Charred Blooms

In this short story, Rose opens up to her daughter about her divorce.

## Story

Rose stepped into her daughter’s room. The time had come.

“Violet, I have something I need to tell you.”

“Are you gonna tell me that you actually aren’t fine like you kept saying you were?”

“...Yes. And I’m gonna tell you a story, something I should have told you sooner.” Rose sat down on the bed. “Your daddy’s not my first husband.”

Violet raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.

“I was still young at the time, living with Memaw and Papaw. One day, this big handsome ram came to our door. Gordon Flame. Said he was new in town and needed a place to stay. In exchange for a place to stay, he would fix the place up. The neighbors had told him we could use some fixin’ up, and they were right about that. So we agreed to it.

“When he wasn’t working on our place, he was working on others’ places to make some money. Then pretty soon he started building his own house. Who does that?”

“So that’s the guy you married?”

“Yep. Our relationship started only a few days after he arrived. I still remember what he said to me. ‘Rose, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve met, and pretty smart too. Can I take you out for dinner some time?’ He just said it. Even though we’d just met. He always spoke his mind.

“Gordon seemed so perfect. Good-lookin’, strong, fearless, talented. It went by so fast. Once he finished building his house, he showed me around, then he said, ‘It’s all ready for me, and you, and our kids.’ And he got down on one knee right there and then. I was so happy to say yes and move in there with him.”

“What happened?”

“I found out what it’s like actually living with him. He was so uptight, so demanding. Barely said anything good about anything. And he wasn’t even around most of the time. He was always working on one thing or the other. But by the time I realized my mistake, we had a daughter. I decided I needed to stick to it, for her.”

Violet’s eyes widened. “I have a sister?”

Rose nodded. “Tulip was just a little angel. But then her brother Sonny came along... he was her complete opposite. The worst temper. Always screaming. Wouldn’t listen to a thing I said. He was just like Gordon, but worse. But I told myself I had to keep sticking to it, for a few years I did.

“Until I just had enough. I couldn’t stand them another day. So I told Gordon I was leaving, said we would split the kids, I’d take Tulip. But there was no splitting those two, so Gordon kept them both. Now, Gordon was quite popular in town ‘cause of all his work, so the only way I could fully get away from him was to leave town. That’s when I moved here.”

Violet said nothing for a few seconds. Processing. “I... have siblings... Can I meet them?”

“You don’t want to meet Sonny. He’s a beast. Probably landed himself in jail by now. And Tulip... I just learned today that Dr. Robotnik attacked. Memaw and Papaw are fine. But Tulip’s dead…”

Rose couldn’t hold in her emotions any longer. “My biggest regret in life... was that I didn’t just take both kids with me... Maybe Sonny would turn out better if not around his father. Tulip would still be alive. And you’d get to grow up with siblings... I’m so sorry, Violet...”

## Characters

*In order of appearance:*

* Rose Meadows
* Violet Meadows
* Gordon Flame (mentioned)
* Tulip Flame (mentioned)
* Sonny Flame (mentioned)