Fresh Water for Flowers

The narration returns to Violette’s past with Philippe. She is utterly in love, powered by their passionate sex life. Violette supports them both with her waitressing job. One day, Philippe’s parents arrive at their apartment, and they discover that Violette is pregnant. Philippe and his mother talk about Violette as if she weren’t there. The next day, he announces that his parents have found work for them as level-crossing keepers.

In the present day, Violette observes the gravediggers: Gaston has fallen into an open grave. She also reflects on some of her other visitors, living and dead. Many are widowed lovers whose attempts to grieve their married lovers are scorned by the deceased’s families. In one instance, two extramarital lovers were buried separately from each other. Violette took a cutting of a plant from one grave and planted it above the other so the two would be symbolically joined together.

In the past, Violette and Philippe argue about what to name their unborn child.

Violette and the gravediggers attend the burial of a beloved doctor. Hundreds of people attend, and the doctor’s son makes a speech. One of the undertakers tells Violette how the doctor’s wife was once one of his patients.

Violette turns her observations inward, examining herself as others see her. She reflects on how she is a polarizing force in the community, greeted with both suspicion and compassion. She remembers instances in which rowdy teenagers broke into the cemetery, causing chaos. Violette chased them away, but she makes allowances for those who come to the cemetery to make love. One particular group of teenagers refused to be deterred but left for good one night after a terrifying encounter with the supernatural.

During Violette’s time with Philippe, she comes across a copy of The Cider House Rules, or L’Oeuvre de Dieu in the French translation. It is difficult for her to read with her low level of education, but she attempts to work through it. Her affections for Philippe begin to cool, and she starts to see the sides of him she’d previously been ignoring. She buys a dictionary to improve her vocabulary.

Nono and Father Cédric speak about Nono’s past; he was laid off from his job painting houses before becoming a gravedigger. Cédric reveals that his father was a soldier. Julien arrives, and he and Violette introduce themselves by name for the first time. Julien has finished his speech for his mother but confesses the real reason for his visit: He has located Philippe.