1 The Ladybug Jinx

by Tonya Kappes

  “Who was that?” Marty had cleaned up the dishes.

  “Someone wanting to know a few things about flowers.” Celia lied.

  *

  After Marty left, Celia thought about what he’d said. She had been mean to Sam and she believed in Karma. Celia walked back into her kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. She’s never been a big left-over eater. She grabbed the small container of roast and sides.

  “Come on Charlie.” Celia put on her sweatshirt. “Let’s go see Sam.”

  Charlie perked up like he knew exactly what she was saying. Now that she knows where he lives, she can give some sort of peace offering.

  Celia wondered if she’d ever be one of those parent’s coming out of the school’s auditorium as she sat in traffic on Main Street. There must’ve been a fall pageant, because it’s the only time in the year when there was traffic in Grandberry Falls.

  She eased the car making sure no one darts out in front of her, and hushed Charlie from barking at all the two-legged creatures.

  “We can bribe him with food.” Celia winked to Charlie as she pulled up in front of the Pig. The Trembling Cup and The Thirsty Turtle was packed. Everyone was gearing up for the hoe down.

  Celia hadn’t been to one of Grandberry Falls hoe downs in a long time.

  While in New York, she missed the close-knit community. And Hazel Greenlee’s booth at the hoe downs, along with the line dancing, music, and good company.

  She wondered if Sam was going. What a hoot, she thought about Sam trying to boot scoot and boogie.

  Celia darted across the street to make sure no one saw her. The last thing she needed was the town gossiping about Celia Briggs and the new guy in town having a secret rendezvous.

  She didn’t take into consideration Charlie’s nails clicked on the pavement and he barked at everything in sight.

  “Hello, Celia.” Mamie stood by the dumpster with a big black bag in her hands. “What ya got there?” She tossed the bag in, and bent down to pat Charlie.

  “My father and I had left over roast. Sam did a great job delivering flowers, and I thought I would bring him the leftovers.” Celia stopped before she would stumble over more words.

  Of all the people, she couldn’t believe she saw Mamie. Not only has Celia killed her father this week, hired a wanderer, she is now going to be having an affair with the wanderer and Mamie was going to be the one to tell her dad.

  “He didn’t come in the diner. He expecting you?” Mamie peered over top her bi-focals as her eye brows narrowed.

  Celia pointed back to the street where the Chevy was parked under the street light. “He must be here.” She jerked Charlie and proceeded to climb the steel steps. “Karma,” she said under her breath.

  The door opened before Celia could knock.

  “Oh, are you leaving?” Celia started to turn around, but Charlie ran right in.

  “Well come on in, Charlie.” Sam looked deep into Celia’s eyes. She felt the jolt and looked away. His words dripped out of his mouth, “Why are you here, Celia?”

  She could hear him say her name over and over and never get tired of hearing it. The tin foil on the left-overs, made crinkle sounds as she played with the edges. “I had some leftover roast and thought you would like some.”

  “Would you like to come in and visit with me and Charlie?”

  Celia smiled. She liked the way Sam didn’t question her motives or judge her in any way.

  “Really we should get going.” Celia held back a few seconds.

  “I really don’t like to eat alone.” Sam held the door open for Celia to enter.

  The efficiency was tidy. There wasn’t a personal touch in the place. Not pictures or clothes. Celia remembered all the men she dated always had clothes strewn all over the floor.

  Sam’s smile radiated throughout her body. “I’ve been smelling this roast all day.” He took the plate and motioned for her to have a seat.

  Charlie had already made a spot on Sam’s bed.

  “Charlie, get down.” Celia called for Charlie who immediately came running.

  “Thanks, Celia.” Sam took a bite of the roast and potatoes. “It’s really good. Do you always cook?”

  “Yes, if I want to eat.” Celia patted her belly.

  “You are tiny.” Sam realized he just paid her a compliment she wasn’t going to like.

  “I cook for my father. If I didn’t I’m not sure he would eat.” Celia let his comment slide. She liked the fact he had noticed her as a women.

