Angel’s Garden – Part 3

Angel immediately dropped her trowel, removed her work gloves, and came to Annie’s side before she realized what was happening. She wrapped her arms around the crying woman and held her close. She immediately felt how tense and stiff Annie Chapman felt in her arms but slowly she felt her relax into her shoulder. The two women stood that way for a couple of minutes before Annie gently pushed away and began to dry her tears.

Embarrassed to have let her emotions get out of control she said, “I’m so sorry, I do not know what is wrong with me.” Annie blurted as she pulled a tissue out of her pocket. She had totally forgotten her anger at finding the woman in her garden.

Angel returned to the wheelbarrow. As she slid her gloves back on, she stated, “I’d say you are exactly as you should be.” She began mixing the pungent compost once again. The smell permeated the air and Annie remembered why she was out here in her pjs.

Immediately irritated again, she asked, “What does that mean? And why are you here so early? And what in God’s name is that horrid smell?” Annie covered her nose with her arm.

“This my dear is some of the freshest compost you will ever find, and it was just down at the end of your very own street!” Angel looked so proud as she answered. Smiling, she continued, “You neighbor, Betsy Kelly, has a backyard full of the most beautiful hens and she has graciously agreed to give you her lovely chicken manure for a few of the lovely vegetables you are going to grow. How about that?” Dropping her trowel for a quick break, she glanced up at Annie who looked as agitated as a wet hen herself.

Placing her hands on her hips, Annie replied, “Now wait just a minute! First, you tell me you will be here at 6:30 a.m. and show up here at 6. Then you do not even knock, you just help yourself into my garden! And now you are telling me that some woman that I do not even know expects me to give her free vegetables from a garden I do not even have producing yet.” You’d never know that only five minutes earlier Annie had been crying her heart out in Angel’s arms.

Angel stepped back from her work. “Well, good morning to you too! Obviously, you have not made that coffee yet. Perhaps we need to go inside and rectify that situation, shall we?” Angel plopped her gloves down on top of the manure and walked past Annie.

Annie’s mouth gaped open. This woman was unbelievable! Jerking around she ran ahead of Angel and barred the door into the kitchen. Angel stopped short and smiled.

“That’s it? You aren’t going to apologize?” Annie demanded.

“I apologize. Now can we have that coffee? All this drama has my head hurting.”

Annie continued barring her door, defiant that this woman was not going to push her around like she was some child that needed managing.  They stood in this position for what felt like ages, but in fact was only about 30 seconds. Angel folded her arms and tapped her foot. It wasn’t until she crossed her eyes at Annie that the two burst out laughing.

Annie finally moved aside and said, “Oh, what the hell. Come on in, my head hurts now too.”

Before the words could leave her mouth, Angel stepped out of her grubby boots on the mat right inside the door. Annie noticed that her socks had sheep on them. “Thank you, and nice socks.” she stated as she headed to the coffeemaker.

Angel was looking around her kitchen, taking in all the plants and cookbooks. “Thanks, I jokingly tell them they are my flock and it’s my job to walk with them all day.” She was fingering the leaf of a nearby plant. Annie continued to spoon coffee beans into the grinder.

“I’ll have coffee ready in a minute. So, you never answered my question, or any of my questions, actually.” Annie stole a glance as she poured water into the tank of the coffee maker. Angel was staring out her kitchen window but turned.

“What question was that? The one about why I was early, or didn’t knock on the door?” She moved to the breakfast nook and took a seat. Annie just shook her head and moved to the frig to retrieve her favorite creamer.

“You could start there.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning to arrive early, but Mrs. Kelly had everything ready, and I was excited to show you the new compost. Then when I realized I was early, I figured you would probably still be sleeping, and why wake you up and potentially get you upset? So, I thought…. the gate is open…and that will give me time to have things organized when you come out to surprise you. Sadly, I miscalculated your reaction. So, I really am sorry.”

As Annie retrieved two mugs from the cabinet, she turned toward Angel. She now felt a bit silly for getting irritated. “Well, apology accepted.”

She poured both a cup of coffee and brought them to the table. Setting Angel’s mug down in front of her she continued, “What did you mean earlier?”

“Mmm, this is the best coffee I’ve had in ages. Thank you. What did I mean about what?” Angel had her eyes closed, savoring the coffee in her mug.

“When you said that it seemed like I was right where I needed to be.” Annie poured another dollop of creamer into her mug and stirred.

“Oh, that. Well, anyone can tell that you are still grieving the loss of your husband. Grief does not recognize time and the process is unique for each person. I would say you are in the anger stage.” Angel sat her mug down and finally looked at Annie sitting across from her. The sour expression was back on her face. She knew that she had hit a nerve – again.

