I hope everyone enjoyed getting a look into Colette's past in the last chapter! I just wanted to warn you that there will be a short hiatus due to my schedule (from Thursday-Monday). I will hopefully post a chapter tomorrow to make up for leaving you for a bit, as well as giving you a couple chapters upon my return. I wish that I didn't have to miss posting, but that is just how things worked out. Both Claire and I are so thankful for all of your support and hope you continue to enjoy the story!
-Madison
CHAPTER FIFTEEN- Granny's Diner
"Okay! Does everyone have a slip of paper?" Mary Margret looked around the room, making sure everyone was participating in the name-guessing game. She then unrolled a giant piece of paper and had David and Killian hang it up where everyone could see. "There are thirty boys' names and thirty girls' names. I want everyone to put down one of each on their piece of paper and then turn it into the box right here." Mary Margret gestured to a yellow box adorned in baby themed stickers. "There is a prize for anyone who can get both of the names correct. Only Emma and Killian know what the names actually are."
"Emma, Killian, and you," Henry whispered to Kendra. He had joined Kendra at the booth. Henry had already written her name across the top of the ballot. "Did you ever tell me what your brother's name was?"
"Where is the ink for this thing?" Kendra was confused by the utensil that she was supposed to write with.
"It's in the pen. You don't have to dip it in ink. What do you use to write with back home?" Henry was trying not to laugh at Kendra's struggle with one of the simplest of modern inventions.
"Quite honestly," Kendra started jotting down her and Liam's name on the paper, "a calligraphy pen or feather and ink or a pencil." She finished and slid her ballot over to Henry.
"Why is your handwriting so fancy?" Henry looked over at Kendra, who was still captivated by the ballpoint pen.
"Let's just say grandmother always has tutors around the…house. That's how we receive our education being that there aren't really any schools back home. I skipped out on a lot of my classes in favor of going sailing, sword fighting, and other such activities, much to her disappointment. I do quite enjoy writing, so I did show up to most of my calligraphy classes."
"That's an actual thing?" Henry looked at her.
"Yes. Do you have any more questions?" she hissed. Kendra was loved Henry, but the amount of questions he was spurting off was getting on her last nerve.
"No…not right now…" Henry slid her ballot back over to her.
Mary Margret was walking around with the box for everyone to turn in their slips. She reached the booth that Henry and Kendra were sitting at. "How do you think you two did?" She smiled at the two.
"I'm not turning one in," Kendra looked up at her grandmother.
"Come on! What's the fun of that? It won't hurt anything. I see you have already written some names down." Mary Margret prompted her to put her ballot in the box.
"I really don't think that's a good idea," Kendra insisted.
"Grandma, I am turning one in for the both of us." Henry wrote "Madison" right next to his name on the piece of paper and put it in the box. Mary Margret seemed satisfied with that and continued around the room.
"Thank you, Henry," Kendra whispered.
"No problem. What are big brothers for?" Henry joked.
Regina walked over to the booth, with a screaming, dark headed toddler struggling in her arms.
"Henry, can I sit with you two? Oliver is throwing a fit with me holding him," Regina sounded exhausted.
"Of course!" Henry exclaimed.
Regina put Oliver next to Henry and then sat down next to Kendra. Regina felt something off about Henry's new friend. Was that magic she sensed? It was similar to what she had been feeling earlier. She didn't look like either of the two girls that had blasted through the diner before the party started. Regina pushed the feeling aside. She would have to deal with whatever was going on in town later.
Kendra felt Regina stiffen and she hoped that she would not be able to tell that it was her putting off magic. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Madame Mayor," Kendra tried to keep her voice from wavering.
"And you as well. Madison, was it?" Regina extended her hand to Kendra, who hesitantly took it.
"Aye, and did you say this was Oliver?" Kendra smiled at the toddler across the booth.
"The results are tallied! Emma, Killian, who won?" Mary Margret was the edge of her seat, wanting to know the names of her two future grandchildren.
"Henry and Madison were the only ones to get both of the names correct. The twins' names will be Kendra and Liam!" Emma announced. The crowd began murmuring their thoughts and opinions on the chosen names, testing them out.
Emma brought a little basket of candy over to Henry and Kendra. "Henry, did you hear Killian and I when we were discussing names?"
"Nope, Madison and I just liked those two," Henry smiled.
"Okay, kid. Here you go." Emma handed them the goodies and returned to the bombardment of congratulations.
"Henwy, I want!" Oliver reached for the bright assortment of candy.
"Here you go." Henry handed him a few of the pastel yellow M&Ms that Mary Margret had had custom made for the shower. "What do you say?"
"Tank ewe!" Oliver shoved the sweets into his mouth.
"If you two want to go now you can. There are just presents left to open, and I don't think anyone would care if you missed that," Regina said.
"Thanks mom! I should be home in time for dinner." Regina got up to let Kendra out of the booth.
"You better be," Regina said sternly.
"Can you get some of that cake for our other friend?" Kendra asked Henry.
"She is probably wondering where we've been." Henry grabbed a piece of cake and put it on the top of the basket. "Come on Kendra, let's go." They stepped out the front door and started walking towards the dock.
Regina looked back as Henry and Kendra left the diner. What did he just call her?
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