An Inheritance

Chapter 6

The next morning the sun shone brightly and Lauren woke with renewed energy and determination.  She needed to see where her grandmother had been interred. 

Rushing through her shower and breakfast, Lauren headed towards her property earlier than normal.  My property?  Lauren thought.  It’s strange, but I’m starting to feel as though this is truly mine.  It’s as though I belong here.  My condo in New Jersey is a place I’ve lived, but here, it’s as though it’s a part of me.

Stopping in the now familiar clearing, Lauren stepped out and leaned on the car as she scanned the area.  The cottage and barn had taken on a different significance while the wooded area seemed less foreboding and dark.  “Come on Abby; let’s check out the grounds a little.  I’d like to see that green house and from the map, it looks as though the family cemetery is just out past the garden along that same path.”

Abigail took the lead and they headed up the hill towards the back of the cottage.  From the remnants of the garden, Lauren could see that her grandmother had grown melons, peppers, and squash.  But now, some of the weeds were larger than any remaining vegetable.  To the back of the garden were portions of fence where vines had entwined themselves; blackberries and possibly raspberries.  Lauren wondered about the growing seasons here in Slidell and what could be planted now.  Maybe this garden could be changed to raised vegetable beds.  That would improve drainage, make it easier to weed and maintain.  Lauren was a little shocked at the way her mind was wandering.   That is,  if I plan on hanging around.

Abby prowled among the garden rows and poked her nose into the remaining vegetation.  She crouched, then pounced on an unsuspecting cricket, then let him go, only to pounce again.  Abby had the hunting instinct, but much preferred her own crunchy store-bought vittles to anything that could still hop or walk around.    

After watching Abigail’s antics for a few minutes, Lauren turned and headed into the greenhouse.  She was immediately taken aback to see that the plants in there were still in very good condition.  Lauren could identify some of them: dandelion, peppers, oregano, rosemary, lavender and garlic to name a few.  But many of them were foreign to her. 

Studying one of the ferns intently, Lauren was startled by a swishing sound.  She jumped back, instinctively thinking of the many species of venomous snakes that inhabited the area.  She giggled nervously when she realized an automatic watering system had turned on. 

So this is how the plants have managed to grow and thrive.  It looks as though a few areas need a little weeding, but other than that, it’s pretty much self-sufficient.  Lauren was impressed.

As she wandered around the greenhouse, Lauren felt the soil and nodded her approval at the different consistencies: some had sandy soil, others rich with manure and still others with clay or compost.  Her grandmother knew what she was doing. 

All of her preconceived perceptions of what and who her grandmother was, were now being questioned.  Lauren had come down here expecting to find a ratty old cottage maintained by an old woman who was way behind the times.  But the more she explored, the more she began to realize that her grandmother was so much more than just an old lady.

As she inspected each plant, Lauren absent-mindedly pinched off dead leaves or wilted stalks.  It felt good to be among these growing things.  She had always loved to putter in her garden that Randy had dug for her when they had first bought their house in the Trenton suburbs.  But the growing season was not very long, and with her schedule, Lauren hadn’t really been able to make a go of it.  Now living in a small condo, she had never even thought she could ever have such a large garden; let alone a greenhouse.