1 The Ladybug Jinx

by Tonya Kappes

  The diner smelled delicious and Celia’s stomach reminded her not only did she just make a fool of herself, but she gave away her dinner. Charlie loved going in the diner. He knew Mamie would give him the scraps.

  Celia scanned the diner for an empty table. The bar was full and the corner table was taken. Celia glanced at the table a little harder. She would know that head from anywhere.

  “Hi, Dad.” She put on a happy face. “This is where you stood me…” Celia watched her father take his hand away from Kerri Ann’s hand. “What are you doing?” Celia’s eyes stung. She blinked back the tears.

  “I’m having dinner with a friend.” Marty stood up next to the table. Celia looked at Kerri Ann for answers.

  “You can’t even look at me?” Celia said to Kerri Ann. “You were my mother’s best friend and now you, you.” Celia fumbled and grabbed Charlie and ran out the door.

  “Celia, wait.” Marty ordered her to stop.

  She didn’t look back. The run to her car seemed like a mile away—only it was parked around the corner.

  She didn’t care how fast she was going. She didn’t care if she got pulled over. Celia couldn’t wait to get home and take out her frustrations. She was rejected by two men tonight.

  She was disappointed by Sam. She was angry with her father. Her mother has only been dead a year and her father was already out and about. She had no clue. The town had to be laughing at her. There he was in plain sight, holding hands like a teenager.

  Going to bed was the only thing going to help her headache. She was ready to put this day to rest when a knock on her door interrupted her plans.

  “If you think you are going to come here and…” Celia opened the door to find Sam. “Sam, I’m sorry.”

  Celia melted into tears and into Sam’s wide open arms.

  “How could he? He has made a fool of himself.” Celia sobbed. “I can’t believe him!”

  She released her body from Sam and stomped around the shop and up the stairs.

  “Celia, I have no idea what you are talking about.” Sam followed her up the steps and sat next to her on the couch.

  She dare look at him. “I must look like a fool, crying all over you.”

  “No you are human. I am assuming you found out about your father and Kerri Ann.”

  Sam knew. How did Sam know and she not?

  “You aren’t even from here and you knew?” Her eyes were beginning to puff up. Sam walked over to the side table and retrieved a Kleenex. “Thank you.”

  Sam talked Celia into going to get dessert in Lexington.

  *

  “I think your father is lonely.” Sam knew what he was talking about. “When you are with someone for a long time, you are lost without her.”

  Sam watched Celia’s reaction to his words. She was beautiful even when she was crying. Her hair looked like it was on fire and she made him crazy with emotions.

  “Sounds like you know what he is going through.” Celia’s green eyes were glowing against her pale skin. They were mesmerizing.

  The waitress seated them in a booth.

  “I said, it sounds like you know how my father feels.”

  The waitress interrupted and took down their brownie and coffee order.

  Sam was confused. He did want to open up to her, but he trusted her. He trusted his feelings around her.

  “I do actually.” Sam twirled his spoon in his coffee. “I lost my fiancé about the same time you lost your mother.”

  Sam felt Celia’s warm soft hands cover his. He began to pull away, but stopped. Hers eyes pierced his soul which caused him to look away.

  “I am sorry, Sam.” Her voice made her lips even softer. “Is that what you are running from?”

  Sam closed his eyes for a moment. He could hear Bianca’s voice, ‘Promise me you will be happy. Promise me you will find someone who makes your heart sing. Sam find your Chrysanthemum.’ He smiled up at Celia. He wondered if she knew the meaning of chrysanthemum: fidelity, optimism, joy and long life.

  “I’m not running from anyone. I just wanted a new start.” He might open up his heart, he was not going to open up his past.

  Sam found it easy to talk to Celia. She didn’t question Bianca’s death or even his past. She listened to him.

  “It’s not about your mother. Your father needs companionship at his age.” Sam continued to hold Celia’s hands. He liked it. It has been a long time since he’s held hands with a woman.

  “You’re right.” Celia smiled pulling her hands away in order to let the waitress put down the brownies. “I guess I never thought my father would find someone else. I never pictured him with anyone other than my mother.”

  “What better person than your mother’s best friend? Who also loved your mom and knows what your dad is going through.” Sam definitely knew how to play the sentimentalist. After all, he was America’s male sweetheart.

  “Sam Reynolds, you are a smart man.” She smiled at him, melting his heart. “Your fiancé was one lucky woman.”

