Not alone anymore

Chapter 24

While we were watching a game show Regina asked me why I really went to talk to Granny earlier". I let out a deep sigh and hit the mute button on the remote. "Well to be honest Regina I went to ask her if she knew anything about getting a bank loan".  "Wait Emma please don't tell me your getting a loan because of the wedding".   "No Granny talked me out of it. She said banks have outrageous interest rates. So I changed my mind".  "Well good and please don't worry about money my love. We can wear whatever we want when we get married".  We kiss and then we hear a cough in the room. Regina and I separate and look over to see Zelena standing there. "Sorry to bother you both. I just wanted to let you know that I called the airline and there is a red eye tonight to London and I was able to book a seat. I called a car to take me to the airport. It should be here soon. I wanted to say thank you for letting me stay her for the last few days and I also want to apologize to both of you. I may have been out of line when I told you off Emma and I'm sorry. I was very angry because my sister seemed so excited one minute and so sad the next. My words were very harsh and I will try to act better in the future.  So that's it. I'll just go wait outside. It's a nice night".  Regina and I don't say anything and Zelena turns to walk away but I speak up. "Zelena wait". She looks at us. "Could you wait in the kitchen for a minute while Regina and I talk?"  She nods and walks into the kitchen. "Regina don't let her leave. If she goes back to London you two will never be the same again. She's your family babe and as someone that never had a family don't be so quick to to give up on her".   "After everything she said to you why are you trying to help her?"   "Because she's your sister. Sure she said some hurtful things but they are just words. I believe she's sorry. Sure it may take time for me to think of her as a friend again but no matter what she'll always be your sister. Please go talk to her and don't let her go. Not like this".  She kisses me. "Emma how you can be real?  I love you so much".  "I'm one of a kind babe and I love you too". We kiss again and she goes into the kitchen to talk to her sister. I grab the remote control and sit back. I continue watching the game show while Regina is gone. About 20 minutes later they both come walking in and everything seems ok with them. Regina sits next to me as Zelena sits across from us. "Is everything alright?"  I asked and Regina held onto my hand and answered my question. "Thank you for making me go talk to my sister. There is still a lot we need to talk about but we are better than where were. Thank you for that Emma, and if it's ok with you I've asked her to stay a bit longer. If your uncomfortable with that she said she would stay over at Granny's while she's here".   "It's ok Regina. I'm sure Zelena and I can somewhat act like adults and be civil to each other?"   It was really a question for Zelena. She gave me a small smile and a nod. Zelena canceled her flight and the car that was supposed to pick her up. The 3 of us watch some tv and after a few hours we all headed off to bed. It really was a long day.
The next morning I was scheduled to work at Granny's at 9 am so Regina made sure I was awake, showered and had a great breakfast before I left for work. Zelena was still in bed. She's usually awake before us but I'm thinking she's trying to avoid me as much as possible. What we are going through will take time but I'm not giving up on Regina, ever and I'll definitely never tell her to not associate with someone unless they were hurting her.  After breakfast I gave Regina a kiss and left for work. When I got there I met Granny in her office. It was my day for inventory and paperwork. "Oh Emma excellent. Right on time. Lets start with a little personal business before you start the day. Before I went to bed last night I put a few things down on paper. It's somewhat of a contract but without lawyers involved, but please if you want someone to look this over before we both sign it I'm fine with that. This basically goes over what we talked about last night. I loan you money with no interest due and you start to pay me back one month after the wedding. There is a schedule that we can come up with in the future and we both can also sign that. Here read this over carefully and then we can talk about it".   "Ok great. Thank you Granny. This is such an amazing thing you want to do for me".   "I love you Emma and you are such a hard worker. I trust you. If I didn't I never would have taught you how to close out the registers and do our daily bank deposits".  We both smile and I start to read the papers that Granny gave me. "All of this seems fine to me but on this part here you didn't put how much the payments would be".   "I know. I wanted to talk to you before I wrote a number in there. Obviously I don't want to leave you broke but I'm sure you don't want to be paying this off for years to come. So do you think it'll be easier to pay something weekly or do you want to do a lump sum once a month?"   I think for a moment. "It's probably best to do it weekly. I know it adds up to the same but to small payments sound better than a larger amount".  I say with a little laugh.  "Ok and now for an payment amount do you think 50 dollars a week would be ok?"   "That's really great Granny. Thank you".   "Wonderful. Of course if you'd like to pay a little more because you may have had a really good night waitressing, that's fine to. Everything will be written down so we always have an accurate total, and with the 200 dollar a month payments it should only take you just over a year to pay the loan off".  "Wow. Just wow".  I'm all smiles at the life I'm living now. "Ok Granny I'm in. Thanks again so much".  "Do you want to have someone look this over Emma, maybe Regina?"  "No I'm fine with this, and if it's ok I'd really prefer that Regina not know about this. I'm not asking you to lie but I'd like to keep this between us".   "I understand Emma".  She fills in the 50 dollar weekly payment amount and we both initial it, then we sign  the papers and put the date on it. We shake hands and the deal is sealed and I couldn't help but hug her tightly. When we separate we both sit back down. She pulls out her check book and starts to fill it out. "3,000 thousand dollars right Emma?"   "Is that still ok?"   "It sure is, since it's already in the contract". She says with a small laugh. She signs the check, tears it from the book and hands it to me with a smile. I stare at it in amazement. I'm quiet for a bit so she asks if I'm ok. "Yeah. This is just crazy to see a check like this with my name on it. I know I can find something that won't embarrass Regina when we get married and I will be able to contribute to our wedding with this. I'm so beyond grateful.  You have always come through for me no matter what and I will always be there for you Granny in any way I can. I know you said that you consider me as your grandchild like Ruby is but you really are the only mother that I've ever had and I'm scared to think of where my life would be with you".  I always try to be so strong but in moments like this I'm just so emotional and I just can't stop the tears.  Granny gets up and comes to sit next me, then wraps her arms around me and holds me tight. She kisses me on the back of my head and says. "Thank for all those sweet words Em".   A few minutes go by when there is a knock on the door. We both look over and it's Ruby. "Sorry but I just wanted to tell you Granny that the food truck just pulled up for our delivery".   "Ok thank you Ruby. I'll be right out".  Ruby walks away and Granny and I both stand up. She starts to gather all the papers we just went over and puts them in the safe. "Emma I will make a copy of these for you so you can have one too. Before I Lock the safe would you like me to put that check inside just to keep it safe till you leave tonight?"  I hand it to her and say. "Yes please. Most definitely".  She takes the check and locks everything up on the safe. "Ok I have to go check that order in. Take a moment to clear your head and then get started on the paperwork". She says with a smile and a wink then leaves the office. I sit in her chair behind her desk and take out the papers I need to work on. I start with the invoices that need to be put in the books and paid. Granny lets me write out the checks and send the payments in so that's what I do. We get orders 3 times a week so thats how often I do this. I take copies of everything I do and every check I write to send out to be paid. I want to keep it for our records just in case something happens.  I spend a few hours doing all this. I gather all the copies and put them in one pile, I grab all the envelopes to mail out and put them in a pile. I open the safe and take out today's bank deposit and count it. My total matches the slip so I put it back in the bank bag and lock it back in the safe. I leave the office and make sure the door is locked then I go into the dinning area and check on things. It seems fine so I go into the kitchen and check with our cooks and they all say they are good. I find Granny doing some prep work for tomorrow so I walk over to her.  "Hey Granny all the paperwork and checks are done for today. I just wanted to check in with everyone to see if anything needs to be done before I go to the bank and the post office. Are you all set?"   "Yes Emma. Thank you. The invoice for today's delivery is right there, can you put that in my office please?"  "Not a problem. I'll be back soon. Do you anything while I'm out?"   "Not that I can think of but thank you. I'll see you when you get back".  I grab the invoice and go back to the office. I put it on her desk and gather everything I need. I run all my errands and go back to the diner. I check in with Granny and shes still all set. She said since my shift ends in 20 minutes that I could leave if I want but I said I'd help restock the dining room and then I'd leave. So that's what I do. Before I leave I ask Granny if she could get the check and papers for me and we went back to the office. She got everything out of the safe and handed it to me.  "Thanks again Granny. I love you". We hug then we both leave the office. She goes back to the kitchen and I drive home.