Page 261 of Naughty Nelle

The two of them giggle.

Winnie waves her pretend magic wand over them. “Now, children, magically disappear.”

Hansel and Gretel giggle again. After hugging Winnie, they scamper off to play with Calla and Curly. Winnie squeezes my hand and smiles. How lucky Hansel and Gretel are to have her as their mom. And how lucky she is to have them.

To the children’s absolute delight, Winnie is a one-woman show. She sings; she dances, and she even juggles cupcakes. For her finale, she tosses the cupcakes into the audience. Just like at the Faraway talent show that now seems like ages ago. The rapturous children clamber to catch and eat them.

Taking a much-deserved break from entertaining Calla and her newfound friends, Winnie sits down with me on a stone bench, ironically the one where Gallant first asked me to arrange this party. Finally, a chance to tell her about my castle and mirror.

With out a single interruption, she listens intently as the words fly out. By the end of my story, my mouth is dry, and my throat is burning with anger.

“It’s all meant to be,” she says.

Is that all she can say?

“Elz and Hook broke up,” she says before I can tell her about my plan to hunt down Midas.

Poor Elz! I knew that sleazeball would break her heart.

“Don’t feel bad for her.” She’s such a mind reader. “Elz dumped Hook.”

Good for her! After how he treated her the other night, he deserved it. I’m proud of my roomie. She’s really taking control of her life.

“How’s Elz doing?” I ask.

“She’s doing great. It’s Hook who’s a shipwreck.”

“How are my young mateys doing?” comes a familiar voice from behind us. Talking about the devil…

It’s Hook! Who invited him? Then I remember. He’s in charge of the children at the orphanage. The Midas Orphanage…maybe he can lead me to the bastard.

Hook surveys his wards at play. “It looks like they’re having a whale of a time,” he smiles. “But their ship is about to sail.”

“Please let them stay a little longer,” begs Winnie. “At least to have some birthday cake. Which reminds me, I need to get the cake ready.”

Winnie dashes off, leaving me alone with Hook. I have to admit he looks like a wreck. With his bloodshot eyes and thick layer of stubble, he probably hasn’t slept for days.

“Do you know Midas?” I ask him right away despite his sorry state.

“Never met the bloke.”

Dragonballs! My mouth twists with disappointment.

“I’m sorry about the other night,” he says in a surprisingly humble tone.

The other night…I flush at the memory.

“I’ve gone cold turkey. I’m off booze for good.”

“That’s great.” I wonder how long that’ll that last.

He moves much too close to me. “Now, that it’s over between me and Elzmerelda, maybe we could give it another shot.”

God, he just won’t give up. “Hook, let’s just be friends, okay?”

“What do you mean by that?” he asks, sounding confused.

Luckily, I don’t have to answer his question. Calla comes to my rescue.

---