LILAC APOLOGY

I was getting home from work and as I got out of my car I could instantly smell them. The lilac bush in the front of our house was in full bloom. Every inch covered with clusters of lavender flowers. Their scent followed me all the way to the front door.

My husband Steven opened the door for me. “How was your day?”

“It’s better now that I’m home.” I said as I gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked past him to drop my things on the chair. “Did you see the lilac bush out front?”

“It looks great doesn’t it?”

I went over to him, took his hand, and walked him over to the couch. “I have an apology to make.” I said as I sat down.

“You do?” Steven sat down next to me.

“You remember when you pruned the lilac bush last summer and I blew a fit?”

Steven shook his head and laughed. “Yeah. I remember.”

“Well, I’m sorry.” I pointed out the front window. “Clearly you were right. Our lilac bush looks better than any in our neighborhood.”

“I told you it needed a drastic trim or it was going to keep getting leggy with less blooms each year.”

“I know but what you cut out was drastic!” I reminded him. “In my defense you remember we had a rainstorm the night that you did all that trimming and the entire bush was laying on the ground?”

“Oh yeah.” He nodded again. “I heard about it the rest of the day. Even though I told you the bush would toughen up and get stronger.”

I nodded. “So that’s why I owe you an apology.”

“No worries.” He leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “You’re apology is accepted.”

Our son Alex walked into the room. “Who’s apologizing to who?”

Steven turned to look at him. “Your Mom is apologizing for yelling at me last year for trimming the lilac bush.” He pointed out the front window. “Have you seen how full the blooms are this year?”

I looked over at Alex. “I know I get a little crazy when he trims the plants around here. Especially the lilac bush.” I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s one of my favorites on the property and I was afraid you’d gone too far and we were going to lose it.”

Alex looked out the front window. “It looks pretty good to me.”

I stood up to look at it. “It looks great!” I reached over, opened the window, and inhaled. “You can smell it from here!”

“Maybe after it blooms I’ll give it another little trim.”

“WHAT!” My head whipped around so fast to look at him I got a little dizzy. “Are you kidding me!” I cried.

“And she’s back.” Steven laughed as he pointed his thumb in my direction.

“But are you serious?” I asked again.

“Nope.” Steven reached over and patted me on the shoulder. “I was just kidding.”