Perennials

by Julie Cantrell

  But what I’ve forgotten is that I’ve been called other names too: Loyal. Generous. Honest. Compassionate. This list also goes on. In the end it’s like Marian says. I am everything it means to be fully human, alive, and moving through this world in the best way I can at any given moment in time. That is enough. I am enough. And nothing anyone says can change that.

  With my eyes closed, my breath echoes within me and I am met again by the ancestral woman from Sedona, the one who came to me in a vision back on the noonday mesa. With each step closer, she becomes more defined in my mind, and just like the first time, I feel as if I know her, as if I have always known her. And she knows me.

  Her name no longer matters. Whether she is Kachina Woman, Hera, Kuan Yin, or Mary, she is here, timeless and omnipotent, representing all things feminine and calming, wise and eternal. And she is searching for me. Just as she did before, she walks with arms outstretched. As she spins slowly, white feathers spiral out around her, drifting down, clipping the wind. And as she spins, she is surrounded by a radiant glow of light, her raven hair falling long against her back. Very clearly, I hear her words:

  Strong. I am strong.

  And then she is no longer a wise, mysterious ancestor. She is me.

  She is me.

  I open my eyes, and I rise. Below me, dying leaves are working their way back to the soil, surrendering to the ruin to make way for new life. As the sun washes over me, warm light flows through, heating my cheeks, my lips, my neck. I begin to spin, slowly, the same way the woman in my vision has done. Mary watches over me and Manning barks as I turn ’round and ’round, right here where flowers bloom among the stones.

  I soak in the light, and I absorb my mother’s love, Mary’s love, ancestral love, all the love that has come before and will continue to come. It is flowing through me now. Here. In my mother’s garden. The one my father and Fisher and Finn built together with their kind and generous hands. Hands that are both strong and gentle, loving and scarred.

  If only I could have realized the truth years ago. But now I know. And now I see. Love is what strengthens and remains of me.

  EPILOGUE

  “Do not let kindness and truth leave you.”

  —PROVERBS 3:3

  Summer 2017

  Oxford, Mississippi

  Fisher meets me at the gate with a kiss, pulling my hand to his as Manning barks his own affections. It has been more than a year since he helped my parents book an online flight to bring me back to Oxford. In that time I’ve scattered the ashes of both Chief and Mother. I’ve helped my sister file for divorce and sell the home of her dreams. I’ve helped Fisher and Finn move their mom back to their family farmhouse. I’ve bonded with Manning and Dolly P. as if they were always my own, and I’ve removed the mementos from my childhood bedroom, passing the space to Mary Evelyn who, along with Trip and Bitsy, seems happy to make this farm her home now. Somehow we’ve all come full circle, entering another loop around the wheel.

  I’ve stayed here in Oxford as the seasons have changed, watching summer turn to autumn turn to winter turn to spring. And in the coming cycle, I will be here once more. Season after season, year after year, as crocuses make way for summer honeysuckle, as sun-loving lantana ease out for the quieter mums, as pansies blanket the wintry town and as spring beauties burst forth again behind the snow. I’ll still be here with Fisher by my side. Because this spring the stars aligned, as Marian promised they would. I picked a mid-March spray of spirea, made myself a bridal bouquet, and gave my whole heart to the man whose heart was given whole to me.

  Today, as we walk through our first young yield of blooms, hand in hand, husband and wife, I’m reminded of all the F-words in my life. Fisher, Finn, Farm, Friends, Faith. Even Finances and Future don’t draw Fear now. I’ve chosen Fact over Fiction, and I’ve Fertilized the Fallow Fields—Flower Fields, that is.

  In the barn I feed a feisty tomcat I’ve named Phoenix. And what I’ve learned is that Bitsy was never a Feral, Ferocious predator. She was simply Fragile. Now, after a long life of imprisonment and insecurities, she is finally finding her way into the Free. As she softens, I have learned to Forgive and to move Forward and to Focus on the good again. Together, we are putting Love First. Healthy, balanced, safe, and secure love.

  In the field Chief’s and Mother’s ashes have settled into the ground, and today, the wildflower patch is home not only to black-eyed Susan but to her one true love, Sweet William, a beautiful reminder that my parents are still with us. And always will be.

