The Miracle Flowers

She opened one eye every so slightly and watched through blurred lashes as the nurse entered and worked at the sink, her back towards the bed. 

"These flowers came for you, Mrs. Reynolds!" she announced, tossing a slip of paper into the yawning can beside the vanity.

Mrs. Reynolds stirred slightly and opened her eyes with feigned sleepiness.  "What was that you said?"

"These flowers arrived for you this morning," the nurse repeated, holding out the huge vase of brightly-colored blooms.

"Harumph," the elderly woman grumbled, crossing her arms and turning her back.  "No one would be sending me flowers!" she protested.

"Oh, come now, Mrs. Reynolds," the nurse soothed, "why would you say such a thing?"

"I might be 85 years old, but I still have some sense left in my head so don't you patronize me, little missy!" the older woman retorted snappishly.  "I carry no illusions! I'm a crotchety old woman with a head full of outspoken, one-sided opinions that alienate others.  My husband died 15 years ago, we never had any children, and the only family member I have left in this world is my 60-year old confirmed bachelor nephew.  You've met him!  Surely you realize that he wouldn't send flowers!" Mrs. Reynolds shook her head and huffed.  "It's like pulling teeth to get him to spend my money to pay for my health care," she finished bitterly.

"Well, your name's on the card, Mrs. Reynolds, and there is no one else by that name here, so these are yours," the young nurse explained, placing the vase on the bedside table and opening the curtains.  "It's a beautiful day.  Would you like to get dressed and join the others for breakfast?" she encouraged.

"I most certainly would not," the patient snapped.  Looking at the vase of flowers she quickly regretted her peevishness and continued, "Please just bring my tray to my room, Bonnie.  I don't feel like getting up just quite yet."

"Certainly," the young nurse replied in her usual cheerful voice.  "Oh, I almost forgot to give you the card!  She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small yellow envelope. 

Mrs. Reynolds tossed the card to the bedside table as if she didn't care about it, but as soon as Bonnie disappeared through the door, she leaned over and picked it up.  It did have her name on it, but she didn't recognize the writing.  She opened it slowly.  "Who in their right mind would send me such expensive flowers?" she muttered to herself. 

"Share and enjoy the beauty of every moment life has brought your way," she read aloud.

"No signature," Mrs. Reynolds mumbled.  She looked at the flowers and back to the card.  She was still holding the card when Bonnie returned with her breakfast tray.

"Here's your tray, Mrs. Reynolds," Bonnie chirped happily.  "Can I do anything else?" 

"Sit with me so I don't have to eat alone?"  Mrs. Reynolds asked hesitantly, like a small child asking for a great favor.

Accustomed to being barked at and ordered around, Bonnie wasn't sure how to respond.  She turned around and pulled the chair from the corner over to the bedside.  "Of course I'll sit with you," she replied, praying her surprise wasn't evident in her voice.

Bonnie helped Mrs. Reynolds with her breakfast tray, opened her milk carton, and poured her hot water over the waiting tea bag.  Mrs. Reynolds pushed a bit of egg around her plate, gazing at the flowers. 

"The first time I saw flowers that shade of purple I was in Ecuador with my husband.  We were serving as missionaries in a very poor village in the mountains and the wildflowers were blooming abundantly.  The air was fragrant with their rich perfumes."

Mrs. Reynolds took a couple bites of her breakfast and looked back at the flowers.  Tears welled up along the edges of her eyes and she blinked hard to force them back.  "Do you think those are gardenias?" she asked, tenderly caressing the petals of a full creamy white blossom.

"I think so," Bonnie answered.

"Kenny gave me gardenias at our wedding," Mrs. Reynolds mused, staring at an undetermined spot in the air.  "They were smooth and white and smelled so sweet," she went on, breathing deeply as she remembered the day. 

Bonnie sniffed the while petals.  "These flowers smell beautiful," she informed her patient.  "Shall I bring them closer for you to smell?" she offered.

"Yes, please do."  She took a deep breath as Bonnie brought the flowers close to her face.  "Yes, those are gardenias," she confirmed softly.  Bonnie left the flowers beside the breakfast tray that spanned the bed.

"I need to check on other patients," Bonnie began apologetically, "but I will come back in a few minutes."

"Thank you," Mrs. Reynolds answered sincerely.  As Bonnie left the room she glimpsed Mrs. Reynolds again reading the small card that had accompanied the flowers and she smiled to herself.

In the hallway, Bonnie winked at a passing coworker who smiled knowingly and nodded her approval.  At lunch, Bonnie was surprised to enter the room and find Mrs. Reynolds waiting on the edge of her bed in a fresh gown and housecoat ready to go to the common dining room for lunch. 

Bonnie helped her into the waiting wheelchair and headed for the door. "Wait!" Mrs. Reynolds cried out suddenly.  "I want to bring the flowers and the card...to share with my neighbors," she finished softly with tears in her eyes.  "I don't know who sent the flowers, but they have brought so much joy and good memories to this old soul.  I want to share that feeling with the others."

Bonnie carefully placed the card in the pocket of Mrs. Reynolds's housecoat and made sure she had a good grip on the vase before heading out the door.  "I think that would be a beautiful thing to do," Bonnie commended warmly, patting her patient on the shoulder, "a very beautiful thing to do."

1000 words