1 The Ladybug Jinx

by Tonya Kappes

  Deep, dark eyes seemed to pierce her soul. She felt that stare or at least seen eyes likes his before.

  Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new

  ending.

  Carl Bard

  4

  That wasn’t bad, Sam thought getting back into his car. He was pleased with the fictitious last name he gave himself.

  His messy hair, scruffy face, and the fact he has lost weight in the last six months, gave him the “don’t I know you from somewhere” look. Thank God, Celia hadn’t recognized him. She seemed like the movie going type and with Sam Barber cast in several blockbusters over the past ten years, there was no way she hadn’t heard his name before—even in the small community of Grandberry Falls, Kentucky.

  The delivery job was perfect for his secret. There was no application which meant no background check, no identification, no figuring out he is a movie star. He could become whoever he wanted for as long as he wanted.

  The only problem he figured was he only had the clothes on his back and what little he had in his wallet. Maybe a couple hundred dollars at the most.

  He was relieved Celia hadn’t started him today. It would give him time to prepare for the role of a lifetime. He needed to dump the Mercedes, get some clothes and learn his way away around Grandberry Falls. A good actor never comes unprepared for a role.

  The clean country air hit his nose. He was used to the smog from the traffic in Los Angeles. He had never smelled such sweet air. The sun beat down making him reach for his aviators hanging on the visor.

  Sam loved his car. The first movie paycheck paid for his first car. He worked hard to be a great actor and his Oscars proved his persistence.

  Sam remembered a “buy here pay here” lot in the town just before Grandberry Falls. He would back track. He would have to give his car title and his name would be on there. Hopefully, they wouldn’t recognize him.

  “Only temporary.” Sam exhaled trying to convince himself. He rubbed his hand along the dashboard. “Only temporary. Besides, it’s time to get a new model.” He argued with himself.

  Sam didn’t know how long he needed to get rejuvenated, but this seemed to be it.

  Pulling into the lot, Sam didn’t see anything he wanted to drive. The salesman sauntered over and pecked on Sam’s window.

  “You lost?” He questioned Sam’s existence on his lot, and pointed to the license plate. “Lexington ain’t near California.”

  “It did take a few days to get here,” Sam replied getting out of the car and shutting the car door behind him. He watched the salesman’s eyes. Sam was good at reading people and if the salesman remotely knew him, he wouldn’t sell the car there. “I’m new in town and want a different ride.”

  “You mean something less fancy?”

  Sam made a mental note to get a plaid shirt. All the local men seemed to have plaid shirts, dark denim jeans and a John Deere cap. But he drew the line at the cap. “I guess you could say that.”

  “Well honestly, I don’t know what I can give you for your car. We don’t have anyone who can service that around here.” The salesman walked around the immaculate Mercedes.

  Sam could see the salesman’s chops watering and dollar signs in his eyes. Normally he would have his agent negotiating with the dealership, but he was enjoying his new found freedom.

  Think movie role, Sam repeated over and over in his head.

  “Why don’t I pick a car and we say you give me five thousand for mine?” Words were flowing out of his mouth just as if he had been rehearsing with Bianca for a role.

  “You didn’t steal this car, did you?” The salesman’s eyes hardened.

  “No. I have proof.” Sam didn’t know how he was going to get by with this. He wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.

  “If Bianca could see me now.”

  “What?” The salesman asked after hearing Sam say something. Only the something wasn’t for anyone’s ears.

  “I’ll take that one.” Sam pointed to the 1988 Chevy Cheyenne blue pickup that was as rusty as the day was long. It screamed good ole’ boy to him and he’d fit in perfect with the character he seemed to be creating.

  “She’s a beaut.” The salesman rubbed his hand on her hood.

  “A beaut?” Sam found it strange the man referred to the truck as a she.

  “Beauty. Good Girl.”

