The Garden

Maggie wiped her forehead with the back of her dirty hand. Digging holes was hot, sticky work. She patted the soil down around the rose bush, making sure that the roots were well covered.

"There Joe." She said to no one in particular, "A drink of water and a week or so for the fertilizer to kick in and you will be beautiful!"

Maggie hummed as she filled up her watering can. She loved her garden. Every time she walked under the stone arch she felt like she was coming home. All of her friends were here, her family. Each rose was her creation. She had carefully grafted each of her babies onto hardy rootstalk. They were cultivated for their velvet textures and their heady perfumes.

People came from all over the world to visit her garden and they usually stayed at her Bed and Breakfast. When Maggie was young her parents had died in a freak accident that left her the sole owner of the family home. It was much too large for one person so she had decided to open it up to weary travelers. It had been a huge success. Maggie didn't like to be alone so having visitors had helped fill her days with things to do and people to see.

Maggie watered her newly planted rose. The rich soil drank the liquid happily. The stone cherub that sat by the entrance held its finger over its mouth. Maggie smiled at it, she loved her cherub. It knew things.

Maggie headed back toward the house taking time as she went to say hello to roses that she passed.

"Hi Eleanor, you are looking so healthy!"

"George, you look a little pale. Are you feeling alright?"

"Oh My! Hazel, your buds are just huge!"

"Um, excuse me?" Maggie turned toward the voice that had interrupted her conversations.

"Yes?" She said to a frail woman standing at the stone entrance of her garden. "Can I do something for you?"

"My name is Helen Sanders. I was wondering if you have seen this man." The woman held out a photo, it was a man with graying hair and happy blue eyes.

"Oh Yes! I know this man, he was here just a few weeks ago!" Maggie exclaimed, a bright smile on her face, her green eyes dancing. "He was a very nice man. Have you lost him?"

"He was here?" Helen asked, her expression hopeful. "Do you know where he went? I have been looking for him everywhere!"

"Well," Maggie pursed her lips in thought, "Last time I saw him was right here in my garden." Maggie looked over Helen's shoulder, "Are you alone?"

"Yes, you see I don't have anyone else. He was all I had." Tears filled her eyes as her voice caught. "Do you have any idea where he went?"

Maggie hugged the woman to her. "You poor thing! I know how it feels to be alone, I don't like it either."

"Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you." Maggie walked with the woman deeper into her garden.

Helen couldn't help but admire all of the beautiful roses growing in huge mounds. Their blooms were huge and so fragrant it was almost overwhelming.

Maggie walked with her until they reached the center. "Everyone, I would like for you to meet Helen Sanders. She is looking for her husband."

One by one each bloom on every bush turned to Helen and Maggie. The blood drained from Helen's face, shock quickly replaced by horror. She started to move away from Maggie, but stopped when she saw that the roses were following her movements.

"Jesus, help me." Helen whispered under her breath. The perfume in the air had become suffocating. Her head was spinning and she felt herself going faint. She didn't notice Maggie moving away from her. She never saw the shovel Maggie used to smash her head in. With each blow, blood flew through the air, raining over greedy flowers that drank in the warm gift.

***

Maggie patted down the earth around her newest rose bush. "Oh Helen, I am so happy you are here! Joe is happy too, aren't you?" Maggie laughed when Joe turned his rose blooms to her. She stood up, heading towards the watering can. In a few weeks the special fertilizer would start working its magic and Helen would be beautiful.

Once Helen was watered Maggie walked toward the arched entrance, saying 'Hello' to everyone as she went. She was so glad that she wasn't lonely anymore. The stone cherub smiled at Maggie as she passed. Finger pressed firmly over its mouth it would never speak. But it knew things.

** #1306183 Not An Image **

Mary, Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
Silver bells and cockleshells,
And pretty maids, all in a row.

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