The Christmas Cottage

Regina was relieved when she boarded the elevator the next morning and did not see Robin. She knew she would have to face him soon but she was grateful for the few more minutes to steel herself for that moment. Her hand went to her phone, once again in her back pocket, as she wished Daniel had returned her calls or texts. She really needed to hear his voice at that moment and she felt a little let down that he wasn't answering.

To her relief, Robin did not show up for breakfast and most of those there were too hungover to really engage in conversation. She was able to eat in peace and quiet, though she still was unable to look at Mary Margaret for most of her meal.

Her luck continued to hold when Anna announced that the groomsmen and the bridesmaids would once again be separated for the day. All were going to enjoy the hotel's spa services but would be in different rooms. Regina spent the day being pampered with a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure and time in the sauna. She decided to stay by Mary Margaret's side and enjoyed catching up with her friend. It was as if the tension from the night before had just been a nightmare.

She felt much better heading into dinner. They had had some free time after their spa treatments and everyone else wanted to take a nap, leaving Regina to work guilt-free. Gold had sent her an email praising the work she had done the night before and asking for a few more briefs to be done this time. Pleased with her progress, she tackled the bigger one before changing for dinner. It would give her time to spend some time with the smaller ones afterwards and complete them before midnight.

Striding off the elevator, she felt better than she had almost twenty-four hours earlier. However, as she approached the restaurant, she slowed her pace when she saw Robin outside. His head was bent down to check something on his phone and she wondered if she could pass him without him noticing. Taking a deep breath, she resumed her pace as she prepared to enter the restaurant.

"Here, I'll get the door for you," he said, opening the door as he tucked his phone into his pocket.

Cursing her luck, she asked: "Why? You going to hold that against me too?"

"Not everyone has an ulterior motive when they do something, Regina. Sometimes people are just being nice," he said, the hardness back in his voice.

"Yeah, well excuse me if I don't believe that when it comes to you," she replied, brushing past him.

"A simple thank you would've sufficed!" he called after her. Her cheeks burned as she kept moving forward, pointedly ignoring him.

Granny frowned as she approached the bar. "Are you and Robin arguing again?"

"He started it," Regina replied, not caring how petulant she sounded. She ordered an apple martini from the bartender and turned to Granny. "He really twisted the knife after I left last night."

Her grandaunt nodded. "He did look really upset both before he followed you and when he got back. I was concerned."

"He let me have it," Regina said, thanking the bartender as he handed her drink to her. She took a sip and let the alcohol slide down her throat, warming her stomach.

Recalling what Robin had said the day before, she frowned as she asked: "Granny...did you have a heart attack recently?"

Granny scowled. "He told you about that?"

The way she worded it and said that statement told Regina that it was true. Her heart sank as she asked: "Why didn't you tell me about it?"