Sharon's attention then drew to the door as she smiled and waved at someone coming in.
He smiled and waved in return. He then strolled over to the booth.
"Sharon, it's so lovely to see you. I must confess I wondered how you were spending your day off."
She smiled and cast her eyes toward her family before she turned back to him. "Let me make some introductions. Jack, I would like you to meet my daughter, Emma, her husband, Killian, and their children, Anna Elizabeth and Liam. And I would like you all to meet my boss, Jack Abbott."
When hellos and handshakes were exchanged, Jack then added, "Sharon and I are also old friends - we met when she first moved here all those years ago."
"It's true - Jack's father gave me my first job as an assistant shortly after I graduated from design school. And I've been with the company ever since."
Jack folded his hands together. "And now she's one of the best designers - if not the best."
Sharon shook her head. "He's exaggerating. I do love designing clothes - but there's always room for improvement."
Killian grinned. "Now, who does that remind me of? She's always determined to do her very best for everyone else, even at the expense of herself."
Emma ducked her head. "Yeah, yeah, we all know I can be stubborn and headstrong."
Everyone chuckled. Jack then folded his hands behind his back.
"Well, Emma, those traits never came up - but your mother has told me about you. I, uh, must confess it's a bit surprising."
The blonde hummed. "It was a bit of a surprise for us, too. Or maybe a lot of a surprise - but we're happy to have found each other."
"Very much indeed," Sharon agreed with a smile. With a scrunch of his nose, Liam then spoke, "Grandma? Can I ask you something?"
She blinked a few times before she took a breath. "Sure, sweetheart. What is it?"
"Well, I wanted to know - why was Mommy a surprise?"
Killian and Emma both raked their fingers through their hair. The latter shot her mom an apologetic look, while Sharon's attention stayed on the little boy.
She took another deep breath before she explained, "The truth is, Liam, that I never wanted to be a mommy. And that's why I wanted to send Emma to live with another family - but, then, she found me all those years later. I still didn't want to be a mommy - but Emma was so wonderful along with your daddy, sister, and all of your other family - that I decided to be in this family too."
Liam beamed. He then hopped up and launched himself into Sharon's arms. She couldn't help but chuckle as she squeezed him tight.
When they pulled away, Liam bounced back to his seat. Emma ruffled his hair as she mouthed "thank you." Sharon smiled and nodded.
Jack offered a smile of his own before he cleared his throat. "If I may, Sharon, I believe I fully understand why you decided to turn down my offer to transfer to our offices in Paris."
The woman in question tilted her head. "Really? And why is that? I mean, why now?"
He gestured between her and Dylan. "You were always so happy and content with it being just the two of you. You never needed or wanted more - but now I can see that your happiness has changed. And I am happy for you and your family."
"Thank you, Jack. It truly means a lot," Sharon began with a smile. She then cast her eyes toward her daughter.
"And you're right - my ideas of happiness did change, and I'm so glad that Emma is part of it now."
Emma sniffled and rubbed her eyes. "Mom - us makes me happy, too. I really am glad we found each other."
"Me too. So very much."
The women exchanged a smile before Jack cleared his throat once more.
"It was so wonderful meeting all of you - I hope our little slice of the Midwest treats you well while you're here. Until next time."
They waved him off before he sauntered over to the counter.
"Oh!" Anna Elizabeth exclaimed as she hopped up from her seat. "That reminds me - I wanted a muffin earlier, and the barista told me they were baking fresh ones. They should be ready by now - I ordered blueberry and chocolate chip."
Killian cocked an eyebrow. "Perhaps I should retrieve them just in case."
Anna Elizabeth planted her hands on her hips. "Dad, I'm not going to eat any of the blueberry ones."
"Even still, love, you can never be too careful."
He slid out of the booth and kissed his daughter's head before he walked over to the counter. Anna Elizabeth slid back into her seat.
Dylan then tilted his head as he surmised, "You must be allergic to blueberries, Anna Elizabeth."
She bobbed her head. "Yeah, I had a really bad reaction as a little kid - not that I remember much about it."
"I'm pretty sure that trip to the hospital shaved years off my life - but everything turned out okay," Emma spoke before she sipped on her hot chocolate.
Killian then returned with the muffins. He placed them on the table and offered, "Alright, the muffins are easy enough to tell apart, so bon appétite."
He then slid back into the booth as everyone grabbed a muffin and began to eat. In between mouthfuls, Liam offered, "These are really good."
As crumbs slid down his chin, Emma passed her son a napkin. "Don't talk with your mouth full, kid."
He wiped his face before he nodded. He then took another big bite of the chocolate chip muffin.
Anna Elizabeth swallowed her own muffin before she nodded. "I gotta agree with my little brother - these are delicious."
"I'm glad you two like them so much. I'm friends with the owners, so I'll be sure to let them know," Sharon told them with a smile.
Liam then tilted his head. "Are you friends with lots of people, Grandma?"
Dylan hummed before he answered instead, "Genoa City is a bit like Storybrooke, where everyone pretty much knows each other."
