Chapter 19
The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.
—Titus 2:3
Zynique was having the time of her life working full-time with Madame Perry. In doing this, Zynique had become a blessing to Madame Perry. At least, that’s what Madame Perry told me when she came into the flower shop right before closing time to place an order for a spray of flowers.
“Your baby certainly is a blessing,” she said as soon as she cleared the doorway. A petite woman who immediately made you think of royalty when you first saw her by the sheer way in which she carried herself, Madame Perry dressed just as impeccably.
“Madame Perry,” I said with excitement in my voice as I hugged her, both shocked and surprised to see her. “How nice of you to come by!”
“I’ve been meaning to stop by your shop for the longest time, my dear.” She made a grand show of looking around, nodding her approval as she did so. “It’s unfortunate that my first foray into your place would be due to the loss of a dear, sweet friend. You do have a charming place here, quite lovely.”
“Why, thank you.” I did a quick glance of the area closest to me.
“Yes, yes. I’m sure you’ve had a time with the initial start-up. So many things pop up that you don’t plan for. At least, that was my experience. It is the nature of the beast, my dear, in owning a business. You think things are going to go one way, and before you know it, you’re thrown a curveball.” She smiled as she sat down at the table I’d set up only recently when I learned people didn’t always want to stand at the counter as they decided what they might want.
“So you say you’ve lost a friend? I’m so sorry to hear that,” I said, sitting down across from her.
“Thank you”—she patted my hand—“but no need to be sorry. My friend—Ruby was her name—lived a full life. Oh yes. Ruby certainly lived her life. And I will sorely miss her. But as she said to me when I visited her right before she transitioned to the other side, ‘We know that this is not our home. We’re merely pilgrims passing through. I’m getting ready to go back home now. I got my ticket and I’m going home.’ But still, when you reach my age, you find yourself becoming more and more alone as family and friends continue leaving you. One by one, they go.”
“Oh, but Madame Perry, the young people love you so much. They positively adore you! You’ll never be alone.”
She nodded. “Yes, I’ve been blessed with young folks surrounding me, making me feel so loved. But there’s nothing like those who understand exactly what you’re going through. That’s what I’m going to miss most about dear Ruby. We both knew the struggles it took for us to get to where we were. We didn’t forget those who are coming after us. But now, when I want to phone my friend, she’ll no longer be on the other end to take my call.” Madame Perry smiled. “That’s why I thank God for Jesus. I’ll forever have a friend on the other end. Jesus will be there with me until the end. I’m His and He’s mine. That’s what I told Zynique just the other day. That child of yours is a true blessing.”
“Well, I appreciate you for having allowed her to work with you and you sharing your knowledge with her. She loves you so much. In fact, you’re the reason she wants to open her own dance studio someday.”
“Having knowledge is great.” Madame Perry opened the book on the table that contained pictures of various sprays and floral arrangements. “But if you can’t share what you have and what you know with others, what good does it do you to keep it? It ends up being buried with you.”
“That’s true,” I said. “But from what Zynique tells me, you go beyond sharing. You’re her mentor you know. She wants to be just like you.”
“Well”—Madame Perry said as she gracefully flipped pages without ever looking at them—“I’m pouring everything I have in me into that daughter of yours. I want her to succeed beyond all expectations and imagination. But I’ll tell you, just like I told her: we don’t need another me. The idea is not for her to copy me. We need a more original of her—uniquely Zynique.” Madame Perry laughed. “That little woman is going to make me look like an amateur when she gets all of this down pat. She’s a natural-born dancer and a natural-born leader. And I truly believe she’s going to become an awesome businesswoman who’ll make us all proud one of these days. You mark my words. In fact: you can write down that I declared it on this day.” She lightly tapped the table with her index finger like she was sending a message in Morse code.
I nodded. There was definitely something special about Madame Perry. “Well, I’m just glad my baby has someone like you who’s been willing to open her heart and help her in reaching her dreams.”
Madame Perry nodded a few times, turned a few more pages, then closed the book. “Why don’t you just fix something really special for my friend?” she said. “I trust your judgment.”
“I can do that.” I then took down the information for her order, the price range she wanted, the full name of the deceased, when and to what funeral home the spray should be delivered. She stood, nodded as though she was giving me her blessing, and left.
The shop’s phone rang. It was Ethan, calling from his home number.
“What’s wrong?” I said, hearing panic permeating throughout his voice.
“It’s my daughter!” Ethan said. “I need you to pray! Oh, my Lord in Heaven! It’s my baby girl! I need you to pray!”