“I hear you, Abe,” said Marigold.

“I hear you too, Abe,” said Rachel, taking the boy inside. “Let’s go inside to see Mama. Aunt Marigold’s got company.”

The shirtless young man leapt off the porch and stomped out his cigarette. He wandered toward the woods to give Marigold and the man privacy. He lingered by the fence, perhaps in hopes of seeing Marigold the Magnificent at work.

The old man looked at his feet. “Well, ma’am, see, it’s my wife. She’s been gone a few years . . .”

“I’m sorry,” said Marigold.

“Was TB that took her. She fought hard.”

“I’ll bet she did.”

“Anyhow, I heard in town that you . . . Well, I just wondered if you could . . . I was hoping maybe you could tell her something for me.”

“Mister Marion, I’m very sorry. I don’t do that.”

“Oh, I know, miss. I know you don’t, but you see, I reckon you got a better chance of getting a message through than I got. Just thought maybe you’d try for me. I can pay you whatever you want.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but it doesn’t work that way.”

“Yes, ma’am, I understand.”

“But why don’t you tell me about her? She sounds lovely.”

“Oh, she was, ma’am. She was exceptional.”

She sat beside him and listened. He told her about his wife. She listened to his stories about young love, early marriage, and family living. About when the doctors told his wife she couldn’t have children, but she did anyway. About the years they went for long walks together after supper. About everything. Marigold listened and felt a yearning inside her. She’d never known simple love from another. Not like this.

When the man came to a stopping point, Marigold said, “Marion, she hears you.”

His eyes became wet. “How do you know?”

“It doesn’t matter. Now I want you to do something for me. Can you do something for me?”

He wiped his eyes, then nodded.

She said, “I want you to close your eyes and think about her. Think about her real hard. Can you do that?”

He closed his eyes.

She watched his old, dry cheeks become shiny with his own tears.

She took a few breaths. She had no idea what she was doing, but she was trying nonetheless. She touched his chest with both hands. She placed them on his breastbone until she could feel him sturdy himself against her.

Marigold felt the young man watching her. She saw him light another cigarette and move closer. She saw Rachel and Abe watching from behind the screen door. She saw Helen’s face through the window.

Marigold closed her eyes and concentrated.