Man Plants Flowers for His Wife after Loss of Their Son, 'I Wanted Her to Smile for a Minute' — Story of the Day

When Bob & Olivia lost their son, Jack, they were devastated. Olivia fell into severe depression. Bob did everything he could to make her smile again, and one day they were given a beautiful blessing.

Many years ago, Bob & Olivia met in college. Olivia studied botany while Bob was studying finance. It was love at first sight for the pair as Bob spotted Olivia planting flowers in a park. They quickly became inseparable. After graduating, the couple married and decided they wanted to start a family together.

As years went by, they began to worry that they would never conceive and even considered alternative methods. "However long it takes, as long as it's with you," Bob told Olivia. After 18 years together, Olivia finally gave birth to a baby boy. They named him Jack. The couple radiated joy.

Bob and Olivia had become successful in their respective careers, but Jack was their pride and joy. Upon returning from the hospital, Olivia immediately tended to their garden. She planted a bed of white hydrangea flowers.

"These are the flowers that I was planting when we first met. This will represent our undying love," Olivia told Bob. Every year from around early Spring, the flowers blossomed. 20 years later, when Jack married his high school sweetheart, Georgina, their wedding was decorated with the same flowers.

Jack soon enlisted in the U.S. Navy. While Bob and Olivia were scared, they always supported their son through anything he chose to do. Tragically, shortly after he was deployed, Jack passed away. Bob felt guilty that he didn't stop his son from taking on such a difficult task.

"I wanted you to smile, Olivia. I haven't seen your charming smile for a long time."

"I'm still grateful that we got to spend that short time with Jack, but my boy has been taken too soon," Bob said at his son's funeral. Bob's company gave him time off from work to cope with the loss. He visited Jack's grave every weekend. Georgina was left alone and moved in with her parents-in-law to cope with the grief.

For weeks she struggled to eat and felt ill constantly. Olivia was hit the hardest and immediately fell into a severe depression. Her depression quickly evolved into a neurological condition. She felt her pain so deeply that she couldn't walk anymore. Olivia became bedridden and wouldn't leave her bedroom.

"Come on, you at least have to try and eat something," Georgina offered.

Olivia could barely stomach soup and bread, and Georgina became somewhat of a caretaker for her. Olivia's garden quickly wilted away without her care, and the hydrangeas were withering as well with spring approaching.

The family was struck by Jack's loss, and Bob began to worry that they would never heal. He decided that he would have to start small, with a simple gesture that might make Olivia crack a smile. Bob studied Olivia's botany notes and tended to her garden.

Bob and Georgina made it their secret mission to get Olivia's plants ready for spring. "I might be a numbers guy, but I'm sure we can figure these flowers out in time," Bob told Georgina. For Georgina, it would be a welcome reminder of her late husband and their wedding day.

They not only helped bring new life to Olivia's withering hydrangeas, but they also planted new ones. What they accomplished in a short time was extraordinary. On the morning of Spring Day, Georgina was experiencing some abdominal pain. She went to the doctor's office, insisting that Bob remain to reveal the flowers to Olivia.

Bob went to Olivia's room, got her out of bed and into her wheelchair, and told her he had a surprise for her. "Open up the curtains," He told her. Olivia opened the curtains, revealing a gorgeous and lush bed of flowers. Olivia's eyes widened, and she immediately opened the windows.

"Oh my goodness, I can smell the hydrangeas! Wow, I can't believe this," Olivia said with a wide smile.

She cried tears of joy and embraced Bob with a big hug. "I wanted you to smile, Olivia. I haven't seen your charming smile for a long time. We will overcome anything because our love is as strong and thriving as this garden," Bob said.

He then pushed Olivia to the garden, where they sat for the afternoon, reminiscing about their first meeting and Jack's wedding. Soon, Georgina returned from the doctor's office. "I was wondering where you were. Is everything alright?" Olivia asked.

Struggling to hide her excitement, Georgina replied, "So, you know how I've been sick and experiencing pain in my belly. Well, it turns out I've been pregnant this whole time!" She exclaimed. Two months after Jack's tragic passing, his family discovered he had left one more blessing behind.

Bob, Olivia & Georgina shared a group hug in the bed of newly blossomed hydrangeas. Two months later, Georgina gave birth to a baby boy. She decided to name him Jack Junior after his late father. Both Bob and Olivia were there to support Georgina during her delivery. Over the next few months, the family began to thrive again.

Bob returned to work and was welcomed back with open arms by his colleagues. Georgina and Olivia started their own florist business, and all of their neighbors became clients. When Jack Jr. could stand and began trying to walk, Olivia walked him through the garden, holding his hand in her own.

"These are the flowers I planted when I first met your grandfather and the ones he planted for me with your mother's help. These represent our family's undying love," Olivia told Jack Jr. with a broad smile.

What can we learn from this story?

• The pain won't last forever. Despite suffering such a tragic loss, Bob, Olivia, and Georgina made it through and found the light at the end of the tunnel.
• You can find happiness in the simple things. Bob understood that he couldn't bring Jack back, but he knew that restoring his wife's flower bed would brighten her day and bring a smile to her face.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a military mom who surprises her late friend’s kid with a teddy bear.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.