As she was standing there the front door opened and London walked in. Ophelia wondered if she had been gone all that time since she herself had been at The Spa for well over two hours.
“Oh, excuse me, Miss Enchanter. Is there anything I can do for you?” London asked, color rising to her cheeks. Somehow Ophelia didn’t believe the redness was the result of the cold wind outside. She would have rather ask someone else, but at the moment, no one was around but London.
“I was just looking at these pictures and this one here of the waterfall, it looks newly painted. The paint appears to be hardly dry on it.”
“Yes.”
“Has this painting been hanging on this wall for very long?”
“I believe it was hung there this morning.”
“By whom?”
“Mr. Ashton hung it. I think Miss Janet painted it last night. It could be just the quality of the paint used that makes it appear to still be undried.”
“Oh, thank you, London. If you see Miss Thelma, would you let her know that I am ready to leave now? Thank you.” Ophelia said and then walked back down the hallway to the salon area and found Janet.
“Miss Janet, may I speak to you for a moment?” She asked.
“Of course, Miss Enchanter. Is there something I can do for you? We have some new nail colors just in that are very pretty.”
“Maybe later. London mentioned that it was you who painted the picture of the waterfall that is hanging in the hallway by the front door. Did you?”
“Yes, just recently in fact. If you think it should not be there, I will take it down immediately.” Janet said. “Or, if you like it you are more than welcome to take it with you.”
“Oh no, I think that the painting is beautiful, one of the best works I have ever seen in fact. It looks good right where it is, where anyone walking into The Spa can see it as well. I just wanted to tell you how much I admire it. You are very talented. Is that waterfall somewhere near here?”
“No, I painted it from memory.” Janet said.
“You are extremely brilliant with your art work. It brightens up that hallway a lot.” Ophelia said, meaning every word. “Thank you for your contribution, although I want you to retain ownership of your work.”
“It does not hold a candle to the painting of your mother.” Janet said sincerely. “I actually have an idea for a new painting, but I would rather keep that surprise to myself for the time being. Just until the time is right, of course.” Janet said, smiling.
“Thelma said that you knew my mother when she lived here, but you are so young.”
London walked up to them and said “Miss Enchanter, Miss Thelma said to let you know that she is also ready to leave, she will meet you by the front door whenever you are ready.”
“Thank you, London.” Ophelia said to London’s retreating back. When she turned back again to Janet, Janet was at the other end of the hallway. Ophelia waved goodbye to her and Janet’s voice rang out. “You are very young looking as well, Ophelia.”
Well, I’ll be damned, she is one of us!
Ophelia walked to the front door and she and Thelma walked out into the winter day together. When they were about a block down from The Spa Ophelia looked sideways at Thelma and said “So, Janet is one of us, huh?”
Thelma looked at her cousin and smiled. “Why, yes, she is.”
“You couldn’t have told me that yourself, Thelma? I don’t know why you just don’t let me know things like that.” Ophelia said.
“It is better if you discover Enchanted’s little miracles on your own, Ophelia. Having to watch your words and actions because you don’t know who might be listening, or who knows what, is a good thing. Teaches you to choose your words carefully and to be more observant.” Thelma pointed out.
“But, I have heard London speak to Janet in a less than respectful tone, why is it that Janet has not reacted or given her two heads or something? Oh, that would be fun, is that something we are actually capable of doing?” Ophelia asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“You don’t always have to react to unkind words, Ophelia. That should be another lesson for you to learn, it is part of being mature. London has her issues that she has to deal with, she is one of the people not meant to make her permanent home here in Enchanted.” Thelma answered, ignoring the two headed remark.
“I guess you are right, Thelma. Besides, one London face is enough to have to look at. I would hate it if she had two mouths to spit her disrespectful words out of.” Ophelia laughed.
Despite herself, Thelma joined in and said “Talk about being two-faced!”
Ophelia heard a series of bells that she had not heard up until now. They were different than the welcome back bells and the bells for the hill. She asked Thelma about them.
“Those are the school bells, lets parents and others know when school has let out for the day. Although they pretty much keep to a regular starting hour, the end of the school day could be at any time. For bad weather, or if the kids have something they are working on, or just want to have fun.” Thelma said.
“There is a nice pond that is a bit behind the chocolate shop where the kids ice skate. It is such a nice day and not all that cold, so I imagine the kids will want to skate today. Would you like to walk over and watch them for a bit before we head back home? Or is there something else you would rather do?” Thelma stopped, waiting for her cousin to answer before picking a direction to continue walking in.
“It sounds nice, but after that soak in the hot tub I would rather just go home and sit by the fire. I see what you mean now about it being a drain on your ambition for the day. As marvelous as it felt, I certainly did not get anything done today, just ate and soaked. Not very productive.” Ophelia said as they both walked towards the hill.
“On the contrary, you experienced something brand new that you enjoyed immensely and discovered a truth that will lead to other truths. I’d say that is a pretty good accomplishment for the day.”
“I like the way you think, Thelma.” Ophelia laughed.
