Goddess of the Rose Read Free

spirit me. Then there was a settling feeling. It startled me, and I opened my eyes. I was back in my body, only now I was standing in the middle of the most incredible rose garden I have ever seen, ever even imagined.” Mikki’s voice lost any hint of hesitation as she fell into the description of the scene. “It was breathtaking. I wanted to drink the air like wine. Roses were all around me. All my favorites: Double Delight, Chrysler Imperial, Cary Grant, Sterling Silver . . .” She sighed happily.
    â€œAny Mikado Roses?”
    Nelly’s question brought her back to reality.
    â€œNo, I didn’t see any of my namesake roses.” She sat up, giving her friend an irritated look. “And I really don’t think this is happening to me because my mother thought it was clever to name me after her favorite rose.”
    Nelly made a conciliatory gesture with her hand. “Hey, you have to admit, Mikki,” she said, pronouncing the nickname clearly, as if to erase the word Mikado from the air around them, “that it’s weird that roses, in some form, appear in every one of your dreams.”
    â€œWhy should it be odd? I’m a volunteer at the Tulsa Municipal Rose Gardens. I raise my own roses. Why should something that has been such a big part of my life not figure into my dreams?”
    â€œYou’re right. Roses are an important part of your life, as they were your mother’s—”
    â€œAnd her mother’s before her, and hers before her,” Mikki interrupted.
    Nelly smiled and nodded. “You know I think it’s a lovely hobby, and I’m completely jealous of your ability to grow such beautiful roses.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so touchy. I guess I’m running short on sleep.”
    Worry shadowed Nelly’s expression. “You didn’t tell me that you’re not sleeping.”
    â€œOh, no, it’s nothing,” Mikki said briskly. “I’ve just been taking too many papers home from the office and staying up too late.”
    Please don’t ask me any more questions about that, she thought, glancing at Nelly as she hastily stirred and then sipped her cappuccino. She didn’t want her to know that her exhaustion had nothing to do with lack of sleep or too much work. All she wanted to do was to escape to her dream world and sleep, and even though she never felt fully rested after she’d been to that fantasy world of dreams, she felt compelled to return night after night.
    â€œMikki?”
    â€œWhere was I?” she floundered.
    â€œIn the beautiful rose garden.”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œAnd things were getting freaky.”
    â€œYeah.” Mikki let her eyes fall back to the fireplace. “For a while I just walked among the roses, touching each of them and appreciating their beauty. My guess was right, it was early morning and the air was fresh and cool; the roses were still sprinkled with dew. Everything looked like it had just been washed. The garden was circular, and the roses and their terraces formed a kind of labyrinth or maybe a maze. I wandered around and around, just enjoying myself.”
    Mikki’s smile wavered, and she paused before beginning the next part of her dream. She could feel her cheeks coloring. Her eyes shifted abruptly to meet her friend’s curious gaze.
    â€œDo not tell me you’re embarrassed!”
    Mikki gave her a sheepish grin. “Kinda.”
    â€œPlease recall that you and I have gotten Brazilian waxes. Together. In the same room. Get over it and give me the details. Plus, if all else fails, remember”—she took another big bite of biscotti and continued through a full mouth—“I’m a professional.”
    â€œDon’t remind me,” Mikki mumbled. She took a deep breath. “Okay, so I’m in the rose garden and then I suddenly felt him. I couldn’t see him, but I knew he was behind