Annie tensed up the minute Angel mentioned Vic’s death. She wasn’t ready to talk to a stranger about her husband. She didn’t know what to say so she said nothing, but she slammed her mug down a little too hard and a splash of coffee went onto the table.

Angel continued, “Well? I am right, aren’t I? Isn’t that why you are so hostile? You know, it is okay to be angry. It’s even okay to push people away, but eventually you will need to talk to someone about what you’re feeling. Otherwise, one day you are going to explode. and trust me, that is never pretty.” Angel reached for a paper napkin in the center of the table and pushed it towards Annie.

Grabbing the napkin, Annie aggressively wiped up the spill. Something about this woman really rubbed her raw at times. Why did she feel compelled to be around her? Feeling Angel’s eyes on her she looked up. She only saw kindness and compassion emanating from her eyes. Dammit! The tears started again. She scrubbed her chair as she rose and walked over to the sink. Angel remained calm drinking her coffee.

So many thoughts were zipping through Annie’s head, but she spun around and said, “Why do you push people? What business is it of yours anyway? We just met, and yet, you act as though we have known one another for years. Even my closest friend doesn’t ask me these questions. I’m not ready to talk about…” Annie’s chest was heaving from her outburst. “I’m just not ready, okay?”

Angel rose and moved toward Annie. She gently sat her mug down on the counter next to the sink where Annie was standing. Lightly touching the side of Annie’s arm, she turned to go back outside. “I understand, and I am sorry if it seems I am pushy. You’re wrong about one thing though. We have known one another; those of us who have loved and lost always recognize one another.”

Annie stared after her as she slipped her boots back on and walked outside. She suddenly felt exhausted. Angel was back by the wheelbarrow mixing compost. Scout was nearby curious of her every move. She could hear Angel humming. Looking down at herself, she turned to head upstairs. A shower was needed and some work clothes. They had some chicken poop to spread.

***

Later that morning, the two women stood back to survey their work. Grudgingly, Annie had to admit that the once lackluster garden bed now looked amazing. The compost smelled horrible, but after a bit you forgot about it. The bean vines were now gently curling up steaks and tied with twine; marigolds, nasturtiums, and lavender were dotted throughout the bed and added a boost of color. Annie was not sure why she hadn’t thought of adding them herself.

At Angel’s suggestion, they divided up the planter. The over-active cucumbers now had their own area. Nestled nearby were onions and carrots. Being root vegetables, they gave most of the space to their neighboring cuke friends.

Annie turned and smiled at Angel. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Angel asked.

“This.” Annie spread her arms wide. “For agreeing to help me. I really feel I have a decent shot now of a harvest. It’s something I always meant to do with Vic, but, well….”

Angel gave Annie a side hug. “You are most welcome! Oh, I almost forgot! Mrs. Kelly is going to drop by tomorrow. I thought you two needed to meet given you are in a partnership of sorts. I think some of her rich manure will do well in the back flower garden. I’ll tackle that tomorrow.” Angel totally ignored the look Annie gave her.

“There you go again! Pushy! What if I don’t want to meet Mrs. Kelly? What if I don’t want to share my vegetables OR use her stinky chicken poop? Huh? What about that?” Annie was now facing Angel.

“Well, okay…but seems a shame to me. She lives close by, has manure that needs to go somewhere. You need the manure; she could use some vegetables for the winter months…seems like a win/win to me. You’ll have to find a new supplier then. I could ask around some of the local farmers that bring produce into The Garden of Eden if you’d like. This means you’ll also need someone to deliver it unless you want to get your nice SUV stinky.” Angel began removing her gloves and picking up their hand tools to place in the shed.

Annie grabbed the handles to the now empty wheelbarrow and followed, propping it against the wall inside the door. Angel had just placed all the hand tools back into the basket on the work bench. As she started to pass, Annie grabbed her arm.

“How about I get into some of your business? Huh? For starters, what’s your last name? Have you been married? Children? Why are you homeless? Where do you live? Under a bridge downtown? What’s YOUR story? You seem to know so much about what everyone else needs, but what about you? I may be a bitch but at least I’m not on the interstate ramp selling newspapers!” Annie was shocked to see tears fill Angel’s eyes. Before she could say anything further, Angel jerked her arm away and ran out the door.

Dammit, now she felt like a heel. Maybe Angel was right, maybe she was a hostile bitch. Calling after her she said, “Hey, Angel, I’m sorry. Wait, don’t go!” Annie had almost caught up with her near the gate.

Angel did not turn around, but just stood there. Annie said, “I’m sorry. It’s just that you seem so confident about things, and I know nothing about you. I was just demonstrating how off-putting it can be for the other person.”

Angel finally spoke but without turning around. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I am pushy and a know-it-all, but there is one big difference. I am never cruel.”

Annie heard the click of the gate, and once again, she was gone.