Fear of Flowers by Christine Bush

Author:Christine Bush
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2012-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Later that afternoon, Lilly packed up her homemade brownies in a colorful gift bag, cushioning them with an abundance of colorful tissue paper. A few minutes later, she drove her car into the lot at Sterling Oaks ready to deliver them to Mrs. Flannery. She’d visit her neighbor, find out how long she’d be needing rehab, and see if anything needed to be done at her house while she was away this extended period of time.

Finding her was no problem. Mrs. Flannery held court right in the main lobby, ensconced in her wheel chair. She was surrounded by several other residents listening avidly to her stories.

Pulling up a nearby chair, Lily joined the circle.

Mrs. Flannery clapped her hands at the sight of the brownies, and then proceeded to dole them out to her delighted friends. “Now THIS is a treat, Lilly,” she exclaimed.

The other ladies nodded and sighed, stuffing their mouths with childlike glee.

“Much better than that detestable bouquet you brought me last week,” chuckled Mrs. Flannery, happy for the moment. “Can’t eat flowers!”

Lilly sighed and nodded. “I hear you.”

“I like flowers,” said one little white-haired lady, whose name was Mabel. She wore a flamboyant dress of pink and purple stripes. “Of course, I like brownies too.” Mabel took another big bite of brownie. “But flowers are a gift of love. And you can’t have too much love, young lady.” She grinned with twinkling blue eyes, and shook a bony finger at Lilly.

“I won’t even go into Mabel’s room,” said Mrs. Flannery with a grimace. “Looks like a funeral parlor. Flowers all over the place. Different strokes for different folks, that’s for sure.”

“Much rather get them now, than when I’m with my maker, I always say,” chirped Mabel with a wide smile. “As long as I get flowers, it means I’m not totally alone, you know? Someone is thinking of me.”

Lilly swallowed hard, thinking about loneliness and these little ladies alone in the retirement home. Being young and alone was difficult enough. What did being old and alone feel like? “I’m glad you get flowers, Mabel,” she said with a quiver in her voice.

“But I also like brownies. Will you bring more?”

The hopeful look on her face made Lilly laugh out loud. “Can’t refuse. I’ll be back on Thursday with a double batch. With Mrs. Flannery’s mail, too.”

“And my newspapers?” Mrs. Flannery asked, brushing brownie crumbs off her sweater. “I like to keep up with the news. And no flowers.”

“No problem,” Lilly agreed, whisking herself back out the door, and into the crisp fall air.

****

On Thursday, she brought the promised brownies, along with her neighbor’s mail and newspapers, this time finding Mrs. Flannery in her room. “I’m not going home tomorrow,” the frustrated woman said. “The doctor changed his mind. They say I need more physical therapy.” Her face was creased even more than usual and her eyes were bleak.

“Best to take your time, Mrs. Flannery. Each day you’ll get stronger,” Lilly stated, making a note to herself to check in on her neighbor over the weekend.

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