Chapter 13
As the sleigh approached the house, Ophelia noticed a flurry of activity. “What is going on here?” Ophelia asked.
“Oh, just some last minute preparations, making sure we have supplies and that we haven’t forgotten anything.” Thelma said.
“Preparations for what?”
“For tonight. These workmen do not know it, of course, but after they are done with the various chores they have been assigned to do, they will go back over the hill to their own homes.” Thelma said.
“Well, of course, I mean, I never expected that they would stay here, there is something that you are not telling me, right? Or is this one more thing that I have to figure out all by myself?” Ophelia asked.
“When night falls, a thick fog will fall with it. This heavy, smoky blue mist will blanket the area, especially the area around the bridge. Anyone who might find themselves at the top of the hill will not be able to see the house in the distance like they usually can.” Thelma said, pointing to the hill.
“It is a bit of a distance anyway, the house looks much smaller from the hill than it actually is. I know I was very surprised how large your house is when we got closer to it that first day I was here. That porch that wraps all the way around the house is really amazing and the house is so immense that you don’t even know there is yet another grand home, although a smaller one, behind it.”
“Yes, but tonight no one from the other side of the hill will be able to see the house at all, the dark blue smoke will shield everything from the hill to beyond the woods in the back, from being seen by anyone. Also, the bridge will not be available tonight for crossing.”
“Does this happen often?”
“When it needs to happen.”
“So, I take it this is not a natural phenomenon? The skies are so clear and sunny right now, and yet you know this big blue blanket of fog is on its way.” Ophelia said looking up and shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight.
“Yes. Luna and I thought that we should set the stage, so to speak, when we get together again tonight to continue the story of your mother and of the events that have taken place that you want to know about.”
“I want to know about all of it, everything.” Ophelia said.
“Of course you do, and tonight all of your questions will be answered for you.”
“You make it sound so mysterious and intriguing with blue fog and everything unknown becoming known. So, Luna is coming back over here tonight for our talk then?” Ophelia said before one of the workers came over to help her step down off of the sleigh.
Thelma thanked the young man after he helped her down from the sleigh as well and watched him as he guided the sleigh back towards the barn area before she spoke.
“Actually, we will be meeting in the back, closer to the woods.”
“Are we going to Luna and Hugo’s house?”
“Not quite, but much closer to it. We will be outside tonight.” Thelma said as they walked into the kitchen.
“Are we going to scatter my mother’s ashes tonight somewhere near the woods? I have been thinking so much of her. I miss her and wish I could turn the clock back and be a much better daughter. There was so much I did not understand back then, and with that Donald there, not much time to learn about any of this other stuff.” Ophelia said.
“We learn when we can handle the information. I am sure your mother must have told you things back then over and over again that you did not listen to or believe or follow through on.” Thelma said looking into Ophelia’s eyes. “You are not unlike your mother, she is someone who did things her own way, and damn the consequences or anyone who got in her way. That can be a very good thing, but it can also cause heartache and problems for others. Do you honestly think if you had the knowledge of who you and your mother really are, that you could have handled it back then?”
“Well, no, but it would have been nice to know why I sometimes had blue smoke coming out of my butt.” Ophelia laughed. “I probably would have turned Donald into a roach or some other creature I could step on. By the time I turned into Snowball the cat I was not totally clueless as far as knowing that I was different.”
“Yes, you had a tail, and if the smoke came from your backside then you are more different than you think.” Thelma snickered.
“That too! So did you! But no, you are right, I was so full of nervous energy that I did not know what to do with and so filled with jealously over first John, the man my mother fell in love with, and then us getting stuck with Donald, his son, that no, I certainly would not have understood back then. I guess everything does happen for a reason.” Ophelia reasoned.
“And in its own time.”
The men who had been working outside now knocked on the door, letting Thelma know that they had finished their work and asked if there were anything else they could help her with before they leave. Thelma went to the drawer and took out envelopes and handed each one to each of the workers. “Thank you for all of your hard work, it appears everything has been finished.” The men thanked her and left.
Thelma walked into the living room and prepared a fire in the fireplace. She went back to the kitchen to make her and Ophelia a couple of BLTs. She went to the refrigerator to grab a bottle of red pop and a donut before she walked upstairs and into her bedroom, shutting her door behind her. A few seconds later she opened the door again and she called out to her cousin “I will see you in a few hours, get some rest, you will need it.”
Chapter 14
Ophelia knew that she should probably rest up for the night’s event, whatever that might entail. But she was too full of nervous energy. She had not been in Enchanted for very long, but she had learned a lot and grown a great deal. Although her years alive numbered over one hundred, her experiences and memories did not stretch that far back. She knew that was due to her and her mother living on the other side for so many years. She was missing her mother more than ever, especially tonight.
Thelma came downstairs wearing a very lovely long blue gown. “Thelma, you look beautiful, I didn’t know that we were supposed to dress up for tonight, should I go and see what I can find to change into?” Ophelia asked her cousin.
“No, you are fine, shall we go?”
“Right now?”
