Introduction: This is another story in the Cynthia Chronicles series. Other stories in the series are An Incremental Journey, Cynthia and the Reluctant Girlfriend, Cynthia and the Dumpster Diver, Cynthia and the Moment of Truth, Cynthia and the High School Years - Part I, Cynthia and the High School Years - Part II, Charli and the Girl Cave, Bobbie and the Glass Ceiling, Randi and the College Professor, Adam and the Three Wishes, Lisa and the Culinary Quest (aka Howard and the Completed pass), Cynthia and the Solicitous Sisters-in-Law, Cynthia and the Queen of the Knight, and Cynthia and the Dropped Ball. The time frame of this story follows about three to four years after Charli and the Girl Cave. This story takes place a little more than a year after Bobbie Anderson wins the (British) Open and about ten years after Simoné and the Second Time Around.

Marti and Lanu introduce their mothers to each other. As Lanu says, “That went rather well.” Many have no idea about the last act. Simoné and Bev are to say the least, surprised. Love heals.

Beth Vaeaolesau was double checking the lists for the upcoming party. Gramma Margaret had insisted that it not be a birthday party; just a family reunion. However, she was the only one receiving presents. Most of the family still lived on the island, but more and more were going to college in the US and elsewhere. Three of her (Margaret’s) great, great whatever grandchildren were playing NFL Football, and they and their families were firmly ensconced in the US. Beth had tried to schedule things so that they could come back before training camps opened up. As things looked right now, they could expect around 70 guests.

She was a bit worried about her youngest daughter. Ever since she’d returned from that camp in the US, she seemed to have changed. She seemed to be a bit preoccupied. She had mentioned she’d made some great friends, and she seemed to be texting them all the time. She had plenty of friends at home, but there was something different going on. She’d just have to wait and see. She’d always trusted Lanu to do the right thing. It was just that something strange was going on and she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Mom, how’re the plans coming along.”

“I think things are pretty well firmed up. Why?”

“I think we might have to make some adjustments.”

“What on earth for? Are there a bunch of cancellations?”

“No, I’m afraid it’s just the opposite. I’d like you to meet someone.

“Marti, come on in.”

Beth looked up to see a very attractive flame haired girl enter the room.

“Mom, this is Martha, Marti, Lewis. She was my cabin mate in California.

“I can tell by your expression you realize Marti’s one of us.”

“Mrs. Vaeaolesau, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard quite a bit about you and I even knew things about you that Lanu didn’t know.”

“Such as?” a very puzzled Beth asked.

“Mom, you never told me you used to be a brunette,” Lanu said with a little smirk. She was enjoying the interplay.

“What? How on earth did you find out about that? Everything changed; even the pictures. That happened so long ago.”

“Maybe this will help,” Marti said.

“Mom, I think you should come in now.”

“Aunt Beth, it’s time you met your sister, Marissa Lewis.”

“Aunt Marissa, this is your sister, Elizabeth Vaeaolesau.”

Marissa thought she’d be prepared for their meeting; however, her emotions overflowed. Beth was in shock. The sisterly bond that should have been there all their lives was finally realized.

Marti and Lanu, holding each other close and with tears streaming down their faces watched their mothers embracing each other.

“That went rather well,” Lanu whispered to Marti.

Elekana Vaeaolesau and Stan Lewis had moved into the room to see their wives during an exceptionally emotional time. Lanu had told her father about what was going on several days before. He was very good at keeping a secret. Both of their sons and families and his oldest daughter were also brought into the secret; well most of it, anyway.

By design, the secrets would not be revealed all at once, and that was what mystified Bev, Simoné, the Matthews and their families. His Wisdom brought them in the day after Marissa (Mari) and Beth’s meeting. The Wizard used his anti-jet lag and time change spell, and after an hour to get settled, the new arrivals met in the dining room with those who had arrived earlier. Of course, considerable time was taken with introductions and explaining what the situation was to this point.

“As many of you are aware, Great Gramma Vaeaolesau is the real reason for our celebration each year.” Beth was addressing a group that had boarded the tourist bus at their luxury hotel. The bus would be heading to a place unknown by most on the island. Elekana was the driver. The Matthews, Terri, Jim, Melanie, Adam and Jim Jr; Terri’s parents; Bev, her companion Debbie; Simoné, Ivana, Georg, Beverly, and Margaret were among those taking the trip. The Wizard, dressed in his tropical finery, a Hawaiian shirt and shorts (a bit outdated), with Wolf and Padrona, had the seats of honor at the front of the bus.

“She is not aware of whom is taking this little trip. Gramma moved to this location shortly after 1900 with her beloved Aleki. He is buried in a little garden not far away from where we are going. It is only a short walk from the house, and I’m sure those of you who have not been here before will want to go there. Aleki and Gramma were married for 80 years.

“Gramma arrived here in 1877, a victim of a shipwreck caused by a typhoon. She’d been injured in the wreck, but quickly recovered. As some of us know now, her recovery was not complete.”

By this time the bus had been on the road for a while following Highway 1 along the south coast before turning north on Highway 6 to follow a rather circuitous path over a pass to the village of Afano and the north shore of the island. After a mountain hugging trip, they arrived at the village of Vatia.

“Grandpa Aleki found her washed up on the beach and carried her back to the orphanage where he lived and worked. She had taken a rather severe blow to the head. Mrs. McDonald treated her wound which healed with no trace of it ever having happened in a matter of days. She remembered leaving Atlanta, Georgia with her husband. Unfortunately, her husband drowned in the wreck.”

Bev suddenly grabbed her sister’s hand. “Oh my God.”

“You’re right, Bev.”

That’s when it hit Simoné. “Mother?”

“Margaret Simard washed ashore that day thinking she and her husband had left Atlanta; however, they had actually left New Haven, Connecticut. As some of us know now, she has a hole of about 40 years in her memory.

“I know many of you have been wondering why you were invited on this little adventure. I found out I had a sister, that I had a huge family out there that I knew nothing about. Marissa’s family has found out the same thing. However, we are even more connected than we ever thought possible. I’m sure Myrna will work out all the connections.

“Okay, we are as far as the bus can take us. Many of us will recognize the barrier Gramma put up as we pass through the gate. I spent my summers here as a child while Gramma trained me. I was the first magic person she could remember contacting. She found me when I was with my parents at a grocery store.”

Beth led the group up the winding drive to a modest home. Margaret was standing on the small covered porch. She could have been a fraternal twin of Simoné. Her long dark hair fell to below her waist.

“Well, this is quite an honor. Who are all these people? I had no idea there were so many of us.”

“These are your family, Great Gramma. I found out about them when I was in the US,” Lanu proudly proclaimed.

“My family? Who are these other people?”

Simoné turned to her sister who was in her naturally young appearing form. They grasped hands and stepped forward.

“Hello Mother, it’s been a long time, hasn’t it.” Simoné couldn’t keep back the tears.

Margaret was definitely puzzled. “Mother? I don’t think I understand.”

By this time Bev and Simoné were grasping their mother’s hands in theirs. They flooded her with all the warmth they could muster. Margaret’s hands started to tremble, and then her body was wracked with sobs. Three women couldn’t have held each other any closer.

The Island of Tutuila had never seen such a party.

That’s it for now; however, this story left many things unanswered that will certainly have to be addressed. One of them is a sapient raccoon and his family. We still know nothing about Marissa and Elizabeth’s origin. Are there other unknown siblings out there? There must be a family line out there somewhere. I have often wondered about some of the other witches that showed up in previous stories whose genetic line is not known. Myrna is going to be very busy.