My Name is Rapunzel(6)

Not Henry. He was the most chaste, honorable man I’d ever known. But there was no sense defending that now. “He’ll have his fun and then return with a bride equal to his position, I imagine.” I shrugged. It was best to let them think I was moving on already, but my trembling surely gave me away.

Mother pulled me to her chest. “My dear, dear girl. I'm so sorry you have to endure this trial. No girl should lose the love of her life. Not in this way.” She stroked my hair from my head to my waist like she’d done since I was a child.

If she only knew. I let tears soak Mother’s dress as I enjoyed the warmth of her embrace. Nothing compared to what it felt to be held by Henry, but this was the best I had coming.

Forever.





CHAPTER THREE




1773

I forked a bite of spice cake into my mouth. It was my favorite. Mother glanced at Father and shrugged her shoulders. They exchanged questioning glances, like they had something to say, or maybe to ask.

There was no doubt in my mind that time was closing in on my secrecy. They would start asking questions soon. How could they not? Though ten years had gone by, I had not aged a day. People around me had birthdays, got older, got sick, developed wrinkles around their eyes, even died. But not me. It was a wonder it had taken them so long to inquire.

I waited for the inevitable.

Father cleared his throat. “Rapunzel?”

“Yes, Father?” I looked down at my cake and sliced off another bite with my fork. Pretend nothing was wrong. That tactic had worked well for me so far.

“Well, your mother and I, we…oh, I don't know.” He shrugged at Mother.

He didn’t know? Should I tell them the truth and put them out of their misery?

Mother chewed her lip. “Rapunzel, what's going on with you? What has happened to you?”

“What do you mean?” I stopped short of batting my eyelashes in innocence.

“Something happened to you. We need to know what.” Father spoke up.

I looked into their eyes—those two parents of mine who loved me so very much. “You mean, you have no idea?” Surely, deep down, they knew. And I was done with the lies and the pretending.

Father lowered his eyes, “Well…it would sound absurd if I were to say what I believe.”

“What, Father? Trust me with your thoughts.”

Mother squeezed his arm and nodded. Father opened his mouth then shut it again. He shook his head. Took a deep breath. “I think the events of that day, ten years ago, are perhaps a bit different than you’ve shared. I don't believe Henry left you the way you said. I think something happened.”

Here we went. “That's not much to go on for me, Father. What do you think happened that day?”

“Well, just based on what you've said since and things I've seen, I think it has to do with that old lady next door. I think…I think she hurt Henry and put a spell on you.” Father averted his eyes and squirmed in his chair.

“So you believe she's a witch?” That was better than thinking I was.

Mother nodded. “I've always known it, but I couldn't prove it.”

So that's why she never wanted me around Gretta. If only I'd listened from the beginning.

“And now, well, you’re special. There's something about you…”

Father put his hand on Mother's shoulder and silenced her.

Something about me. Now to find out how much they knew.

Mother shook her head. “No, I just mean you’re special. Gretta obviously saw something in you. She put a curse on you, didn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“You haven’t aged, Rapunzel.” Mother wasn’t asking a question. They knew. Of course they knew. Finally, my secret burden would come to light.

“Your curse…is it eternal life? Eternal youth?”

I nodded.

Father exhaled heavily. “Well, there could be worse things.” He searched my eyes.

My shoulders sank and I sighed. “Eternity without the man I love? Watching my loved ones grow old and die around me while I stay young with no hope of escape? I can't think of much worse.”

***

Father stormed from the house. He raced across the yard. Mother and I ran to the window and watched him power across the yard and hurl his body over the fence into Gretta's yard. What was he thinking? Was he just going to go confront her? To what end? He bounded up to the front door in a few strides and pounded on it with all his might. “Get out here, you nasty witch.”

Bang. Bang. Bang.

He pounded and pounded. I could almost see Gretta inside deciding his fate. What was he thinking? He would be no use to any of us if she cast a spell on him.

The door inched opened. We could hear the creak from where we stood.

I looked at mother and she looked at me. I could see the fear in her eyes. Oh no. It was too late. Mother knew it too. Oh, Father. What have you done?