Chapter 10: Cocoa?
Aliyah walked into the sheriff's station, Mary Margret, and Henry was still there.
"Where's Emma?" Henry asked.
"I don't really know." Liyah shrugged. She looked at Mary Margret before quickly glancing at Graham, who now was looking at his phone.
"You didn't have to bail Emma out. I could have done it."
Mary Margret waved her off, "don't worry about it."
"Again, thank you. I'll make sure Emma pays you back. You didn't have to do that for a stranger."
"Like I said, it felt right, and Emma can pay me back when she can."
With the sudden movement, the two women looked over where Gram was grabbing his coat. "Ladies, I need to go. Henry, stay out of trouble." He said before looking Aliyah in the eyes. She suddenly realized who he was leaving for.
The three left the station, walking slowly back to the school. Henry looked between the two as if he wanted to say something.
"Yes?" Aliyah asked.
"How much intel do you think Emma got?"
"I don't know." Aliyah shrugged then looked at a confused Mary Margret. "Maybe we should talk about this somewhere else?"
"If you wanted me to trust Ruby, then I need you to trust Ms. Blanchard."
Aliyah smiled rolling her eyes. "I mean, Henry, we shouldn't discuss Operation Cobra in the open." She glances at Mary Margret, "and if you want to bring Ms. Blanchard into this, that's up to you."
Mary Margret pulled her purse on her shoulder, "You two could come to my place if you want."
Aliyah looked down at Henry who nodded in response. "Okay, it would be better than Granny's, too many eyes." Aliyah winked at Mary Margret. She nodded understanding the idea.
The three entered Mary Margret's apartment not too long after. Aliyah watched Henry bolt to a stool at the kitchen bar as Mary Margret placed her purse on a table next to the stairs on the left of them. She wondered if this was a common thing between them. She smiled at the thought. Aliyah stayed at the door and looked around. She assumed the stairs lead to the bedrooms and bathroom and saw little sitting nooks that looked to be a small work or reading space. To her right, she saw a small table and chairs and further down a seating area. There was a closed off area that Aliyah wasn't sure where it led to, maybe a bigger living space. It was a very cute space and she loved it.
She waited till Mary Margret climbed down the stairs before following her to the kitchen. "Would you like some cocoa and cinnamon?"
Mary's voice broke Aliyah's trance. She blinked, "Uh, yes on the cocoa but no, on the cinnamon. Please." She smiled.
Mary smiled back, pulling a third mug out of the cabinet. Aliyah sat next to Henry as Mary placed their cocoa in front of them. "Okay, what is operation cobra?"
Aliyah looked at Henry, "Well, it's about that book you gave me."
She heard Mary sigh and gave her a pleading look. "Just listen to him. Ruby did the same thing."
"Okay, sorry Henry continue."
"Emma is the key. She needs to break the curse and you and everyone else here will remember who you are."
"This is the curse you said your mom did because of me, her being the Evil Queen and me being Snow White?"
Aliyah smiled, 'he must have already confided in her.'
"That is right. You remember!" Henry said excitedly.
Mary looked at Aliyah then back at Henry. "If she is the key to the curse, wouldn't she be mentioned in the book? She told me she wasn't in it."
Henry looked at Aliyah confused. "Maybe she didn't know you were going to bring Mary in on the operation."
"So, Emma is in the book?"
"Yes, please don't be mad at her."
Mary gave a small grin before placing her cup down. "I'm not mad Henry. I think it is great she wants to stay and help. What about you? Are you in the book?" Mary looked over to Aliyah.
Aliyah smiled. "Maybe." Then laughed when Henry dropped his shoulders. "Sorry Henry, not going to get it that easily."
Then Aliyah continued laughing with Mary jumping in. Henry gave a pout and continued drinking his cocoa. "I take it he doesn't know." Mary smiled.
"Nope. And Henry, pouts have never worked on me."