His Garden

The smell of lilacs permeated the evening air. He lifted his head to look at the lilac trees. "The garden is coming along nicely," he thought as he took his after dinner stroll through the dusk. He anticipated her joining him soon, after she had washed the dishes, put them away and tidied the kitchen. Everything is in place as is her wont.

Her love of order in the house matched his love of order in the garden. He strolled past the lilacs and the rose bushes he had planted those many years ago, just before they had moved into the house. "Those certainly took a lot of care," he said to himself. "She wanted them so, and to please her I took the time and effort to make sure they were healthy." His preference was vegetables not flowers, so he planted vegetables for himself and flowers for her. The results of his efforts lay before him and he felt proud.

The sound of the fountain in the middle of the garden calmed him although he didn't need to be calmed down as often as he once had. In those days he was working during the weekdays, gardening on weekends and being a father and husband all at the same time.