This was one of my first stories and beginnings as a writer. Weird to read now but loved making The Lake House AU.
Reminder, this will be reposted, unedited from the original. There's no beta, no editing, no re-reading. This is a completed story and chapters will be posted frequently.
I am the original author, please see bio.
With love, please enjoy.
Regina Mills stands rigid facing a floor to ceiling window overlooking a lake while watching the sunrise. Her eyes catch her own reflection. She sees her own rigidness and tense stance. Her arms are crossed in front, shoulders stiff, lips in a thin line. Regina sighs, and with much difficulty, turns to leave her lakeside abode.
Before locking the door of the modern glass home, she checks the rooms and the attic one last time. She notes the dust and the box that had been there when she moved in and turns out the attic light. She moves down the steps of the ladder to the attic and checks under the bed frame in her now old room that came furnished. With her walk through complete and everything accounted for, she pulls out a notebook and writes a brief note to the new tenant, whoever that is, to state the current condition of the home.
"Dear New Tenant, 1/05/2014
As a previous tenant of this place, I hope you too grow to love it as much as I did. Its serenity and seclusion make it a wonderful getaway from the city life. I have filed for a change of address, but if my mail fails to forward please forward it the address below in Boston.
P.S. I apologize about the paw prints in the outside walkway. I do believe they were from the previous tenants prior to my time here, as well as the box in the attic.
Sincerely,
Regina Mills
Forwarding Address,
665 Washington St. Ste 1620
Boston, MA 02116
Regina walks out of her now old residence and locks the door. She walks past the old paw prints and down to the rustic wooden mailbox, which by no means matches the modern style of the lake house, opens the flap, drops in her letter and puts the red flag up. Looking up one last time Regina smiles at her old home and takes a deep breath in to smell the fresh air provided by the beautiful trees that she had grown to love. She turns and opens her car door and whistles and waits for her dog to jump into her Mercedes.
The car now in drive, she pushes her foot on the gas petal and pulls out. She follows the dirt road and exits onto a busy street on her way to Boston.
An hour later Regina pulls up on a busy street and steps out of her car. She stands there taking in her scenery and the fast paced city life. Without further delay, she starts pulling out boxes from her car and proceeds to move into her apartment in a new high rise that was finished just 6 months prior.
By evening her small collection of boxes are unpacked. The small apartment is furnished with stainless steal appliances and dark granite counter tops. The cabinets' cherry finish matches that of the hardwood floors. Despite the smallness of her new apartment, it was well equipped with high ceilings and large windows. Regina was meticulous about how her apartment was decorated with a few frames here and there, a few vases, and a shelf of books. Most of her boxes she packed were filled with books. Reading was one of her favorite past times when she had the time.
Looking down at her watch she sighs, "Its been a long day." Turning to her small dog she motions for her to come to bed.
Regina walks towards her bedroom, small, but functional. It's decorated with a few items, but it's mostly bare. Her little dog jumps onto the bed while Regina pulls out a book and begins to read before turning the lights out.
Emma Swan, a young toned blonde woman in her late twenties, and her son unpacked a small yellow bug filled to the top, including a trailer filled with their belongings. The woman had long, beautiful hair and green eyes. She's dressed in dark skinny jeans and a knit top covered by a red leather jacket. She smiled at her young son, who stood off to the side as he took in the lake view. The boy babbled on to his young mother while she unloaded the boxes from her car. He was no more than 3 or 4 years old.
"Henry can you please take this bag to the front door?" Her polite son nodded his head and did as he was asked. Emma followed behind him with the keys to the place and unlocked the door. Henry followed directly behind her.
"Whoa," is all Emma heard, besides the bag slipping from his hands. She turned to face him and took in his small face, his mouth is agape like an "O." Henry certainly was the exact opposite of her, something he obviously inherited from his father.
"Come on kid, we have to get moving before its too late." With that said Henry followed his mom out the door and they unloaded the rest of their belongings.
Later that night the duo made grilled cheese together and laughed while they played with their food. Emma felt like a kid herself sometimes while she held up her crust making a smile face. Emma grinned behind her crust overjoyed at her small son's laughter.
"Mom make the duck lips with the chips!" Emma did as her son asked and grabbed two Pringles off of his plate and positioned them in her mouth. Henry was laughing across the table calling Emma a duck and making quaking sounds.