"Especially when you've lived here as long as we have," Sharon added with a chuckle before she sipped on her coffee and then took a bite of her muffin.
"That does sound like Storybrooke - Emma is always running into people she went to high school with," Killian surmised with a chuckle.
"And you are always trying to get embarrassing stories out of them," she threw back as she nudged his arm.
"And that is what I have to look forward to another 10 years," Anna Elizabeth quipped as she moved her curls off her shoulder.
"Don't rush it, kid. You and your brother are growing up fast enough as it is," Emma told her as she ran her fingers through the ends of her hair.
The teenage girl adopted a half-smile. "I know, Mom. I won't."
Liam then placed his mug back on the table. He turned to his parents. "Mommy, Daddy, I have to use the bathroom."
"Aye, lad, I'll take you - if your…grandmother would be so kind as to point us in the right direction," Killian spoke as he ruffled his son's hair.
Sharon gestured. "It's just around the corner. You can't miss it."
Killian nodded before he and Liam scooted past the others and made their way out of the booth and walked to the other side of the coffee shop.
Once Emma and Anna Elizabeth settled back into the booth, Sharon hummed and nodded to where Killian and Liam disappeared.
"Liam reminds me of you, Emma."
The blonde tilted her head. "Really? He always reminded me more of Killian."
She sipped on her hot chocolate before she added, "Well, except for the stubbornness. It's a Newman family trait apparently."
Sharon couldn't help but chuckle. "That much I remember about Nick. He didn't give up on anything very easily."
"He still doesn't," Emma added with a grin. "And neither does my brother Noah, despite being adopted."
"Family traits always have a way of showing up, regardless of any blood relation," Dylan added with a smile.
"That much I can vouch for - David and I are a lot alike."
Emma continued to sip from her cocoa before she then asked, "So, what is it that reminds you of me?"
Sharon took a deep breath. "It's something I saw in you when we first met. I know I wasn't the most gracious - but I saw how deeply you loved your family. Not that Killian doesn't - but you two are a bit different. In a way, you chose your family by letting them into your life - and the fact that you aren't related by blood doesn't change that.
"And with Liam now knowing that Anna Elizabeth is his cousin hasn't changed the fact that she's his big sister."
Emma - and Anna Elizabeth - both smiled. And wiped their eyes. The teenager then spoke, "Wow. Are you sure you haven't known Mom her whole life?"
Everyone chuckled. Emma then offered, "Well, family isn't always blood. And even when it is, time can mean very little when it comes to how well you know someone. I mean, Killian and I only dated for a few months before we got married."
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Mom, that's a horrible example. You and Dad were already best friends who had known each other since before I was born."
Dylan couldn't help but grin. "She does make it pretty hard to argue with her."
Anna Elizabeth chuckled while Emma shook her head. The latter then spoke, "That much I know - and she gets that from Liam."
The teenager continued to chuckle - along with Sharon and Dylan - before she shrugged and sipped on her hot tea. She then took a couple hearty swigs.
"Easy there, kid. They're not gonna run out."
"I know, Mom - but it's so good."
Chuckles ensued once more before a busgirl swung by their table. She held the gray bin against her hip.
"Can I get any of these mugs and plates out of your way, or are you guys still working on it?"
They all looked around at their mugs before Emma grabbed Killian's. "I'm sure he'll want another - but you can take this one."
The young woman nodded before she took the cup from Emma - only to jump when her phone rang from her pocket.
The girl gasped - and dropped the mug onto the floor. It shattered into tiny bits and pieces.
"Oh my goodness. I am so, so sorry - I could have sworn my phone was on silent."
Her hands still shook as she placed the bin on a nearby table. She apologized once more, "I'm so sorry. I should have been more careful."
Sharon waved her hands. "No worries - we understand that accidents happen. A broom and dustpan will fix it."
The girl nodded - and smiled. "Thank you. I will have this cleaned up as soon as possible." She then rushed over to the storage closet to grab what she needed.
Killian and Liam then returned. The former raised an eyebrow as he steered his son around the glass.
"What happened, Mommy?" the little boy piped up.
"It was just an accident," Emma began, "the busgirl dropped a mug. She's coming right back to clean it up."
Liam nodded as he plopped down beside his sister. He then took a couple more mouthfuls of muffin.
Anna Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. She then reached down and tore a couple pieces of muffin.
The busgirl returned - a broom and dustpan in her hand. "No one stepped in it, did they?"
"No, we didn't - thank you," Sharon answered with a smile. The busgirl nodded before she told them, "I will have this cleaned up right away."
As she swept, Anna Elizabeth dropped some of her muffin on the floor. She groaned as she bent down to pick it up.
"Ow!" she then called out as she bumped her head on the underside of the table. She held it as she sat back up.
"Love, are you alright?" Killian asked as he reached over to rub her head. She blinked a few times and shook her head.
"Yeah, I'm okay - I was just trying to clean up my mess."
The busgirl then interjected, "I really don't mind - especially since a few pieces of the glass ended up under the table as well."
She then tilted her head. "Speaking of, would you all mind moving your feet? I want to make sure I get all of it."