  Again, Sam wanted to pinch himself. He couldn’t have asked for a more amusing town if he sent his agent out to find one for research. Only he wasn’t here for research, he was here to reinvent himself, even if only for a short time. He didn’t know how long, but he was starting to like the idea.

  “That settles it.” Sam waited patiently by the truck. He didn’t want to stand by the Mercedes in fear he would be drawn back into his former life. Bianca loved the Mercedes. She said he didn’t look like the Los Angeles type in it when he really wanted a Bentley. For a moment, he could picture her sitting in the passenger side, smiling through the windshield. “Yes. That settles it.” His hushed voiced had a finite sound.

  *

  No one looked at him driving Highway on 22 back into Grandberry Falls like they had when he drove the Mercedes. He fit in like everyone else. With a little more money in his pockets, he needed to find a cheap clothing store.

  Crossing over Main Street, he found the Greenlee’s Hardware Store. Sam observed the mannequins in the front window. They seemed yellowed and old. Something he might have seen as a child, but definitely not now in today’s world.

  “A little strange,” Sam muttered, and parked the Chevy in front of the store. Of course he thought it was strange. How many hardware stores sell clothes? He smiled and shook his head.

  The store smelled musky and old. It completely fit in with Grandberry Falls. Every where he turned he noticed plaid shirts, dark denim, all sorts of John Deere gear and boots. The selection of tennis shoes was limited to only a few off names and colors.

  “We ain’t got much to fit your height.” The blonde woman caught Sam coming in.

  Sam smiled and acknowledged her presence, but refrained from commenting. He’d noticed some tabloid magazines next to the counter with his picture plastered on the front of one of them, “Where is Sam?” Another read, “Sam Barber finally fell off the deep end.”

  “What do you think happened to him?” She put down the box of screws she seemed to be separating. Thank God she didn’t recognize him. She laughed, and asked, “You think he killed himself or alien abduction?”

  Sam shook his bangs down into his eyes. “Don’t know.” His voice broke with huskiness as he tried to disguise it.

  “You sure are a tall glass of water,” she said.

  Sam became a little uneasy with her stare, and bashfully looked away. “Thank you ma’am.”

  He was using all his charm to make him see a little more Southern. He had been listening to the way people talk to each other with in the community and everyone had nauseating manners.

  “Ma’am?” The lady smiled. “Heck I’m ma’am to my kid’s friends. I’m Jenna Greenlee to everyone else.”

  Sam tried not to give her eye contact.

  Sam tried to focus on what she was saying, but was distracted by the way she chewed her gum. He’s never seen someone who was able to talk and pop bubbles at the same time.

  “You got kids? What does your wife do?”

  Sam started to root through the jeans. She was right. There wasn’t much in his size.

  “I’m not married.”

  “Here.” She held the jeans way up over her head allowing the pants to roll out. “Try these.”

  Sam walked out with two pair of jeans, three pair on order, a couple plaid shirts, a couple colored shirts and some bare essentials. He was shocked at what a thrifty shopper he’d become. Not only did he get a super cheap truck, maybe not a good deal, but he did get about twelve items for under fifty bucks. Sam was used to spending fifty dollars on a pair of socks.<
br />
  He put the clothes in his truck, and glanced across the street. The Thirsty Turtle would definitely quench his thirst, but alcohol wouldn’t do him any good in the state he’s in. If he thought long and hard, it’d seem he’d lost his ever living mind, leaving a world people dreamed about in the dust.

  Instead of a beer, he settled for some more conversation with Mamie at The Fatted Pig.

  The restaurant was buzzing with customers. He would’ve never eaten in the diner if the sun was out this morning when he pulled up. In the sunlight, the diner looked a little more dingy. He hadn’t noticed the bricks cracking and the paint peeling off.

  “Cali, you still in town?” Mamie was still serving up. “You gonna have to take a seat at the bar!” she shouted over the patrons.

  Sam did as he was told. The Fatted Pig might not be the Ivy, his favorite restaurant in Los Angeles, but damn the food looked good. If the lunch is anything like his breakfast, he would walk out a satisfied man.