  Celia reached over and took his hand again. It was a feeling he could to get used to.

  “All glory comes from daring to begin.”

  Eugene Ware

  11

  Celia enjoyed the warmth of Sam’s hands and company over the past few weeks. She laughed thinking about how she treated him in the beginning. They’d become comfortable with each other. Sam had a constant presence at the shop, around the community, and at Celia’s dinner table.

  “We got another order for the retirement home for tomorrow.” Celia served the homemade chicken pot pie to her dad and Sam. Charlie begged next to Marty who was always sneaking treats.

  “It’s a nice place.” Sam had never discussed his deliveries and Celia loved that about him.

  “It’s a strange order,” Celia commented, taking the seat next to Sam. “It’s faxed every week like clockwork. The credit card goes through like a charm. Each week it’s the exact same order.”

  Celia noticed her father sat eerily quiet.

  “Is the recipient a man or women?” Celia really wanted to find out about the mystery flowers.

  “Man.”

  “Sick or healthy?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Celia looked at Sam like he was crazy. “How do you not know? Don’t you see him each time?”

  “Yes.” Sam reached over for seconds. She loved how he devoured her home cooked meals.

  “Well?” Celia was getting annoyed with his one word answers. He was smarter than that.

  “What?” Sam put his fork down in mid sentence, giving her the attention she required. “I don’t know Celia. He answers the door, takes the flowers and shuts the door.”

  “Does he say anything?” Celia continued to bagger him because she loved how dramatic he was when he tried to tell a story.

  “Nothing.” Sam looked up at her like a light bulb went off. “The first week he asked me who I was and nothing after that.”

  “I think it’s strange. Someone sends him flowers and he never asks questions.” Celia looked between the two of them.

  Amazing, she thought as they shoveled the food in their mouths like they hadn’t eaten in days.

  *

  After dinner, Marty left to have dessert at the diner with Kerri Ann. And Celia was looking forward to a little alone time with Sam. She’d gotten use to the idea of Kerri Ann keeping her father company. She made him happy, which made Celia happy.

  “Another fine meal.” Sam patted his belly.

  The way he was eating, he was gaining weight by the day. She couldn’t believe how her feelings have grown for him. Sam was everything she needed. She enjoyed his company and he seemed to like working with her, and being around her dad, not to mention her cooking.

  “Tomorrow after I deliver, I go to the radio station to record my segment.” Sam dug into the homemade apple pie. Celia was glad to see he wasn’t nervous anymore. In fact he looked rather joyful, at peace, not like the scaredy cat he was when he show
ed up in town.

  Grandberry Falls has a way of unwinding the tightly wound. Or at least that’s what all the vacationers say about the cozy town.

  “I want to know if you could come with me?” Sam asked.

  “I would love to.” Celia was flattered he’d want her there, and no way was she going to miss it. “I will make sure I get my orders filled and we could deliver the last of them on the way.”

  The night was over way too fast, but tomorrow was a big day. If everything goes well, she’d see more orders, move some inventory, and pay the bank. She was going to need a good night’s sleep for what hopefully would be a busy week.

  Celia wondered if her mind was playing tricks on her or if he was stalling walking to the door.

  “I guess I better get going and rest up for my big performance.” He stood there, devilishly handsome. The twinkling lights Celia had put in the window for the seasonal decorations put a magic touch against his skin. “I like the window decorations.”

  “Thanks. I figure I better decorate for the upcoming holidays as they approach. People tend to skimp on the flowers this time of year. And I need all the orders I can get.” Celia almost slipped. She didn’t want to burden anyone with the little oversight of the arm loan.

  “Thank you, Celia, for making me feel at home.” Sam bent down, the touch of his lips was a delicious sensation.

  Celia’s flesh tickled with his touch, and she stepped back.

  “I’m sorry.” Sam looked down at his feet. “I should’ve asked if I could kiss you.”

  “No, I moved.”

  Celia blushed and put her hands to her mouth.

  “Okay, well goodnight. See you in the morning.” Sam turned the knob on the door.

  Celia gently put her hand on his arm. “I enjoyed it.”

  Celia stepped forward and kissed him harder and longer. Sam swept her, weightless, into his arms. She wasn’t going to pull away this time.

  “This was a great dinner.” She looked back down in fear of getting lost. She looked back up—it was too late. Her heart was already stolen.

