Goldilocks smiled. “It’s been a long time.”
Granny led everyone into a spare bedroom furnished with a full-length mirror and a queen-size bed. Lying comfortably on the mattress were Sabrina and Daphne’s parents, Henry and Veronica Grimm. Both were deeply asleep. Granny Relda sat down next to her slumbering son and took his hand in hers. For the first time since Sabrina had met her grandmother the old woman’s shoulders didn’t look as if they were carrying the weight of the world.
Goldi stepped over to the bed and looked down at Sabrina’s parents. “Relda, I—”
Granny Relda stopped her. “I know what you’re going to say and it’s nonsense. There was never a need for an apology. What happened to Basil was not your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”
Sabrina watched Uncle Jake’s eyes drift to the ground.
“I’m not sure Henry feels the same way,” Goldi said. Sabrina saw the expression the odd woman gave her father. It was clear that even after all the years they had been apart Goldilocks still loved him. “How long have they been like this?”
“They disappeared two years ago,” Daphne explained. “They were like this when we found them about three months ago.”
“We’ve tried everything to wake them up,” Sabrina added.
“What about Prince Charming?” Goldilocks said. “He seems to have a knack for this kind of thing.”
“He also has a habit of marrying the women he wakes up,” Granny said. “Might be coincidence, but his kiss seems to have a power all its own. I’d rather not chance it.”
“I don’t want William Charming for a stepfather,” Sabrina grumbled.
Uncle Jake crossed the room and patted Poppa Bear on his furry arm. “Good to see you again, old man,” he said. “And the boy. He’s getting big.”
“You know the bears?” Goldilocks asked.
“Oh yes, Poppa and Baby Bear helped me retrieve a phantom scroll from a Romanian constable a few years back,” Uncle Jake explained.
Poppa Bear let out a low grunt.
“Retrieve or steal, Jacob?” Goldilocks asked disapprovingly.
“To-may-to, to-mah-to,” he replied with a sly grin. “Goldi, you and the bears have given up a lot to come here. You do realize you’re trapped in Ferryport Landing? The barrier won’t let you out.”
Poppa Bear gave a long bark.
“He says it was time to reunite his family,” Goldilocks explained. “Momma Bear was here, and Poppa and Baby Bear were not. They had all hoped the magical barrier would eventually fall down and they would be reunited, but no such luck. He says it’s better to be trapped together than apart for another day.”
“I don’t mean to be rude,” Sabrina interrupted. “But we’ve been waiting a long time for this. Could we get started?”
Goldilocks nodded and turned to Uncle Jake. “So, Jake, you’re the expert on magic as far as I can tell. I just plant a kiss on Henry and he’ll wake up?”
“That’s the word on the street,” Uncle Jake said. “Snow White and Briar Rose both explained what happened with them. Briar said there’s no special trick to it. Just pucker up and lay one on him.”
“Briar Rose said ‘pucker up and lay one on him’?” Sabrina asked. She couldn’t imagine such a demure woman being so … vulgar.
“I’m paraphrasing,” Uncle Jake said sheepishly, then turned back to Goldilocks. “Just kiss him.”
“What about Veronica?” Goldilocks said. “She needs a kiss from someone who loves her. I can’t wake her up.”
Daphne took her by the hand. “Your kiss will wake up Dad and then he’ll kiss Mom.”
“And all of this will be over,” Sabrina added.
Just then, the full-length mirror leaning against the far wall began to shimmer and shake. Its reflective surface rippled like a bubbling brook and when it calmed, a big, bulbous head materialized in the reflection. He had deep-set eyes, thick lips, and a heavy brow. A crackling thunderstorm ignited the sky behind him.
“WHO INVADES MY SANCTUARY?” he bellowed. Red Riding Hood jumped and tried to run from the room, but Daphne held her hand tight.
“It’s us, Mirror,” Granny said. “No enemies here.”
The lightning faded and the face brightened. “Oh, am I missing something?”
“Sorry, Mirror,” Daphne said. “We were just about to call for you. Goldilocks is here. She’s going to smooch my dad. We think it will wake him up!”
Mirror glanced around the room at the many guests and smiled. “Hello, Ms. G. It’s nice to see you again.”
Goldilocks returned the smile. “Still looking great, Mirror.”
Mirror smiled. “Thanks. I owe it all to Botox and my trainer.”