It was a dark stormy night when Clarisse finally made her return. Something in her heart told her it was time. She needed to face the fact that he was gone. He needed to be honored by her presence in the garden.
She felt a chill as she passed over the grounds toward the garden. The rain hadn't started but it was imminent.
She carefully crept over the grass.Clarisse had her own special entrance. Whenshe was younger, she loved the tale of "The Secret Garden". When she married into royalty, that was the first thing she asked her husband to create for her.
Rupert had thought the idea frivolous. He asked her why she needed such a trinket when there were gardens all over the palace grounds. He didn't understand her need for her space. He was everywhere she went, so it was her sanctuary.
As she grew near her old garden, the weight began to increase in her heart. She didn't know if she was ready to face the fact. Although it had already been a year since his death, it still felt like it happened yesterday.
She had never seen Philippe's rose. As a mother, she needn't be told which one represented her deceased son. Her heart pointed her in the direction of the place. It was such a sad sight.
The moonlight hithis rosewith a soft milky glow. Clarisse gasped. Her eyes couldn't believe what they saw. How could Charlotte do such a thing? It had only been a year.