Page 7 of Locked
The sun slowly started to seep back into my body as she braided, warming me in places I hadn't realized were cold, and energizing me more than any number of afternoon naps.
"I brought up some groceries…" Mother said, pinching the end of my braid and handing it to me. I used a hair band I had around my wrist to secure it as she used the top of my head to rise up from her seat. "Sent them to the fridge…"
"Thank you, Mother…"
"You're welcome, Dearheart…" she replied. "I brought you something else, too."
"Oh, Mother, you are too good to me…" I murmured, watching as several small pots appeared in the air in front of my face, floating over to the herb table.
"Do you know what these are?" she asked, hobbling over to the table to stroke softly at the leaves.
I nodded. "They're Rapunzel…"
"They are. Just like you. Just like the greens I caught your father stealing from my garden."
Again, I nodded. I knew the story. I could never forget. "Thank you so much, Mother. I will enjoy growing them."
She hummed, reaching out to stroke my cheek. "Beautiful girl. It's a shame you have to be locked up here."
I knew better than to agree with her, so I simply cast my eyes down, taking time to intricately know each of my new plant's leaves. Every vein and wrinkle.Theywere beautiful.
She turned from me, beginning her walk back to the door. "Come, Rapunzel. Won't you make us some tea, my dear?"
"I will," I replied, turning from my plants and crossing the floor slowly so I didn't pass her as she made her way to the door.
I was pleased to note the return of my powers as I set the kettle to boiling on the stove and pulled the tea service from the tallest cabinet, all without lifting a finger.
Well, I did have to snap my fingers to get the stove to light. But, I had always had a difficult time with fire spells.
Almond milk filled the tiny pitcher and sugar cubes filled the sugar bowl. Black tea found its way into the tea ball and that, into the pot.
By the time I had the tea tray floating out to the dining room, Mother was just getting seated in the chair.
"How is that cat of yours?" she asked, glancing out the door of the sunroom to where Basil was lounging in the sunlight. "He's getting rather old, isn't he?"
"He's doing well," I said, smiling a bit too widely. She had the same tone when she'd destroyed the old teddy bear I used to sleep with every night. I couldn't even stand to think of what she might do to Basil, the very thought made me panic. Mother noticed, but she thankfully didn't say anything more, simply stirred her tea without touching the spoon and stared down at Basil. "How are you, cat?"
"I'm fine, Mother," Basil chirped, sitting up tall and proud in his sunbeam. "You take such good care of both of us."
"You really do, Mother," I agreed, floating her tea cup over into her hand.
She talked small talk for the rest of her visit. Much of her conversation didn't require anything from me other than a 'yes, Mother', or a 'no, Mother," but to my chagrin, she never brought up the wifi.
It wasn't until she was getting ready to go, plucking a hair from my head that I worked up the courage to ask.
"Mother?"
"Yes, Dearheart?"
"Do you think… do you think I could… please... have the wifi turned back on?"
She stopped, and I shuddered for a moment because I might very well have screwed myself out of ever getting it turned back on…
"I suppose so, Rapunzel…" she said wearily, raising her hand and flicking it. "There, Dearheart. Your precious internet is back. Don't you go complaining about me on that blog of yours. I check it every night."
"I know, Mother. It was rotten of me."
"It really was. But you know better now."
"Yes, Mother."
"Good girl. Now I'm afraid I must be off. Give me a goodbye kiss."
I did so, pressing my lips to her leathery cheek and hugging her tightly. She dropped the strand of my hair into the bowl, leaving through the door as it opened.
I waved, smiling and staying stock still until the door shut and the magical lock slid into place.
And then, I was gone. Running to retrieve my tablet and then out into the sunroom. I'd kept my guys waiting for long enough, and I was more than ready to play catch-up.