  High on the ridge overlooking both of our family farms, Fisher and I are building a home. From the front porch we can see his crops, my flowers, the memory garden, and the perennial blooms. If we’re lucky, we’ll spend the rest of our lives watching the sunset from our front porch swing, counting fireflies and stealing kisses as the clock slays time. And when life cycles round again, we’ll be right here, walking hand in hand as the fields sing out with color, reminding us that now is the time to choose love. That is the truth.

  AUTHOR NOTE

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for taking time to enter Lovey’s world. I hope you’ve enjoyed the adventure.

  One of my favorite parts of writing a novel is conducting research. I love to learn, and this story has taught me a lot. Of course, I have relied on many experts to help me with specific details. Please know, any mistakes you find are mine and should not reflect poorly on the professionals who advised me.

  Those of you familiar with Oxford, Mississippi, may wonder why I referred to two special locations as Bailey’s Woods and St. Peter’s Cemetery. While locals frequently refer to these locations in this way, scholars argue the accurate names are Bailey Woods and St. Peter Cemetery. This discrepancy fuels many a debate, resulting in signs and brochures printed both ways. As a nod to Faulkner, I opted to go with the most common pronunciation, capturing the way people talk instead of what may be officially accurate.

  Another detail is in regard to the clock tower. Oxford does have a beautiful clock tower and it is, in fact, centered in our town square. However, because it is frequently in disrepair, it does not always chime. For the sake of the story, I made the clock chime. That, my friends, is the magic of fiction! For the record, I think Faulkner would find great pleasure in the fact that the town’s clock has stopped, allowing time to finally “come to life.”

  Readers familiar with New Albany may remember the literary garden was in disarray during the time frame of this novel. In fact, the museum was under construction, and as the beautiful new expansion was being built, the garden suffered a bit. However, the Garden Club has done a wonderful job restoring the flower beds, and they are once again ready for visitors. As with Oxford’s clock tower, I played with reality to make my fictional version of New Albany suit my needs. I appreciate your understanding.

  I encourage you to visit the communities mentioned in this tale and to read the works of Mississippi authors, both past and present. I also hope you’ll plant a flower garden and that it will offer you a place of comfort as well as an opportunity to keep your own family stories alive.

  Here’s to the garden. Here’s to finding the good.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Many wise experts, nature lovers, and friends helped me conduct research for this story. I thank each of you for your incredible kindness, support, and generosity.

  Special thanks to Angie Barmer, who got the story brewing; Jill Smith, director and curator of the Union County Heritage Museum; Sherra Owen, chairman of the Faulkner Garden Project, along with all members of the New Albany Garden Club and caretakers of the William Faulkner Literary Garden; Jay Watson, Howry Professor of Faulkner Studies at the University of Mississippi; William Griffith, curator of Rowan Oak; and Ed Croom, ethnobotanist and photographer, whose book The Land of Rowan Oak proved to be a stellar resource.

  Tremendous thanks also to Mitch Robinson, conservation education manager of Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, along with Kristin Lamberson, interpretive ga
rden specialist; Bob Brzuszek, extension professor, along with Sadik C. Artunç, FASLA, professor and head of the Department of Landscape Architecture, Mississippi State University; Daniel J. Doyle, executive director of the Mississippi Sustainable Agriculture Network; Benjamin Koltai of Mississippi Ecological Design; Will and Amanda Reed of Native Son Farm; Katie Naron of Oxford Floral; Jane Perini and Wib Middleton, caretakers of the Amitabha Peace Park; Bob and Sam Fox, owl specialists with Wild at Heart; Becky Nichols, entomologist for Great Smoky Mountains National Park; and Kenneth “Tuk” Jacobson, raptor management coordinator for Arizona Game and Fish Department.

  My heartfelt gratitude goes out to Bridget Edwards, director of the Eudora Welty House, along with Lee Anne Bryan, Bernie Lieb, and Molly Knight. Thanks for preserving such a beautiful space and for sharing Welty’s works with the world.

