One Door Closes

Chapter 19

Regina's P. O. V.
3 years later...

Emma and I split up this morning. I know it was the best thing to do, but I really wish she was sitting here beside me. She just kept repeating that we'd never get all of our chores done before the wedding if we did everything together, so she gave me a list of things to do and we went our separate ways.

I nervously tap my feet on the floor of Granny's. Right now Emma is at the florist placing an order, so I can't call her, but I'm really tempted to do so.

Suddenly, I've completely forgotten why I agreed to drinking a cup of coffee with my mother. I haven't seen her in quite a while.

Five months ago there was a "family day" where my mother, her siblings and everyone's children were invited. Naturally, I took Emma and Henry with me, but my mother was far from pleased. She introduced Emma to everyone as "Regina's secretary". Emma and I laughed about it afterwards, because we both felt it cost too much energy to get worked up over it.

I haven't seen my mother since then. We've spoken on the phone a few times, but it always leaves me unhappier than I was before the phone call.

The second I notice my mother in the doorway, I stop tapping my foot. I compose myself. I should've taken some anti-stress pills, but it's too late for that now. A cigarette would have gone a long way too, but I haven't smoked in almost four years. Ever since Emma told me she was pregnant with Henry, I've stayed away from cigarettes.

Cora holds a stoic look on her face as she approaches my table. She doesn't seem eagerly happy to see me after five months. Oh, well, I'm merely her daughter.

"Hello, Regina." I can tell that she's trying to sound nice. It's clearly not an easy task for her.

"Hi, mother. How are you?"

"I'm fine, dear. Thank you for the invitation."

It isn't much of an invitation when it's forced upon you, but that's totally fine, mother.

I don't say that.

Instead I reply with a polite "you're welcome" and sip the coffee I'd already ordered to calm my nerves. It's silent for a moment as my mother observes me.

"How are you?" she eventually asks and I smile, relieved that she thought of something to say, because my mind is stuck.

"I'm doing very well."

"Splendid," my mother replies.

We fall silent again. I realize that even after not properly having spoken to her in months, I still don't have anything useful to share with her. She isn't very up to date on my life, but I don't need her to be.

Part of me is very glad to see her again, though. Despite everything.

"Henry started reading. Not very well, it's really cute. He has this fairy tale book that he takes with him everywhere and he's memorized the story connected to all the images, so he pretends to be reading us the story." I smile at the memory of the three of us in the zoo, but my mother doesn't very much like stories of Henry. I can't help myself though. I love him and Emma more than anything in the world, so of course I'm going to share anekdotes with my mother.

She looks uncomfortable. "I.. I don't want to press on this subject anymore, Regina, but I'm going to anyway. Don't you think it's getting a little.. old? This pretend stuff?"

I genuinely have no idea what she's talking about.

"What?"

"Regina, you're twenty-nine. Don't you think it's time for you to think about your future? Your father and I may have been wrong trying to get you to settle down at a younger age, but we feared this would happen. You've only got so long before men don't find you interesting anymore. You've always wanted children, didn't you? Isn't it time to start thinking about that?"