With about an hour of daylight, Emma took her son outside and they played their favorite game of "red light, green light." Emma, with her back to Henry, called out, "Green light!" She heard his little feet on the gravel racing forward towards her. She sensed him close to her backside, so she quickly yelled, "RED LIGHT!" She whipped around and her poor son had little time to freeze. He fell over into the ground and started laughing and calling his mom a cheater. Emma swooped down pressing her lips to his forehead and tickled his side until he surrendered and immediately took back what he said.
Emma pulled Henry to a standing position and started to walk back to the house. Emma's eye finally caught sight of the mailbox and saw the flag up. She stopped to open the flap of the wooden mailbox and pulled out a letter addressed "To the New Tenant."
Emma shut the flap to the mailbox and chased her small son into the house. She placed the letter on the counter nonchalantly and took her son into the bathroom to get him ready for bed. About an hour and four chapters of The Call of The Wild later, Henry was curled up on Emma's side calmly snoring. One of his legs was draped over hers, along with his arm gripping her side.
Emma eased her way away from her son's grip and went back to her kitchen. She opened her bare fridge and pulled out a bottle of beer. With much ease she snapped off the bottle cap and turned to face the dark, oblique view of night.
The letter, previously forgotten, came into Emma's line of sight so she opened it up and read the beautiful cursive script. She noted the box in the attic and the paw prints. Emma thought to herself for a moment before breaking the silence, "What paw prints is this lady talking about?" A confused crossed Emma's face, "What old tenant?" She set her bottle down and went to the front door, unlatching several locks. When she stepped out of her home the flood lights were activated and she saw exactly what she thought, "No paw prints."
Emma moved to her own bedroom and opened the latch to the attic and climbed up the stairs. She noted nothing but dust and a few things, but no box was anywhere to be found. The letter still in hand, she read again the script from the old tenant and noted the year of the letter. "2014?"
Emma wiped some dust off her face and dropped the letter. It was obvious the previous tenant was a nutcase.
Regina steps into the over crowded elevator and asks the gentleman adjacent to the buttons to press three. Several awkward seconds later the doors open and Regina steps out into the busy corridor littered with patients, doctors, nurses, and family members. The front desk is operated by one person who is, with much difficulty, answering multiple phone lines. Regina waits several minutes until finally the nurse looks up and shoves paperwork into her hands and directs her to the sitting area. Regina attempts to tell her she's not a patient, but before the words can make it out of her mouth she was unpleasantly cut off again.
"You have to wait your turn and fill the paperwork out before I can assist you."
Regina huffs, "Look, I am the new doctor. Doctor Mills. I need to find the attending Doctor Whale." She draws out the doctor part of each sentence to accentuate the mere fact that she was by no means a patient. "Its clearly my first day and I am not aware of where I need to be yet." The nurse's eyebrows crawl up her forehead as she realizes that she was just so rude to the new doctor.
"I will page him now for you, Doctor Mills," the nurse stuttered out. Regina smirks at the formality of her name coming from the nurse's mouth.
A few minutes later, Dr. Whale introduces himself. "I'm Dr. Whale, follow me while I speak." He hands her 20 plus patient files. "These are the patient files for today that need to be completed. Try and find an intern, if you can to do the scut work. Today is pretty quiet over all. Beep me if you run into any trouble, but please refrain if you can."
The pair made it around the corner to where a patient was lying on a gurney in the hallway. Dr. Whale turns to the closest nurse. "He was supposed to be up for an MRI two hours ago, Dr. Mills can you take him now for his MRI?" Regina smiles and nods. He leaves before Regina has time to ask where that would be.
"I will be right back." Regina turns down the hallway to find the imaging floor. A few turns and a ride on the elevator later, she can't find her way back to the patient.
Stepping out of a patient's room, a younger blonde nurse bumps into Regina. "Oh sorry I didn't mean to run into you. You look new, I am Kathryn Nolan. Are you lost, you look lost, and confused."
Regina sighs and tightly smiles at the chipper blonde, "I suppose I am a bit lost, but not confused dear. I left a patient in the hallway who was waiting for an MRI on the internal medicine floor. How do I get back there? It seems this hospital lacks signs. Poor design and execution if you ask me."
Kathryn smiles at the clearly frustrated woman, "Take the elevator on the west wing and go to the 6th floor, then make a right and then another right."
"Thanks, and I am Regina, or Dr. Mills, but please call me Regina."