  Tons of thanks also to Sarah Colombo, head of Adult Services and main branch manager with Livingston Parish Library; Laura Beth Walker, branch manager of the Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library, along with Corey Vinson, reference librarian, and Dorothy “Dotsy” Fitts, who gave us all our start. Also thanks to Kim Austin, David Carter, Lisa Carwyle, Shannon Curtis, Regina Daniels, Carol Dorsey, Nicole Green, Richard Mabry, Gail Magee, Jordyn Redwood, Felder Rushing, Katie Schroder, Kelly Simmons, Marin Thomas, Claire von Dedenroth, Todd Winant, The Hike House, and countless friends who answered questions about flowers, wildlife, cancer, advertising, event planning, literature, Mississippi, and Arizona. For answers, I thank you. For friendship, I thank you even more.

  This story was shaped and polished thanks to my savvy critique partners: Christa Allan, Rob Bradford, Cindy Perkins, Larry Wells, Kathleen Wickham, and Lisa Wingate, as well as my talented editors Amanda Bostic, Mary Ann Bowen, and Julee Schwarzburg. I simply cannot write a book without you.

  Stories don’t become books on their own. BIG thanks to the entire HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson team: Daisy Hutton, Amanda Bostic, Paul Fisher, Allison Carter, Kristen Golden, Meghan O’Brien, Becky Monds, Karli Jackson, Jodi Hughes, Kim Carlton, Kayleigh Hines, Mitch Davis, and the proofreaders. Thanks also to Kristen Ingebretson and Mary Hooper for the beautiful cover design, and to my agent, Greg Johnson, with WordServe Literary.

  I could not have made it to the finish line without the generous support of Carmen and Michael Thompson of Rivendell Writers’ Colony and John Dreyfus of St. Columba Memphis who gave me quiet sanctuary. Thank you for the tremendous support you offer writers and for all you do to make this world a better place. You are saints, all of you.

  Also thanks to Kathy Murphy and the Pulpwood Queens; Wanda Jewell of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance; as well as Amanda Borden and Carrie Steinmehl of the Hoover Public Library. You fierce literary leaders have kept my fire burning.

  While much of the writing process is a solitary endeavor, publishing is a team sport. I am eternally grateful for the booksellers, book clubs, libraries, schools, churches, women’s groups, and readers of all stripes who dare to enter these stories. Thank you all.

  I’m especially grateful for the gifted women writers who have welcomed me into the fabulous Tall Poppy tribe, as well as my Writers Summit gals (Carla, Christa, Jenny, Judy, and Lisa), who hold me accountable each day and offer salve to my soul. Also thanks to the Southern Belle View girls (Amy, Denise, Eva Marie, Jolina, Joneal, Kellie, Lisa, Nicole, Shellie) who have wrapped their hearts around me from the start.

  Last of all, many thanks to the people of Oxford, who have given me such a beautiful and welcoming place to call home. And to Rob, with all my heart, thank you. And most importantly, thanks to my two children, Emily and Adam, who make every step of life’s journey worthwhile.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1.We start the book with Lovey, Bitsy, Fisher, and Finn catching fireflies during their Mississippi childhood. The scene depicts an innocent, happy group of friends, a safe and loyal family home, and a strong connection to the landscape that has formed them all. Yet when newcomer Blaire Dayton arrives in her fancy dress, Bitsy crumbles. Why do you think Bitsy was affected so significantly by Blaire’s critical comment? Why did Lovey present an entirely different reaction? How have you reacted to criticism in your life?

  2.Throughout the book we witness sibling rivalry between Lovey and Bitsy, some of it particularly cruel. Do you believe Bitsy loves her sister? Why does she treat Lovey with such contempt? How healthy are your sibling relationships? What steps can you take to improve them?

  3.The book explores family relationships, including that of Chief and Mother, a happily married couple celebrating fifty years of matrimony. Do you know any couples who have achieved such a harmonious partnership in real life? What do Lovey and Bitsy learn about love and marriage from their parents? What mistakes do they make in trying to replicate that ideal family model? In the end Mother explains what Chief really meant by his mantra “Family First.” What does Family First mean to you? What do you want your children and grandchildren to know of love?

  4.What meaning do you take from the story of Judas? Have you ever been betrayed? If so, have you forgiven the person who hurt you? Have you ever betrayed anyone? If so, have you forgiven yourself and/or asked for forgiveness?

