"Can I come in?" Ann asked.
"Of course", Chester said. "You're my wife's best friend."
Ann entered the house and sat down on the living room couch.
"I want to talk to you about your visit to my store today."
"Well, what is it?" Chester asked.
"It's about the candle you took."
"Oh, that was real nice of you to give that to Rose for her birthday."
"Why do you keep coming to the store without Rose?"
"Without Rose?" Chester interrupted her. "She's still here."
"But you haven't brought her to my store like you used to. I miss her." Ann
bit her lip "Is she okay?"
"Sure," Chester replied with assurance in his voice. "She likes me to surprise
her now. Thanks for the candle."
"I think you misunderstood," Ann said carefully. "The candle you took was
for another customer."
"Well, you know how Rose likes her candles, pink- colored with the scent of
roses. I know her; she would have wanted that candle for sure. It was a pretty one."
"Don't you remember why I went into the back room?" Ann asked him."I
was finding another candle for Rose."
"Well, it's in the back bedroom with Rose if you want to see it." Chester
pointed the way. "But I haven't given it to her yet. It's a big birthday surprise you know,"
he said quietly.
"Well," Ann paused. "I know we've been friends for a long time." She
thought of Rose. I'm sure we can work something out about the candle since it's her
birthday."
She stood up from the couch. "I would like to wish her a nice birthday while
I'm here.'
"She would love that."
Ann followed Chester down the hallway. 'How has she been?"
"Oh, fine, just fine. She sure can't get enough of them candles though.
I can smell them from here."
She approached the bedroom door and opened it, staring at the unimaginable.
A small bedroom hoarded with lit candles wall to wall. At its center was a
large canopy bed with sheer curtains. And through the sheer curtains, she saw someone
sitting upright.
It looked like Rose.
Draped in pink chiffon and matching robe. And the addition of the horrible
smell of rose- scented candles and death twisted together.
Ann quickly turned away, and covered her mouth with her hands so she
wouldn't vomit.
Then Chester greeted her with a firm grip on her shoulders.
"Go ahead, go on in," he said. "It's been a while since you've seen her."
"No, really," Ann mumbled. "Rose can have the candle."
"You have to come in and visit her," Chester insisted, gripping her shoulders
tightly. "You said you would wish her a nice birthday, remember?"
Ann looked up at Chester. "But she's dead."
"Don't you say that to me," he said, staring into her eyes. "My Rose is not
dead.”
"Please, I have to go now."
"I told you to visit Rose."
'No, I can't", she pleaded. 'I just can't."
"But you, out of all people," Chester snapped, shaking his head in disbelief.
He held Ann firmly in his grip. "You're her best friend. She adores you."
"Don't you realize that she's dead?" Ann said softly. Her eyes streamed with
tears. "How can I visit a dead person?"
"I told you not to say that!"
Chester slammed Ann up against the hard wall with all his strength, but
immediately felt sorry that he had hurt her. But she deserved it, he thought. She refused
to visit her own best friend.
A few minutes later, Chester re-entered Rose's bedroom. "I brought you
some company," he said proudly.
He positioned Ann in a nearby chair and molded her lifeless hand to hold a
cup of tea. "I know that you've missed your friend, your best friend.
Look," he said, as he held up Ann's candle in front of Rose's rotted face.
"See what she brought you. Happy birthday sweetie!"
He lit the candle and set it on the pink bedside table.
The warmth of the many candles filled the house with their scent of pink
roses.
He stood back and looked at the scene. It was finally completed. His beloved
wife and her best friend together again.
All was well now. They were surrounded by the gentle glow of candlelight.
