thegarden club

that Taylor thought would never come. Irene drove silently back to Taylor’s small home, the TV inside blaring loud enough for the walls to shudder. Thankfully, the mindless drone of football commentary drowned out the gunshots as Taylor’s husband hit the floor. Irene and Taylor shared a tearful hug over his new spot amongst her petunias.

One month ago, as always, Irene welcomed Taylor and Daisy into her home. The Garden Club met monthly and enjoyed tea, crossword puzzles, and discussing their respective awardwinning gardens. Irene smiled around her mug as she watched the women laugh with each other, all remnants of their past lives buried six feet under.

Yesterday, a woman knocked on the door of Irene’s house during her Garden Club meeting, holding a newspaper. She asked how on earth the women could grow such beautiful gardens during a season as harsh as this, pointing to Irene’s garden on the front page of the paper.

Smiling softly, Irene looked back at Taylor and Daisy before she replied, “good fertilizer.”