Miss Enchanter - Ophelia's Story (12 page)

“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?”

“Not yet.” Luna said, “There is more to
come.”

Just then the funny looking cat jumped down
off of Ophelia’s lap and started running circles around the
bonfire. The sky lit up different shades of blue and red, yellow,
orange and green and sparks from the bonfire just added to the
spectacle.

Ophelia blinked her eyes and there before her
stood her mother, Gertie.

“You just had to make a grand entrance as
always, Gertie.” Luna laughed.

Gertie walked up to Ophelia and put her arms
around her daughter. “Hello, Ophelia, it has been a long time.”

Ophelia was speechless. She clung to her
mother and she could not stop the tears running down her cheeks.
“Mother, why did you pretend that you had died?” Ophelia cried.

“I was one hundred and three in mortal years,
people were beginning to talk! I kept thinking that Donald would
move out and be on his own, but he never did. I even bought him a
house at one point, but he still continued to spend his time with
me. I got tired of waiting, I wanted to see you again.” Gertie
said.

Ophelia looked at her mother’s still
extremely beautiful face and smiled. “You found me.”

“With help of the ring, yes. I just had to
find a way to get the ring to you and get you back here. Thelma did
a great job, don’t you think? Of course we all had a great deal of
help from the Gaunter family, unbeknownst to them. I willed the
trunk to them after I hid my journal and the ruby red ring in it.
The semi-truck that caused their van to swerve that night was no
fluke.”

“I can’t believe how happy I am, how
everything does work out the way it should here in Enchanted.”
Ophelia said. “Mother, I saw The Spa and I want to take it over,
now we can run it together. I wanted to rename it Scarlett’s, but
Luna and Thelma seemed to object although they never said exactly
why.” Ophelia said looking at Luna and Thelma.

“Scarlett was what the Great Evil called me,
it was his nickname for me.”

“Oh, no wonder they were so shocked to hear
that name come out of my mouth.” Ophelia said.

“All that was so long ago, I rather like the
name Scarlett and would hate to only have bad thoughts when hearing
it. Spa Scarlett, Scarlett’s Spa, either way sounds great to me!”
Gertie said.

“I know how Janet, Cindy and Ashton escaped,
but mother, how did you and Hugo get out?”

“To finish the story, I took Hugo from the
Palace. Ashton came back in horse form and we left together that
night. Ashton brought the ring back to me so the three of us could
leave together. Hugo was transformed into a deer. Anyone who saw us
leave that night would have only seen an old woman in tattered
clothes, riding on a miniature pony and leading a small deer.”

“I don’t think I could ever think of you as
an old woman mother, no matter how many years you have existed. I
am beyond fortunate to have inherited your looks. But there is one
piece left of this puzzle, mother.” Ophelia said.

“You have had a number of revelations
tonight, Ophelia, perhaps we should wait before hearing anymore.
There is actually more to the story than even Thelma and Luna are
aware of at this point.” Gertie said.

“Excuse me?” Thelma and Luna said in
unison.

“Turn around” Gertie said.

Luna and Thelma did and they stood their own
mother, Gertie’s sister Ophelia for whom her daughter was named
for. Luna and Thelma rushed to embrace their mother and Ophelia
took that moment to ask the question she had never before asked her
mother.

“Mom, who is my father? Was he the Great
Evil?”

Gertie looked at her daughter and took her
face into her hands. “Yes, my love, he was.”

Ophelia’s heart swelled with more love than
she ever thought possible for her mother. “Oh mom, you have
suffered so much, I am so proud of you, of all of us!”

Ophelia the senior clapped her hands, causing
everyone to pay attention to what she was going to say. “I think
now would be a good time for that toast, Ophelia.”

Janet then stepped into the middle of the
group and said “Just one more thing.” She then produced a large
painting that showed sisters Gertie and Ophelia, Luna and Thelma
and Gertie’s daughter Ophelia.

“This was the surprise that I was hinting at
this morning at The Spa, Ophelia. Painted almost entirely from
memory.”

The women looked at the painting with tears
in their eyes. The senior Ophelia then said “Now we have even more
to toast!”

Ghost House
–
where we first meet Suzanne and The Gaunter family – Book
1

Ghost Granny
– where we first meet Thelma and her sister Luna – Book
2

Ghost Cat, Thelma’s Dilemma
– where we first meet Ophelia Book 3

Gertie’s Choice
– Gertie’s story from the old country to
Enchanted and beyond. Book 5

I Promised, Ophelia and
William
– The story of Thelma and Luna’s
parents. Available early 2016 – Book 6 – Final Ghost Series
Book

Jennifer – Hey, Who Am I?
– Book 1

Please check out my website
http://www.carolcolbert.com