Miss Enchanter - Ophelia's Story by Carol Colbert

this any time soon. Oh my goodness I didn’t know what I
was missing.”
    “Been a long time since you have been in hot
tub?” Thelma asked.
    “Yeah, like never in my life before. I have
never even heard of this thing before the other day. Thelma, is it
real, or is it the ecstasy of thaumaturgy ? This place would no doubt have a booming business
even if this were the only service we offered. I had a massage from
Ashton the other day, but if I got one now after being in the tub
here, I would no doubt melt like butter and sleep for the rest of
the day and night. We should have one of these installed at
home.”
    “It is real and available everywhere, on both
sides. As for having one at the house, no. Have to have a reason to
get up and get moving. If we had one of these at the house we would
find it almost impossible to get anything done that could not be
done inside of one of these babies.” Thelma said, smiling.
    “Would either of you ladies like a pedicure
when you are finished with the hot tub? Is there anything at all I
can bring to you, perhaps a bottle of water?”
    Ophelia looked over to see an attractive
middle aged lady with short blond hair and a friendly face which
looked a bit familiar.
    “No thank you. Ophelia, this is Janet, or
have you two meet before?”
    Ophelia said “I believe we have. I think it
was Janet who gave me a pedicure the first time I came in here, a
few days ago if I am not mistaken. Hello, Janet, I am afraid I was
so relaxed and at the same time had so much on my mind, that I
wasn’t much of a conversationalist that day.”
    Janet smiled and Ophelia noticed what a warm
smile she had. “Yes, that was I. Let me know if you would like a
pedicure, manicure, or whatever, I will be here all day. Nice to
see you both again.” Janet said, picking up a couple of wet towels
from the pool area and walking towards the room where the washers
and dryers were kept.
    “What a friendly lady.” Ophelia said. “I
think The Spa is fortunate to have her. Has she been here for a
while, or is she one of the newer people in town?”
    “Janet has been here from the start.”
    “Then, she knew my mother?”
    “Yes, she did. Janet is a great asset to The
Spa and someone you can trust one hundred percent.” Thelma said. “I
think I will get these toes done before heading back home, excuse
me, Ophelia. I’ll find you to let you know when I am leaving. You
sit and soak as long as you wish. Along with fireplaces, hot tubs
are an excellent place to relax and think.”
    Ophelia put her head back onto the built in
pillow and allowed the swirling warm water to massage her tired
neck muscles. She wasn’t thinking of anything in particular, but
then something Thelma said struck her. Wait, she said Janet has
been here from the start and knew my mother. Janet looks about
forty years old. Thelma also said she can be trusted one hundred
percent. Does that mean Janet is one of us? I can’t just go up and
ask her that. I swear, Thelma and Luna should have given me written
descriptions and an instruction book on who is who around
here.
    Ophelia was just finishing getting dressed
when another thought hit her. She put her shoes and coat on and
then walked into the hallway where she had first come into the
building. She again looked at the painting of her mother, but then
there it was, two paintings down was the most beautiful painting of
a waterfall that Ophelia had ever seen. Beautiful – and still
wet.
    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