"Where did you work before here for your internship? I take it you are the new doctor I heard was starting today."
"I worked at a community hospital not far from the Cape. Much slower paced."
Kathryn laughs to herself. "Well get used to the fast paced life here. We get gang fight victims all the time. Nice to meet you Regina. I will see you around soon!"
Regina smiles and turns to go back to the 6th floor. Getting lost was one thing that did not happen often.
Hours later Regina ends her long shift and heads to the locker room to change out of her blue scrubs. When she walks into the small room, she sees two chatty interns over by their lockers.
The tall brunette breaks the awkward silence, "You're new here right? I saw you with Dr. Whale this morning. He can be kind of intense. Don't let that get to you. He is a nice guy at the end of the day and will help you if you need it."
The shorter girl laughs, "Well he wasn't too intense for you last weekend, Ruby. Seemed to help you with a lot more than patient files."
Ruby turns to her shorter friend and playfully slaps her arm, "Look, too many shots of tequila at the Rabbit Hole can make anyone look delicious. Not that he is ugly, or anything. Let's just say he isn't my type and everyone is allowed a one night stand."
The shorter girl looks at Regina who just watched the ongoing interaction. "First days can be rough, would you like to come out for a few drinks to celebrate that you made it through your first shift? I promise we don't bite, well maybe Ruby, but I certainly don't."
Regina smiles and acknowledges the young interns' attempt at trying to have her come out with them. "I'm sorry I don't have time. I have somewhere else to be tonight."
With that Regina finishes changing and leaves the room to the two other women.
Walking out of the hospital she walked to her train stop and waited for the T. She was still getting used to using public transportation. People were always so crass and filthy. Standing out in the cold New England weather was something she was never used to despite that she had always lived in the north. The wind had its way of chilling her bones. A few trains later she was walking up to her new home. It lacked the lake view appeal she once had.
She told the two interns that she was busy, but in reality she was busy taking inventory of her lack of food and supplies. Regina walked through her empty apartment that lacked life and mentally noted her need of light bulbs, lack of view from her windows (compared to her lake view), and the creek in one of the floorboards.
She walks to her kitchen and pulls out a bottle of red, popping the cork and downing the bottle before 10. Her life was so lonely and lacked warmth, that she knew, and it was her own fault. She was infamous for chasing all men away that promised her marriage and children. They never seemed to be enough.
Emma was never a person to wake up super early. Her son, Henry, on the other hand, was up the moment the sun was on the horizon.
Emma was slung over her bed in the most non-graceful way imaginable, mouth agape with her hair fanned out over her pillow, snoring. Henry ran in and jumped on her and waited for her to move. There was no movement, just a grunt. He picked up her face and pulled open her eyelids.
"MOM. WAKE UP. ITS TIME TO GO."
Emma grunted again. "Kid, I have five more minutes. Give your mom a break."
Henry gigged at his sleep induced mother.
Emma peeked one eye open at Henry and lunged forward and started to tickle him. Something she seriously hoped he wouldn't grow out of letting her do as he aged. His laugh was the epitome of music to her ears.
Henry started laughing, face beat red, and begged her to stop before he had an accident. Emma pulled her hands away in the formal surrender position to call a truce. The last thing she wanted was her son to tickle her feet. The last time that happened she was a couple hundred bucks poorer with a kid that had stitches on his face. The night that it happened he sneaked into her room to sleep with her. The dark room made him look like the stupid doll Chuckie. Needless to say, when the kid asked her to stop the kid got what he wanted.
Emma leaned forward and kissed his small forehead, "I love you baby. Lets get you some cereal and get dressed!"
Henry dashed out of the room and into the kitchen. He pulled a gallon of milk out of the fridge and tried to pour the milk into his bowl. Henry spilled more than half of the gallon onto the floor.
Henry looked up at his mother that just walked into the room."Kid you know the rules, you have to wait on me to do that."
Henry ducked his head down. "I'm sorry. I thought I was big enough."
Emma smiled. "You are almost big enough, but not yet. I will clean this up. Go change out of those monster pjs and we can pick something up on the way to town."
Henry scooted off. He was very capable of picking out clothing for himself, and more often than not looked better than Emma did. She could never figure out how he managed to be so… put together.
After they both were ready they left the lake house and headed for town down their dirt road. Emma loved the ride. With Spring around the corner she already mentally mapped out a running trail.
