Swan Princess Trio [OUAT || Swan Princess Trio Series #1]

Chapter 8: The Price of Gold

Elaine, Emma, Katy, Henry and Julia were talking to Ruby at Granny's diner while Ruby's car was being dropped off by a tow truck, "So, this boyfriend of hers. You don't think he was involved in her disappearance?" Elaine asked.

"Uh, that would mean he was involved with her at all, which he isn't," Elaine, Emma and Katy kept looking at her, "He left her in the lurch, right after they found out they were expecting. Hasn't spoken to her since. Like I said-," Ruby's car was dropped abruptly and the wolf charm hanging on her mirror almost broke and she rushed over to the white fence around the diner, "Hey! Hey! Hey! Billy, be careful! You lost shattered my wolf thing, Billy. It's good luck," Ruby said.

"I'm sorry, Ruby. But look, it's fine," Billy said.

Ruby smiled at Billy, "Um, Ruby. What about her family?" Elaine asked.

"Oh, um," Ruby turned to them again, "She's got a stepmom and two stepsisters that she doesn't talk to," Ruby said.

"Wait. Stepmom, stepsisters, and she's a maid?" Henry said.

"Henry. Not now," Elaine said.

"Look. I don't know what you've heard, but it's wrong. Everyone thinks she's not ready to have this kid, but she's trying. Taking night classes, trying to better herself... Trying to get her life together. Can you understand that?" Ruby said.

"I think so," Elaine said with a smile.

"Then maybe you three should just stay out of it. She's been through enough already," Ruby said.

"I've been through it too, Ruby, and I can help her," Elaine said.

"That's all we want to do, is to help her," Emma said.

"Then, try her ex," Ruby said.

"Where can we find him?" Katy asked.

"He lives with his dad," Ruby said.

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Elaine, Emma and Katy made it to Ashley's ex's house and Katy knocked on a door, as Henry and Julia waited in the yellow bug and the door opened at the same time a car pulled up on the driveway, "Can I help you, ladies?" A man asked.

"Sean Herman?" Elaine said.

"Yeah. Who are you three?" Sean asked.

"I'm Elaine Swan and this is my sisters, Emma and Katy Swan. We're... We're looking for Ashley Boyd. She's in trouble. Just thought maybe she came to see you," Elaine said.

Sean's father, Mitchell Herman, got out of the car and walked up the steps carrying grocery bags, "My son doesn't have anything to do with that girl anymore. So, whatever trouble she's in, I am sorry for her, but there's nothing we can do to help you," Mitchell said.

"You're the reason he broke up with her," Emma said.

Mitchell looked at them, "Absolutely. I'm going to let my son throw away his entire life over a mistake," Mitchell said.

"So you just told him to leave her?" Katy asked.

"Well, what are they going to do? Raise the child in the backseat of a car?" Mitchell asked.

"Some people only have the backseat of a car," Elaine said.

"Well, they're to be pitied. I'm not letting that happen to my son," Mitchell said.

"Dad, maybe we should help them look," Sean said.

"It's a waste, Sean," Mitchell said and walked into the house.