  “Where’s your mom?” Sam asked.

  “She died a year ago and my dad was depressed for a while, but he’s much better now.” Celia watched Sam eat. He seemed so satisfied and for some reason it made her soul sing.

  “Where are you from?” Celia watched Sam put his plate in the sink.

  “California.” Sam’s voiced seemed vague to her. “I love this efficiency apartment. In California my apartment was a lot smaller and more expensive.”

  Celia wanted Sam to turn around so she could see his eyes. But he didn’t turn around until he stopped talking.

  Being a lawyer made her good at reading people when they spoke and she could tell he was hiding. She remembered what her father said about giving Sam time.

  “I met some of your friends at The Thirsty Turtle.” Sam said. “You were right. They knew who I was.”

  “Ah, welcome to Grandberry Falls.” Celia blushed. She wished they’d leave him alone, but she knew better. “You can’t hide from anyone around here.”

  “Nope.” He took another bite. “They invited me to some hoe down.”

  “Are you going?” Celia held her breathe for a minute. If he was going, she was going to make an appearance.

  “Not sure yet.” Sam gave Charlie a taste of roast.

  “Well, we do have the carnations the city ordered, and you’ll need to deliver them to the courthouse tomorrow.” She didn’t want to leave, but had to get back and get those carnations ready to go for the morning. “I should probably go and get started on them.”

  “Tonight?” Sam asked.

  “When you own a business, it doesn’t close at five.” She winked, and stood up. “We have a big day tomorrow. Come on Charlie, let’s go and let Sam get some sleep.”

  “I’ll walk you out.” Sam picked up Charlie, which didn’t bother Charlie any.

  Celia looked across the street and waved to Mitch, Belle, Wendy, and Tommy staring at them.

  “Yep, we’ll be on the news tomorrow.” Celia laughed.

  Sam stepped back and searched the area for something. “What are you talking about?”

  “Take it easy.” Sam acted like a cat on a hot tin roof. She nodded toward the bar. “Tomorrow we will be gossip all over town.”

  Sam threw his head back and laughed. “Honey, we already are.”

  Celia’s questions about his past started to melt looking at the perfect white teeth and smiling lips.

  “See you in the morning, Celia.” Sam held the car door.

  Celia started the car and watched Sam walk up the steps to the apartment. “That was strange.” She looked over at Charlie’s big black eyes staring at her and promised, “He’s hiding from something, but what?”

  Charlie jumped in Celia’s lap and licked her face. “I like him too buddy.”

  “Grief punts around joy.”

  Jareb Teague

  9

  Sam was wide awake before his alarm went off. This was the first time in months he had woken up with joy in his soul.

  He couldn’t wait to get to the shop to see Celia. He had washed her dish and knew it was a good way to break the morning ice. He enjoyed seeing her last night and craved more of it.

  “Morning, Mamie.” Sam took a seat at the bar next to the man with the cowboy hat pulled plum down to his chin. The diner was already full and alive.

  “Someone’s awful happy this morning.” Mamie smiled. She laid the paper in front of Sam and opened it to the help wanted section. “As a matter o
f fact, Mason Puckett here is looking for someone to muck his horses’ stall.”

  The cowboy next to Sam pushed his hat just above his brow to see what Mamie was cackling at. “You say my name?”

  “Naw, Mason. You just keep eatin’.” Mamie walked down the bar refilling all the coffee mugs.

  “Funny girl.” Sam called out trying to contain his smile. He liked Mamie. She was the first person he met in Grandberry Falls and she was the first person who helped him.

  “I’m getting use to this town. I like it here.” Sam watched Mamie pour his coffee. He still had to keep a low profile.

  After breakfast, Sam really looked at the old town. The few stores and the town’s folk made it homey. Something you don’t see anymore and no movie could reproduce a town like Grandberry Falls—no matter how much money they spend trying to do it.

  “What happened to all the leaves?” Sam yelled into the shop. “Why is the front door unlocked?”

  “Why you here so early again?” Celia yelled down from the stairs. “Come on up.”