  “What you been up to, Cali?” Mamie filled the coffee cup without Sam even requesting coffee. He noticed everyone in the diner had coffee.

  “Sam.” Sam didn’t like being called Cali. He wanted to forget California and everything that came with it. “Well, dear Mamie, you are looking at The Ladybug’s new delivery boy.”

  “Hot dang.” She smacked her hand on the counter. “Good for you, Sam.”

  Sam thumbed through the rental magazine he picked up off the counter, looking for some type of house to rent. There didn’t seem to be a ton to choose from in his price range. He didn’t realize Grandberry Falls was a destination spot for vacationers.

  “What’s all this about?” Sam pointed to the picture of the lodge on the gorgeous lake.

  Mamie leaned over the counter and Sam pushed his coffee aside. He didn’t want any of her hair falling into it.

  “That’s Grandberry Falls State Park.” She poked at the picture. “We get all sorts of families in here during the summer paying big bucks to hang out at the beach, hike the trails for a little peace and quiet.”

  Sam cocked his head to the side. “People pay this to spend one week here?” Sam realized the price he was seeing next to all the cabins was a weekly rate, not a monthly rental.

  “Yep,” she said grabbing for a calculator.

  “Do you know anyone needing a month to month renter?” Sam couldn’t pay those prices on what little money he was going to be making. Sam whispered, “This is going to be harder than I thought.”

  “Maybe.” Mamie continued to add up a few of her tickets. “If you don’t mind living on top a diner.”

  Sam’s day was coming together. “Yea, that would be great.”

  “Come on. I’ll show you up.” Mamie said something to the other waitress and motioned for Sam to follow her out the door and around the building to a set of steel steps. “I’ll have to clear it with the owner, but I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”

  The one room efficiency was all he needed.

  Mamie waited while Sam walked around the room. The bed wasn’t the king he was used to and the kitchen sink was next to the bed, which he wasn’t used to, but it was his and nothing reminded him of California or his beloved Bianca.

  “I’ll take it.” He turned to Mamie who waited by the door. “How much?”

  “You pay utilities and maybe a few fresh flowers every now and then.” Mamie looked at him. “I don’t know much, but I do know you ain’t making money delivering flowers.”

  “Deal” He felt a strange numbed comfort.

  “Alright.” Mamie slowly climbed down the steps holding onto the metal rail she looked back at him. “Go ahead and make yourself at home.”

  Sam closed the door once she made it safely down the stairs. He could take ten paces in either direction and touch a wall. He could change it around a bit to make it more comfortable, but he wanted sleep. He had a big day and with a full belly, time was catching up.

  “Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”

  Luther Burbank

  5

  Little sleep left Celia out of sorts. She had spent last night making a chaotic schedule for her new delivery boy.

  “Charlie! Stop barking.” Celia rummaged through the medicine cabinet for some ibuprofen. If she didn’t stop the impending head ache, she would be no good later. Plus she was angry at Sam for the stress he’s caused her and he hasn’t even started.

  “Charlie shut up!”

  She chalked his behavior to a deer in the yard. It wasn’t unusual for deer to roam this time of year.

  When she came down the stairs, headlights glared through the front door of the shop.

  “A customer already?” She questioned Charlie like he was going to answer her. Celia squinted to make out the blue Chevy pickup. She didn’t recognize the beat up hunk of junk. It wasn’t a local truck.

  “Great.” She had a sarcastic monotone. “Probably another crazy person, wanting to be a delivery boy.”

  Celia wasn’t about to turn the sign around. She had fifteen minutes until the shop opened and she wanted silence with a steamy hot cup of coffee.

  She put Charlie out back to stop his barking, and took her time to answer the knock at the door. She was annoyed when she saw it was Sam peeping around the sign into the shop.

  “Good morning Sam.” Celia’s headache was dull compared to the ugly plaid shirt Sam was wearing. She started to laugh. “What are you wearing?”