“Yes”
“But Luna is not here yet.” Ophelia said, looking out the window and seeing the heavy blue mist fog that Thelma had told her about earlier was already hanging heavy in the sky.
“Yes, they are all waiting for us.”
“All? Who is all? Is Hugo coming too?”
“Yes.”
Ophelia and Thelma walked to the back of the house and down the long path behind the smaller house where Sebastian and his sister Isabel had lived in when they first came to Enchanted. They walked into the vast grassy area that stretched for several miles before the woods came into full view.
The snow and ice made everything shine and sparkle under the moon like a winter wonderland. She and Thelma continued walking towards what appeared to be a very large bonfire.
“A bonfire! How cool is that!” Ophelia said.
They walked up to the bonfire and there was Luna and Hugo, as well as the miniature ponies Caramel, Zippy and Ace. Ophelia was shocked to see that Janet, the nice lady from The Spa was also in attendance. Thelma motioned Ophelia to a chair and as she sat down she almost screamed out as the cat from the Village jumped on her lap. The funny looking cat with the orange hair, black noes and white tail. “You again! What is this really all about?”
Thelma walked closer to the fire and took her place next to Luna and Hugo. “Ophelia, we told you that the time had come to leave our home so that the Great Evil and others would not destroy our family. It was imperative that we all leave there and quickly, but we also had to be very careful. A mass exodus would have been noticed and although the people of the forest were on our side, we could not take anything for granted.” Luna began.
“Okay, so, hum...” Ophelia said, looking at Janet.
“We had to devise a plan, one that would get us out of harm’s way, but one that would attract the least attention. I have told you about Julia, and about her son. Julia was very powerful, although she had hidden it well. What we did not tell you is that Julia escaped and came to Enchanted with us, although back then Enchanted was not as it is today.”
“How?” Was the only word that Ophelia could squeak out of her lips at the moment, her mouth felt very dry.
“Julia had a ring. A very powerful, beautiful, red ring. With this ring she was able to transport people, over mountains, oceans, no matter, the ring was that powerful and did its job well. It can also function as a tracking device and it recharges itself with the rays of the sun.” Luna explained.
“We told you of the couple who were hired to be companions to the King’s second cousin, Julia.” Luna said.
“Yes, I remember, Cynthia and her husband Ash and they were on Julia’s side along with my mother.”
“To make their plan work, Julia had let it be known that she was going to the next town to shop. She left with Cynthia as her companion and they had one of the miniature horses pull the wagon.” Luna continued.
“What about her son, did he go as well?” Ophelia asked, absently mindedly stroking the odd looking cat that still sat on her lap.
“Yes, I did.” Hugo said, walking up to stand by Janet’s side. “It would have been odd for a mother to take such a young child shopping back then, so I was left in the care of someone who could protect me.” Hugo said.
“My mother” Ophelia said.
“Yes, and Janet here, is my mother, the King’s second cousin known then as Julia.” Hugo said, placing his arm around his mother’s shoulders.
Ophelia was almost shell shocked, but as much as her head was beginning to swirl, she had no clue as to just how much more powerful that whirlpool in her head was about to get.
“That is an amazing story! So Cynthia helped
Julia get away from the King and the palace. That was very good of her.” Ophelia said.
“Thank you.” Said a voice stepping out of the shadows.
“Cindy! That was you who helped Janet?”
“Yes, with a lot of help from my husband, Ash, whom you know as Ashton from The Spa, and also from the wagon as you know me.” Cindy said.
“I don’t understand.” Ophelia said.
“My name is Cindy, but I am also known as Caramel and my husband is Ashton, known also as Ace.” She finished as her husband, Ashton stepped forward.
Ophelia did not know what to say. She turned to Zippy who was standing there and said “So, who is Zippy?”
They all laughed and said “Zippy is Zippy, a miniature horse we purchased after we came to Enchanted.” Thelma said.
“I am in shock, I don’t know how I will ever be able to process all of this information.” Ophelia said. “Do we have anything to drink out here, any wine perhaps?”
“I think that is a good idea, dear.” Luna said. “For the greatest shock is yet to come.”
“Ophelia wasn’t sure her heart or head could comprehend anything else. She looked at all of the dark blue heavy fog surrounding them and was surprised she could still see beautiful stars shinning in the winter night sky. She looked at Cindy and Ashton and how happy they looked and then something jogged her mind.
“Oh, Cindy, I thought I noticed red nail polish on your hoofs the day we came back from the spa! Now I know why, we actually had pedicures at The Spa together that day.”
“Yes, and by the way, that first trip to the hill we made together, you were less than polite, complaining about every jolt. Some pot holes are hard to notice until you step in them.” Cindy said.
“You are right, sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude to anyone and Janet, I am so glad that you are a part of our group. I was wonderful how you and Cindy could have possibly known my mother. Now I know!”
Hugo reappeared with a large tray of wine glasses with cherry wine bottles being carried by Luna. They passed out the glasses and Ophelia said “I think this calls for a toast, may I?”
Miss Enchanter - Ophelia's Story Page 8