  Sam didn’t like the front door unlocked. They maybe in a small town, but anything could happen. Going up the steps, he held on to the banister to slow himself down. He didn’t want to seem so eager.

  “Want a cup of coffee?”

  Sam followed her voice into the kitchen.

  “I like your place.” He looked around and picked up a picture of a young girl and a man. “Is this your dad?”

  “Grandfather.” She handed Sam a cup of coffee and pushed the creamer and sugar toward him. He peered down at her feet as they tip-toed up allowing her to peer over his shoulder. “It’s a little grainy, but it’s the only picture I have of us.”

  Sam took a closer look. Her hair was as red then as it was now. The picture lingered in his fingers, but his senses were overcome by Celia’s feminine smell.

  “He is the reason I love flowers.” Celia took the picture from Sam, her fingers brushed up against his. It felt good to him. He wanted to touch her fingers. He craved her fingers to touch him.

  “My mother and grandfather didn’t get along.” Celia’s eyes turned down.

  Sam watched her reaction as she placed the picture exactly where he found it. Disappointed, Celia didn’t seem to notice the charge she gave him.

  “Tell me about your place.” Sam liked her taste in design. It wasn’t feminine, it was more masculine.

  Sam tried to listen to Celia talk about her shop and how they remodeled the entire house, but focused on her face. Her lips were soft like her eyes. He could tell she was a gentle woman. A woman who liked to please everyone.

  She took a daisy from the budvase. He watched her twirl it in her delicate finger. The tingle he was getting was almost the same feelings he got when Bianca would tease him at the farmer’s market.

  Celia ran her fingers along the stem as she talked about her empire. He noticed she never mentioned a man other than her father or grandfather. Look away, Sam thought.

  The knock at the door made them both take their mugs downstairs to see what the first customer brought.

  “Celia Briggs?”

  Sam stood behind Celia a little taller as if taking some type of ownership.

  “Hold on, we aren’t open yet.” Celia held the door “But just give me a moment.”

  “I’m not here for flowers. I called you last night about.”

  Celia grabbed the short bald man by the arm and interrupted him. “Oh, yes. Come in and let me get my deliveries ready to go.”

  Sam noticed Celia was uneasy around the guy, and gave him the once over. He wasn’t about to leave Celia with a man she seemed to become jittery around and he didn’t want to talk about flowers. Especially a man in a suit. Sam’s been around business men before and this one better not be taking advantage of her.

  “Sam, let’s get some of these flowers for the funeral loaded. After you get these settled come back for another load.” Celia’s tone bugged him. Where was the sweet woman from a few minutes ago? “Plus we need to get those carnations down to the courthouse. The Beautification Committee is expecting them.”

  “Celia who is the guy?” Sam sounded jealous more than curious.

  “Just some business I need to take care of.” Celia didn’t look at him.

  “Why won’t you look at me?” Sam didn’t believe in playing games. He didn’t believe her answer. She was holding something back, and that really concerned him.

  “Mr. Reynolds, I don’t know what you are talking about, but my flowers need to be delivered and you need to do your job.”

  “We are back to that, huh?” Sam didn’t like how she transformed back into her old self.

  “If you can’t get the flowers delivered, my father would be more than happy to do it.”

  Sam didn’t like her threatening him. He still needed the job. “Fine. I’ll be back to get the second load.”

  After the truck was loaded up, Celia immediately turned to go in the shop. Sam watched her walk away. He pulled his truck down the drive, out of sight and waited until the man’s cream Buick passed him to leave.

  *

  Celia knew she had to face the music, but not in front of Sam or anyone else for that matter. She hated being mean to Sam. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

  “Ms. Briggs we need to talk about this loan.” Celia shut the door behind her and looked at the man who didn’t care about this shop or her or Grandberry Falls.

  “Yes.” Celia stood calmly.

  “Do you understand you took out a one year arm? Now the arm is up and your rate is not fixed. You have been paying the bank the arm rate and your payment is going to go in default if you don’t pay more.” His voice was slow and steady like he had said this several times before.

  “Yes, I’m planning on taking care of it this week.” Celia noticed a few cars pulling up to the shop and didn’t want customers to over hear them. “Thank you for stopping by. I hate that you came all this way for nothing.”

  She clapped her hands in front of her greeting a few customers while walking out the banker. Her heart settled a little bit knowing these flower sales will help pay the huge debt she owes. She had no idea how she was going to make up the large sum of money. She would come up with something even if she had to beg, plead and steal.

  “Hi folks. How can I help you today?” Celia watched the banker’s car leave out of the corner of her eye.

  *

  Sam sighed when he saw the funeral home. He can still remember the smell of all the flowers and death combined from his mother’s funeral. He made Bianca promise him she wouldn’t have a funeral for him. She made him promise he would celebrate her life and move on with his. It was a promise he couldn’t keep.

  Her funeral was at their house. The house she brought to life from the remodel up. She loved the view, but hated the original house. They tore it down and built it from scratch. She watched the sun set every night from their bedroom up until the last breath.

  Sam watched people come in and out of the funeral home. He was supposed to deliver the flowers and get out. You can do this, he thought. “You can do this,” he said aloud coaxing himself on.

  He pulled up to the door, and got a couple different sprays out of the truck.

  “The Ladybug delivery,” Sam announced before he stopped dead in his tracks coming face to face with the corpse.

  “Never seen a dead person?” The funeral director patted Sam on the back. “You can just put them down and bring in the rest. We’ll arrange them for you.”

  Sam swallowed.

  “I’m sorry, I …” He stopped, turning to go get the rest.

  The old man taking pleasure in how uncomfortable Sam was. He couldn’t start the old Chevy fast enough.

  You are such a wimp, Sam repeated over and over in his head. He didn’t want Celia to see him like this. He pulled over on the side of the country road on the way back to the shop.

  He flung himself out of the truck and slammed the door. He continued to kick
the gravel up with his boots.

  “Why Bianca? Why?” Sam screamed into the air falling to his knees. He hid his face in his hands and sobbed.

  He crouched by his truck, he turned his head to the sound of a car pulling up behind him.

  “You okay, son?” Marty got out of his truck and walked over to help Sam up.

  “I’m fine.” Sam was ashamed he wasn’t able to keep it together. He brushed the gravel dust off his jeans. “I’m fine.”

  “You don’t look fine to me.” Marty pointed out to Sam who was well aware of how it looked.

  “I have to get back to the shop.” Sam walked to his truck. “I need to get the second load of flowers to the funeral home.”

  The thought of going back there made him sick to his stomach.

  “Why don’t I help you and we go grab a cup of coffee from The Trembling Cup after we deliver the rest?” Marty opened Sam’s door.

  Sam could tell Marty was hovering over him like a parent. He never knew his father, but he suddenly wished Marty was his dad. “Sounds good. Thanks, Marty.”

  Marty pulled out behind him and followed him to the shop. They loaded the flowers, in silence, next to the carnations he forgot to deliver. Celia didn’t even pay any attention to them. Sam could tell she was off in her own little world and he didn’t mind. The more she didn’t pay attention to him, the better off he was. He was already having a hard time hiding his feelings today.

  “Shall we?” Marty didn’t ask any questions. Sam was grateful for the kindness Marty was showing him.

  Sam didn’t question Marty. He didn’t protest when Marty suggested they go. Sam needed the guy time. He needed to get lost in his made up world, only it wasn’t made up to Marty or Celia.

  A couple winding roads and a few curves, they were passing through town and headed into the country, toward the funeral home.

  “Marty Briggs.” The tall grey scary man scared Sam even more than the first time. “I wondered who you were sending in here earlier today. He looked like he’d seen a ghost with old Johnny lying in there.”

  Sam looked away. This guy looked worse than “old Johnny.”

  Marty shook his head and began introductions, “Ed Simms, this is Sam Reynolds The Ladybug’s new delivery boy…er…man.”