  “What?” Sam asked looking down at his clothes. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

  He followed her into the kitchen. She could feel his eyes taking in her figure.

  “You look like a good ole’ boy with your plaid shirt, dark jeans, and Chevy.” Celia couldn’t resist. He was far from what was bred around here and she wasn’t going to let him play her a fool.

  “Jenna Greenlee said it was all the rage.” Sam rubbed his hands down the front of his shirt.

  “You went to Greenlee’s Hardware to shop?” Celia’s insides tickled.

  Jenna was smart. She probably pegged him when he came in the door. Celia made a mental note to call Jenna and get the scoop.

  “She said it looked good on me.”

  The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of her mouth. Jenna played Sam for a fool, and it worked. Celia was glad to hear Jenna had a little fun dressing Sam. Since her husband was killed over a year ago in a drunken driving accident, Jenna hasn’t been herself.

  The silence lingered.

  “Who are you, Sam?” Celia stared into his deep brown eyes. She could’ve sworn she had seen his eyes before. There was more to him than just a delivery boy.

  “Sam Reynolds.” He bent down to pet Charlie to avoid Celia’s stare. He fiddled with Charlie’s collar and tags.

  “Well, Sam Reynolds, I hope you can deliver flowers” Celia made sure he was aware of her suspicions of him. “I have four deliveries this morning. The first three are local and the last one is at the Veterans home in Wilmore.”

  Sam looked confused. She knew he had no idea where he was going or what he was doing.

  “The next town over.” Celia rolled her eyes and touched the card of one of the arrangements. “I have attached all the directions. Starting with this one and continue on from there. The Veterans Home should be your last stop.” Celia gently touched the Veterans Home arrangement.

  Every week the order was sent through the fax to be delivered to room two, no name, just room two. Thought it made her curious, she didn’t complain because the order always accompanied a legit credit card.

  The flowers were a lovely choice. It included seven white Tulips, with six petals each. “White Tulips mean forgiveness,” Celia’s grandfather would tell her mother after he gave her the flowers. Celia’s mother always threw them out. She claimed she was allergic, but Celia knew different.

  “What are you thinking about?” Sam asked Celia who had drifted off.

  “Just delive
r the flowers.” She walked over to the counter and topped off her mug. Getting him out of here couldn’t be soon enough. He was a distraction to her and her business. The sooner he screws up the happier she’ll be.

  “A cup of coffee would hit the spot.” He gestured toward the coffee maker.

  “I’m sure you can stop on your way.” Celia continued to cut and arrange some flowers on the farm table. She didn’t want to pay much attention because there’s no way he’s going to make it until the end of the week. And that was being generous.

  “Okay then.” Sam picked up two of the four arrangements. Charlie started to follow him.

  “Here Charlie.” Celia made it clear she didn’t want Sam involved with anything personal to her and that meant Charlie.

  Charlie retreated and Celia glared at Sam who shook his head in disbelief at what a real bitch she was being. She didn’t care what he thought.

  *

  “What’s with all the head shaking?” Marty opened the door for Sam.

  “That daughter of yours. She sure doesn’t like me.” Sam was careful not to tip the vases.

  “Celia’s never been to trusting with men other than me and her grandfather. She’ll bust your balls, but she’ll come around.” Marty watched Sam put the flowers in the truck.

  “Don’t forget these two.” Celia walked up. “Are you sure you are going to be able to deliver these? Dad why don’t you go with him?” Celia turned to her dad.

  “No,” Sam said with a commanding voice. “I am the delivery boy, um, man and I am going to do my job.” He opened the squeaking driver’s door. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a job to do.”

  There was something about Grandberry Falls Sam liked. Sure people walked around LA, but they didn’t talk to strangers. Every corner the truck turned, there was a stranger waving from the side of the road or a barking dog.

  The first two deliveries were pretty easy. His deadened spirit was being fed a little more with each excited recipient. He never thought delivering flowers could be so much fun.