  5.Lovey’s favorite Wizard of Oz character was Glinda, the Witch of the South. She was described as being “kind to everyone . . . a beautiful woman, who knows how to keep young in spite of the many years she has lived.” How does each woman in Perennials try to stay young? What does it mean to be young of heart?

  6.Chief and Laurel gave the girls a wonderful, supportive family, but they weren’t always able to give the girls the emotional support they needed. How can we offer healthy emotional support to the people in our lives? Why is such support so important? What characters offer this to one another in the book?

  7.Fireflies play an important part in Lovey’s life. She realizes that even when the lid is removed, the fireflies don’t always leave the jar. How does this apply to Lovey’s life? In nature, fireflies light in order to find their mates. Sometimes a firefly shines her light only to discover that no light is signaled in return. How does this relate to Lovey’s attempt to offer love to people who aren’t always able to give or receive love in return? Discuss other lessons nature teaches us.

  8.Lovey discusses F-words throughout this story. In the end she names her barn cat Phoenix, a play on the F-word theme. In literature the phoenix must burn to emerge from the fire. Who has emerged from the fire in this novel? How have you survived your own “fires” in life?

  9.When The Dragon is defeated, Brynn acknowledges that she never could have survived the “fight” without Lovey on her side. Lovey doesn’t begin to heal until Chief finally says he believes her and believes in her. How important is it to have one “constant” person in our lives to help us remember our own truth? What does the story of David and Goliath teach us about fighting such monsters even when we have to face them on our own?

  10.The book presents many symbols. In the prayer garden, new growth surrounds the hardened stones of the labyrinth. The memory garden includes a four-tiered wall of stone. Lovey visits statues of the White Tara and Mary. She wears a timepiece charm. The medicine wheel incorporates the cross and the circle. The Reed Incident takes place in the Tortolita Mountains, which is Spanish for novice or beginner. Lovey works for a firm named Apogee. And, of course, flowers play a predominant role, including the resurrection fern, the cleome, and the scentless rose. What do each of these symbols represent?

  11.Despite the reconciliation between the two sisters by book’s end, Bitsy has yet to confess to starting the fire, nor has she apologized for many of the destructive choices she has made to harm Lovey. Mother tells Lovey that we don’t always get the apology we need. How does Lovey learn to forgive Bitsy in spite of this? Do you believe Bitsy has changed? Will she continue to hurt Lovey? How do you think Lovey might respond differently now that she has learned to reclaim her own truth? How does this relate to the advice Eudora Welty sup
posedly offered Lovey from the sketched portrait (“Liars only have as much power as you give them. Claim your own truth.”)?

  12.Adam and Eve’s story begins in the garden of Eden. Lovey remembers that God called it “good.” What does Lovey come to learn about “the garden” by the end of the book, and how does this relate to her life as a whole?

  13.Mother tells the girls they have been giving too much of themselves to the wrong people, the wrong goals. Have you ever been spread too thin, trying to nourish too many things in your life’s garden? Would you benefit from a little weeding in your own life? How does Lovey learn to make wise choices, understanding when to say no and when to say yes? What do Lovey and Bitsy learn from the “hardening” season?

  14.In the end, Lovey learns from each of the people and experiences in her life. What have you learned from reading this novel? How might your life change as a result?

  ACTIVITY SPARKS

  •What is your favorite scene in Perennials? Why? What is your least favorite? Rewrite that scene to create the outcome you desire.

  •Create a “Fifty Things I Love About You” list for someone special in your life. Now write one about yourself. Which of the two was a greater challenge?

  •Consider building your own memory, prayer, or literary garden. What flowers, quotes, or stories would you include?

  •At one point Lovey considers the timeline of her life. Make a timeline of your life. What key moments have you included? Notice the high points and the low points. Do you notice “seasons” in your own life: growth, bloom, loss, ruin, rebirth?

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Author photo by Andew McNeece

  Julie Cantrell is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Into the Free, the 2013 Christy Award– winning Book of the Year and recipient of the Mississippi Library Association’s Fiction Award. Cantrell has served as editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and is a recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Fellowship. Her second novel, When Mountains Move, won the 2014 Carol Award for Historical Fiction and, like her debut, was selected for several Top Reads lists. Her third novel, The Feathered Bone, was named a Best Read by Library Journal and is currently a finalist for multiple literary awards, including the Southern Book Prize.