  “I love your smile, your eyes,” he whispered, his breath hot against her ear.

  She relaxed, sinking into his cushioning embrace. “Who would’ve thought I would be standing here kissing my delivery boy.”

  “Speaking of which, I need to let you get some sleep.” Sam kissed her one last time, and closed the door behind him.

  “What?” Celia looked down at Charlie. He was staring at her. “I haven’t forgotten about you.” She patted the side of her leg and delighted in hearing Charlie’s paws up the steps.

  “He is special isn’t he boy?”

  Celia and Charlie rolled into bed and off to sweet dreams.

  The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and let it come in.

  Morrie Schwartz

  12

  Sam couldn’t wait until he got to the shop. Going home last night about killed him. He could’ve kissed and held her all night. He didn’t realize how much he has missed the companionship of a woman. A woman’s touch, Celia’s touch made him feel good—like he could conquer the world.

  “Ugh.” Sam sighed when he pulled into the driveway and saw Marty was already there. He was hoping to get another kiss to start his day off.

  “Good morning.” Celia gave her shy smile to Sam. He took it and stamped it in his memory.

  “Good morning.” He couldn’t stand it.

  He walked over, took the coffee cup out of her hand, put it down on the farm table next to the arrangement she was finishing and kissed her softly. “Good morning,” he whispered as he pulled away.

  “I don’t think I have ever said good morning to my employer that way.” Marty grinned.

  “It’s about time. Kerri Ann and I talk about how cute you two are together all the time. Plus Hazel Greenlee’s been driving me crazy.”

  Sam walked over and shook Marty’s hand. “I hope you don’t mind if I date your daughter.”

  “Not at all.” Marty hugged Sam.

  “What about me? Don’t I have a say in this?” Celia questioned the two men.

  “No,” they said in unison.

  Quickly they got the flowers in the Chevy. He had to be in Lexington for the interview and all the arrangements had to be delivered before his radio interview in Lexington.

  Sam took the white tulips straight to the west wing room number two. Fall decorations were everywhere, except door number two. Sam knocked. The old man took the flowers and didn’t look Sam in the eyes.

  “Forgiveness.” Sam spoke lightly as the door was shutting in his face.

  The man’s eyeball was visible in the crack of the door.

  “Yes—forgiveness.” The gentleman’s voice cracked.

  He stood face to face with Sam. He wasn’t a fragile old man. He stood tall and thin. He wore jeans, white tee shirt and grey cardigan. A man after Sam’s heart.

  “White tulips mean forgiveness.” Sam pointed to the arrangement cradled in the wrinkled hands.

  “Yes, I know.” The man lifted the tulips up to his nose, stepped back and shut the door.

  Alrighty then, Sam thought. At least he got the man to speak. But it only peeked his curiosity. Who was sending those flowers, and why do they need his forgiveness?

  *

  Celia was steaming. She could hardly do any of the upcoming arrangements or even the base to get ready to put the fresh flowers in. She paced the floors with Charlie close on her heels.

  “I can not believe this.” Celia looked down at Charlie. She swears he knows what she is staying sometimes. “The nerve of him. I knew he was too good to be true.”

  Celia ran to the front door when she heard a door slam.

  “It better be him.” She told Charlie.

  Celia looked out at the rickety old Chevy taking up too much space in her driveway or was she letting Sam take up too much of her heart?

  She stood with her arms crossed just inside the door. She wanted him to instantly see her displeasure.

  “I can’t believe you would put my reputation on the line!” Sudden anger lit her eyes.

  She completely caught Sam off guard. He put his hands up to protect himself in case she hit him. “Where are they?” She stormed out of the shop to search his truck.

  “Where’s what?” Sam asked.

  Celia couldn’t believe he’d taken her for a fool.

  She stopped herself by the tone of his voice. “You are hiding something. I can tell. You forget I was a lawyer and I had a talent of being able to read a liar.” She opened his truck door and began rummaging through the storage behind the torn seat.

  At least he stood back and watched helplessly.

  The harder she threw stuff around in his truck, the more he laughed. She was done being the one who got stomped on.

  “What are you laughing at?” She backed out of the truck with a little dirt on the knees of her black pants and her florist’s apron.

  “You.” He pointed to her knees. “I have no clue what you are talking about. But you are one hot lady when you get mad.”

  “The-yellow-smiling-face-yellow-roses-boutique! Where is it?” