— Her name is Kathryn, — Regina said. — John Doe’s wife. And John Doe’s name is David. David Nolan.
— Is this them? — Kathryn asked, looking over, relieved smile still on her face. — Are you the people who found him? Thank you. Thank you so much. — She left David’s side and crossed the room. She took Mary Margaret’s hands in her hands and said, — I don’t know how to thank you.
— I don’t understand, — Mary Margaret said. — How could you not have known he was here? Before?
A pall came over Kathryn’s face; she slowly released Mary Margaret’s hands and looked at the group.
— We — we separated. A few years ago. It was under… terrible circumstances, a huge fight. And he stormed out and told me he was leaving town, moving to Boston, that the marriage was over. And all this time I’ve just assumed he was there, that he… moved on. — She looked back at him; he was preoccupied with Dr. Whale. — All this time he’s been right here, — she concluded.
— You never once tried to find him? — Emma said skeptically. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like the woman’s delivery and she didn’t like the smarmy look on Regina’s face.
— Of course I did, — said Kathryn, turning back. — But no one knew where he was. There’s only so long you can search for someone who doesn’t want to be found in the first place. — She looked at Regina and smiled warmly. — But the mayor put the pieces together and called this evening. It’s unbelievable. This is — it’s like we’re starting over. We get a second chance.
— That’s so lovely, — Mary Margaret said, smiling at the woman. Emma doubted she was the only one in the room who could see through the false sentiment.
Kathryn went back to David at the bed.
— Come on, Henry, — Regina said. — Time to go home.
As he passed by Mary Margaret, Henry looked up at her. He didn’t try hard to lower his voice when he said, — Don’t believe any of it. He woke up because of you. The story. True love. It’s your destiny to be together.
— Henry, — Regina said. But Henry darted from the room. Regina, shaking her head, followed after him.
— Excuse me, — Emma said to her back. — Madam Mayor.
Regina turned.
— A word before you go?
Regina sighed, nodded her consent. The two left the room together. Henry was already out in the parking lot when Regina stopped walking and the two women turned to face each other.
— Isn’t love sweet? — Regina asked. — I’m so happy that such a tragic story had a happy ending. That never happens.
— None of this particular story makes any sense, — Emma said flatly. — Let’s not play games.
— What is it that you think, then? — Regina asked, eyes alight, looking amused. — I’m using evil magic on that woman? Forcing her to lie?
— No, but I think you’re manufacturing something. I don’t know why. But it stinks, whatever it is.
— You do know, Ms. Swan, — Regina said, strolling back in her direction, — that bad things happen. Even in small towns like Storybrooke.
— Storybrooke’s just like everywhere else, — Emma said. — Full of good people, with a few rotten ones thrown into the mix.
— I’m surprised you’re not happier to see two people reunited, — said Regina. — There is no curse in the world worse than being alone. Am I right? — Regina smiled and looked over her shoulder toward the parking lot. — I’m lucky to have Henry, — she said. — It would be terrible to have no one at all.
Mary Margaret sat alone at her own kitchen table, one hand half-clasping a glass of water, the other resting in her lap. As her macaroni and cheese sat cooling in front of her, she thought through all that had happened since John Doe (his name is David, she reminded herself) had reached out to touch her hand.
She sipped her water, sighed, ran her fingers through her hair.
She swirled a few pieces of macaroni in the orange sauce, set the fork back down, twirled the ring on her middle finger.
When the knock on the door came, she knew that it couldn’t be him, that right now, he was home with his wife, relearning his own history. She had seen their embrace. And besides, why would she be hoping a stranger was at her door? No one wanted that.
She was convincing herself that she wasn’t hoping it would be him when she opened the door and saw Emma looking back.
The two women looked at each other. Mary Margaret found herself smiling then, just a bit.
— Hello, Emma, — she said.
— Hey.
— What can I–Is everything all right?
— Everything’s fine, — Emma said. — The mystery man is awake and the Evil Queen is asleep in her tower. We’re good.
Mary Margaret laughed a little and opened the door a bit more.
— Do you want to come in? — she said. — I have some dinner I could share.
— I was actually wondering if that offer still stood, — Emma said. — About the room.
— Oh, — Mary Margaret said, legitimately surprised. She’d managed to forget all about it in the excitement of the day, but she was glad Emma had not. — Absolutely. Come in.
Emma nodded and walked into the room. She took a look around, obviously pleased. Mary Margaret felt better. She didn’t want to think much about why.
— Nice place you got here, — Emma said. She rested her hand on the counter. — Much nicer than the back seat of a car.
— That is true, — Mary Margaret said, and the two women laughed. — But I’m glad that you’re here, — she said. — Really, Emma. Welcome.
CHAPTER 4
THE PRICE OF COLD
The next morning, Emma walked with Henry from his house to the bus stop, unconcerned whether Regina would see.
He was happy to see her, abuzz about John Doe and Operation Cobra, and Emma listened to his patter happily. Regina was not going to push her around. Not anymore.
After Henry waved good-bye and the bus pulled away, Emma had to stop short when the town’s sole police cruiser pulled into a driveway and blocked her way on the sidewalk.
Graham popped out and nodded good morning.
— You almost ran me over, — said Emma. — Hi.
— Had to get your attention, — he said.
— Are you going to arrest me again? — Emma said. — Lemme guess. Trumped up jaywalking charges.
He smiled and hung his head, which Emma took to be his way of acknowledging how unfair she’d been treated here so tar. She knew Graham was sympathetic to her, even though he and Regina seemed to have a complicated relationship. There was something between the sheriff and the mayor, maybe something romantic. She couldn’t tell, but she felt it. And it made sense. Late hours, working together, neither of them attached… She didn’t yet know how it fit into the equation of Storybrooke, but it certainly mattered.
— I want to offer you a job, actually, — Graham said. — I need a deputy. I know that you’re good. I think we’d work well together.
— Something tells me your boss wouldn’t like that, — Emma said. She was surprised by the offer. Flattered as well. She wouldn’t mind working a few late hours with Graham, either, now that she thought about it.
She said no. He asked her to think about it. She said she would, and he drove off, apparently pleased that he’d gotten that out of her.
The next surprise came at the diner twenty minutes later, when Regina slipped into her booth, smiled her devious smile, and said, — Good morning, Ms. Swan. Have a nice walk with my son?