troubled teachers

Chapter 12

"I've barely seen you all weekend," Emma all but whined, the paintbrush she was holding banging against her leg, adding another streak of blue to her skin. "Why don't you ask Felix and Peter to come over here later and we can all have dinner. I'll cook a stir fry or something."

"You want me to hang out with my friends alongside two teachers?" Henry said, eyebrows raised. "I'm sorry, Mum, but my friends really don't want to be spending their weekends with you and Mrs Mills."

Emma sighed and dipped her paintbrush back into the pot before continuing her task. She understood Henry's reasoning, she really did. She just felt like she hadn't seen much of her son recently. What with everything that had happened with Regina, the week had been a whirlwind of emotions, meetings, interviews, and lawyers. Emma didn't blame her son for wanting to get out of the house for a while.

"Ok, but please be careful. I do not want another incident like Mr Glass' mother," she said, pointing to the skates Henry was lacing up.

"I know, I know," he nodded. "I'll be careful."

"Do you want me to drop you at Peter's?"

"Nah, I'm gonna skate over. It's only a couple of streets. And then I think we're going to catch the bus down to the promenade."

"Will you be home for dinner?" Emma asked.

"Actually, we were going to go and get KFC or McDonalds," Henry replied as he stood up, wobbling slightly on his skates.

"And does that mean you want some money from me?" Emma grinned, eyebrow cocked.

Henry smiled sheepishly back and thanked his mother as a ten pound note emerged from her back pocket and landed in his hand. He sidled past her, careful not to touch the wet paint on the front door and headed down the garden path.

"See you later. Be safe," Emma called as she watched her son skate off down the pavement.

Half an hour later the yellow paint Henry had disliked so much was completely covered with a deep navy. Satisfied with her long overdue task, Emma washed the paintbrush, then her hands before trying to decide what she was going to do for the remainder of her Sunday afternoon. She wondered where her houseguest had got to as she hadn't seen Regina since lunch. The living room, dining room, and kitchen were all deserted. Climbing the stairs, Emma knocked lightly on the guest room door and entered when she heard Regina grant her permission from the other side.

"Hey, what's up?" Emma asked as she watched Regina who was folding some clothes.

"I think it's time for me to move out," the brunette said, not looking at Emma as she stuffed some work outfits into a small suitcase.

"Why?" Emma asked. She thought they had decided just a couple of days ago that the older woman was welcome for as long as she needed or wanted to stay.

"Because I've interrupted your life for a week now and it's not fair. Even Henry doesn't want to be around me at the moment. I'm getting in between a mother and her son and I can't allow that to happen any longer," Regina said.

"Regina," Emma said, sitting down on the bed and placing her hands on the other woman's to stop her packing. "What are you talking about?"

"I heard Henry in the hallway," she admitted. "I know he doesn't want to be here with his friends because of me and so you're missing out on time with him. You've both been so wonderful but I'm capable of finding myself a place to live where I'm not breaking up a family."