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“Daphne dearest, please join Agatha and I for tea.”
“Alright Mama. I’ve put the children down for their naps. I thought they would sleep the whole drive from Clyvedon to Aubrey Hall, but they are at the stage where they want to know what everything they see out the window is.”
“Oh the memories.” Violet laughed.
“So what have the two of you been up to. Agatha are you staying out of trouble?”
“Me?” She asked with fake shock. “You’re mother is the one you should keep tabs on.”
“Mama. Really?”
“Agatha!!”
“What? Your children will find out eventually. You might as well start with Daphne. She is the calm one and will get the others on your side. Especially the boys.”
The two of you are beginning to scare me. What is going on.”
“Well dearest. I. Um. You see. What had happened was.”
“She’s sleeping with my brother.” Agatha blurted out and Daphne started to choke on her tea.
“Oh dear, Daphne are you alright?” Her mother asked.
“No. No, I'm not alright. You can’t just blurt out something like that. Simon and I are still recovering from the fact that Agatha and Grandpa Ledger were lovers. Now you’re sleeping with Marcus?”
“Of all my children, I didn’t think you would have a problem with that?”
“I don’t Mama. It’s just that Agatha is not only my mother in law. She is practically your stepmother. Which makes her my grandmother, my children’s grand and great grandmother. Then you my mother is apparently sleeping with my grandmother’s brother who is my husband’s uncle. Do I have that right?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” Her mother replied.
“If Violet marries Marcus, then not only will he be Simon’s uncle, he’ll also be his father in law; your stepfather and children’s step grandfather.”
“Whoa.” Violet held her hands up. “Who said anything about marriage? Marcus and I are still finding our way.”
“You found your bed. I’m sorry Mama. That was horrible for me to say.”
“It’s okay. I know this is all a shock. Your reaction is nothing compared to how your brothers will react.”
“It all seems so sudden.” Daphne sighed. “When and how did all of this happen?”
“Well it started with you dearest.”
“Me?”
“Well, you and Simon. Watching the two of you reminded me so much of your father. Happy in a love bubble. Then Anthony, Francesca and Colin all found themselves in love and happy.”
“You wanted to be happy too.”
“Oh darling, I've always been happy. With all of you and soon the youngest leaving there will be a new type of loneliness. I’ll always have my family but..”
Daphne waited for her mother to continue.
“Daphne, your father and I had a garden. It was a luscious garden with many varieties of flowers.”
“Okay but what does that have to do with all of this?”
“Well, when your father died so did the garden.”
Daphne looked out the window towards the garden.
“The past thirteen years, I didn’t think of the garden. I didn’t want the garden.”
Daphne turned to the window again wondering how could her mother miss what was outside the window.
“However, without warning, the garden began to bloom and now
it wants things.”
“Things?”
“Sunlight, air, touch.”
“Okay.”
“My garden is in bloom.”
“Hello ladies!!” Simon said as he entered the room. He greeted Daphne with a kiss on the lips.
“Hello mothers. How ya doing?”
“Hello dear.” Violet greeted him.
“Simon.” Agatha nodded.
“Wow. It suddenly got quiet here.”
“Simon,” Agatha cleared her throat. “The three of us we’re having a conversation.”
“Don’t let me interrupt. ’I'm just going to read the newspaper.”
“It’s a private conversation.” Agatha told him. “ Women's talk. We wouldn’t want to bore you.”
“We’re talking about the garden. I don’t see what the problem is. It looks fine from here.” Daphne laughed then noticed her mother begin to fidget.
“Daphne.” Violet and Agatha were giving her the silent conversation signals that women send out to each other.
“Oh. My. God.!! She gasped and looked at Violet in shock. “Your garden is in bloom?”
“Yes. Yes. So you see how that might create a problem around here?”
Simon looked out the window.
“You’re having a problem with your garden?” He asked. “I can take a look at it.”
“Oh my.” Violet blushed.
“No.” Daphne loudly replied.
“As if the familial relationships in this family aren’t interesting and complicated enough already.” Agatha laughed.
“What?” Simon asked in confusion.
“Nothing sweetheart.” Daphne turned to her husband. “Simon, I thought you were outside playing tennis with Anthony.”
“I was. He had to take an important business call.”
“Then go read the newspaper outside on the terrace. Or um in the garden.”
“Daphne’s garden is great.” He smiled. “I have never seen a better garden.”
“Simon.”
“No offense but it was like hers bloomed minutes after she arrived at Clyvedon.”
“Simon.” Daphne whispered.
“The climate is a little different, but I showed her how to adjust.”
“I bet you did.” Agatha sipped her tea.
“I mean, you’ve seen one garden, you’ve seen them all.” He continued. “You just have to take special care of yours.”
“Yes,” Violet agreed. “That’s what I’ve been saying.”
“You have to be caring, gentle. There’s always that one special blossom. You can’t help but inhale its fragrance.”
“Simonnn.” Daphne warned again.
“I just love Daphne’s garden. I absolutely adore it. I would be there everyday if I could. Day and night. Just the two of us frolicking around, having picnics, devouring everything.”
“Simon!!” Daphne was getting a tad louder.
“You shouldn’t worry.” He said to Violet. “Daphne learned from the best.”
“No I didn’t. The both of you gave me advice that did nothing but cause problems along the way. You talk in circles without saying anything. Like now.”
“Um okay.” Simon consoled her. “I think you fixed everything better than any gardener could my love.”
“Simon, please.” She said near tears.
Simon pulled out his phone and showed everyone a picture of Daphne and their children standing in the garden.
“Will you look at this garden? Like mother, like daughter.”
Violet’s eyes grew wide, Agatha loudly cackled and Daphne choked on her tea. Again.
“Are you alright? You know Daphne if I’m being honest, I bet one of our kids was made in your garden.”
“I’m sure some of mine were too.” Violet smiled and patted his hand.
“Mama!!” Daphne pleaded.
“Hahaha.” Simon laughed. “Is that why you call your children flowers?”
“I don’t believe this.” Daphne quietly said to herself.
“Daphne, I’m in the mood to go into the garden, we should go when you’re finished up here.” later.”
“Simon!!!” She yelled in the tone that usually brings her children's antics to a standstill.
“Why are you yelling at me?” He asked with a pout that reminded her of Augie when he doesn’t think he is being naughty.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. I was just trying to tone down your botanical enthusiasm.”
“Botanical enthusiasm.” Agatha mused. “That’s what you call it. I like that.”
“Come with me. Now!!” Daphne stood and led Simon out onto the terrace.
“What??? He yelled.
THE END