"Okay Henry, so Granny will watch you while I am working for today. Please be good for her. I know she has missed your cute face."
Emma had a family. Her mother died when she was young and her dad was a business man that further submerged himself into business once her mom passed. Granny took care of her most of her life. At first she was just her nanny that was hired to watch her. Emma looked up to the older woman and always called her Nannie, despite that not being her formal name, and that at some point turned into Granny. The older woman loved the affectionate meaning behind the name, so Emma assumed seeing that she was never corrected.
As far as Emma saw, Granny was her only family besides Henry. She routinely babysat him if she was at work. Daycare can really be a drag for some kids and Henry was well before his time. Emma pulled up to the small cottage and both Henry and Emma jumped out. The little cottage was like home to her. She spent countless years in the front yard playing tag and hide and seek with Granny. As she got older the front yard turned into her favorite spot to tan. Granny, being much older and modest, would hang the fresh linen in front of Emma to block the view from the street. Granny kept a baseball bat hidden by the front door at all times. One could call her a guard dog.
Emma walked the small boy to the door with his lunch and a bag of toys that included his favorite ninja turtles and hero action figures. A few moments later the door shot open and Granny rushed out to scoop Henry into a big bear hug.
"I have missed your little face so much. I am so glad you are back. We can make all the food you want and play every game you want to as well.
Emma smiled. "Okay Granny, don't spoil him rotten. I will be back around 6:30. You have all the numbers if you need me." Emma turned to Henry and kissed his cheek, "Bye little man, see you in a few hours. Don't forget to be your little charming self for Granny." Emma turned to head back to the car and waved at her little family. "Love you" she called out.
Later that day Emma sat at her desk as she filed useless paperwork. She was the local sheriff. Her father was beyond disgusted at her choice in profession. He was a highly acclaimed architect known around the world. He worked mostly in Boston, which left very little room to see each other. In fact the last time she saw her father was about 2 years ago and that was for only five minutes. She had a long family history with him that was always a sore subject to say the least. Perhaps it was not even that it was a long family history, more like one that did not exist at all. Emma turned her head and the door to the station opened.
"My my my sheriff Swan. I see you are back from a small vacation. I know it was more of a moving vacation, but anytime off is something. Can I interest you in a drink tonight? Perhaps dinner will be a bit more classy."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Save it Killian. I am not interested in going out with you. How many times do I have to tell you this?"
Emma was a bit rough around the edges, but she was a beautiful woman and very capable of being in a relationship if she desired to. Ever since her last serious relationship Emma had sworn off most people. Her ex Neal was Henry's father. She had no idea where the guy was now, nor did she care. The guy was a real ass and got her locked up for his crime. As a result she stopped making herself vulnerable and refrained from the dating scene. So far 4 years has gone pretty good. Besides, Henry was the only man in her life and that's how it was going to stay.
"Very well love, I see when a man is not wanted. Hand me that stack of paper there and I will work on these files. I am sure you want to get home to your boy."
Emma stared at the man, "That's so chivalrous of you."
Killian didn't catch the sarcasm. "Right you are love. That I am."
Emma turned her chair to face away from the bearded man. "Do your work deputy. Should stop trying to get in bed with your boss. I think that's called sexual harassment."
"Aw love, don't be like that."
Emma turned. "Don't call me love AGAIN!"
The man finally took his cue. Emma's radio went off and off she went to monitor a busted fire hydrant.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Later that weekend Emma and Henry were outside. Emma had painted a portion of the wooden walkway to their new home and worked on other home improvements while Henry played helper. Henry 'helped' by sitting off to the side with some action figures as Emma was hunched over in an old long sleeve tee painting.
"Mom look a dog!" Before Emma could process what her son yelled a small dog rushed by her and into her home.
"Henry stay here!" Emma ran inside after the dog to ensure it wasn't dangerous. Emma stepped into the house and noted the dog siting off to the side with its head tilted. Ears flopped over to the side. Its sandy coat wasn't too dirty and the dog was without a collar.
"Easy. Come here." The dog walked up to Emma and handed her its left front paw. "Aw are you shaking my hand? Well its nice to meet you too. I suppose you belong to someone since you are so well behaved. But where is your collar?" Emma looked down and noticed the wet paw prints covered in paint and then looked out her front door.
Emma's face went white. Painted paw prints. After a few minutes of searching Emma found the letter in the attic where she dropped it her first night. Regina's note. Emma stared at it in disbelief.