky grin.
"You're both annoying!" Our son complains contorting his features into a disgusted look.
"Don't call your moms annoying," I reprimand as I shoot Henry a stern look.
"Aw Gina, we got our first 'annoying', I'm sure we are going to hear the sweet sounds of, 'mom you're embarrassing me' soon," Emma teases in a sticky sweet tone as Henry rolls his eyes once again.
"Can I please have my ice cream now?"
Emma leans on her elbows across the island and pouts out her thin lips. Henry holds her gaze in challenge while I watch both of my two-favorite people with nothing but love.
"Tell us, you love us!"
"Fine, I love you moms," Henry groans as his eyes dart toward his feet. His freckled nose and cheeks flush from embarrassment only prompting smiles to form from Emma and I.
My wife scoops more ice cream into his bowl and slides the bowl across the countertop. Henry is quickly to catch the bowl with both hands and smiles shyly into his dessert.
"Man, what are we going to do with you when you're fifteen," Emma mocks and I can't help but smile at the two.
I love their playful little banter. My eyes drift down to Emma's stomach, still flat and no signs of our tiny peanut growing inside. I love our little family and can't wait for the next one.
I wonder if our next baby will resemble Henry? Or if this little one will be the spitting image of Emma. I wonder if it's a boy or a little girl hiding in there. I wonder if Henry will be too old to pay any real attention to his younger sibling.
All my wandering thoughts are quickly interrupted when the doorbell rings. My heart stops brutally knowing who awaits on the other side. Emma flashes me a half smile before she resumes eating her ice cream, straight from the container, just like a child.
I leave my two children behind in the kitchen and trudge my way to the front door, dreading the disapproval and judgement that waits on the other side. I take one deep breath to compose myself and yank the front door open. To my surprise both my parents are standing on my porch.
"Daddy!" I squeal throwing myself against his chest.
I haven't seen my father in ages. I know my mother has her husband on a short leash, but I forgive him for following her foolish orders, I am just so happy to see him. My father wraps his arms around my torso and lifts my feet off the ground, despite the fact that I am now taller than the man. He's just a few inches shorter than I and the extra weight he's put on doesn't go unnoticed. I sigh when I realize he's just growing older and his almost bald head is just a reminder.
"Regina," my father gasps as one hand protectively cradles the back of my head as if I were still a small child.
Emma must have heard my squeal because she comes running into the living room with curious eyes and an excited smile forming upon her lips. I pull away from my father and introduce him to Emma. She smiles brightly knowing how much this man means to me, well to us since our son is named after him.
"It's very nice to finally meet you. I always wanted to meet the man our son is named after," Emma confesses kindly while she shakes my father's hand.
"May I meet the young man?"
"Of course, dad," I say with a smile that just won't quit. I just can't seem to contain the happiness bubbling over.
My father is finally here.
All four of us walk into the kitchen and for a brief moment I forget my mother is still present. I'm too consumed by the joy of finally having my father around.
"Henry, we would like for you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Mills," Emma introduces carefully. Her face is a dead giveaway to her anxious nerves. I think, she might not know what the proper thing to say is in this moment.
"Hi, nice to meet you," Henry says politely before his child instincts take over. "So, you are both my grandparents? Are you here to make up with my moms? Are you going to come around more?"
"Henry," I warn, effectively snapping his mouth shut, appearing slightly shy all of a sudden, most likely from embarrassment.
"It's quite alright Regina," my father interjects, "yes we are your grandparents and yes we are here to talk to your moms." He smiles fondly at our son, sending a burst of overwhelming love to flutter deep within my heart.
"Henry why don't you head upstairs and give us adults a few minutes to talk please," Emma suggests. Henry nods while slipping from his chair and out of the room without any further discussion.
"Mr. and Mrs. Mills, please make yourself comfortable," Emma insists as she motions to our kitchen table. "Would you like anything to drink?" She offers and I smile to myself at how she is trying so hard to be an accommodating host.
"Water is fine for both of us," my mother replies without checking with my father first. My father nods in agreement just as he always does, as if he ever has a choice. My heart aches for the way my mother treats him but it's his own fault for never defending himself.
"So, mother, why did you come here?" I inquire taking a seat across from her.
Emma walks stiffly over to our table and hands my parents each a glass of ice water before taking her seat next to me. She slides one more glass down in front of me. I lean into her side and kiss her cheek briefly as a thank you.
"Zelena explained you were trying to conceive a child but the doctor told you it wouldn't be feasible. She informed me you were having a hard time accepting this fate. I thought it was necessary for me to offer you support," her words are cold and stern, like always. Anything that comes from her mouth is never heartfelt, just words she assumes are necessary to speak.
"Well thank you for your concern mother, but Emma and I are doing just fine," I reach across my lap taking Emma's hand into mine as I glance at the gorgeous blonde. "She has helped me through this tough time and has been nothing but supportive and loving."
Emma smiles in return and squeezes my hand beneath the table for moral support. I know the reassurance has nothing to do with my fate and everything to do with my mother's presence. I turn my attention back toward my parents to find my father smiling from ear to ear, with so much love and pride. While my mother's face is blank, masking all her emotions.
"I see," is all my mother states.
"Emma will be taking my place and carrying our child," I announce even though I probably shouldn't have. If I know my mother this statement will most likely cause another argument.
"That's wonderful news Regina. I am so happy for you," my father beams from across the table and I can't help but wonder how much trouble he will be in for speaking out of turn.
"Thank you, daddy, that means a lot to me. We love Henry so much and we can't wait to add more to our family," I confess smiling with excitement, one more time at my wife. She mimics my grin with such pride causing my body to feel all tingly inside.
"Cora, isn't there something you would like to say?" My father prompts as my mother rolls her stern eyes and exhales very rudely.
"I would like to begin on a path working toward rebuilding our relationship," my mother proposes firmly as she glares at me. I just can't seem to decipher if she is being genuine or if this is some kind of game to her.
"Why don't we take it slow and see what happens," I counter, "this...is a start. We will see where it goes from here."
"Wonderful," my father exclaims through a heartfelt smile. My mother's lips are pressed firmly together as she nods curtly in agreement.
After a few more minutes of awkward conversation, we politely escort my parents to the door and say good night. I close the door with a heavy heart as they walk out and rest my head against the wood. I breathe out a deep sigh as Emma hugs me from behind and whispers lovingly into my ear.
"It was a start."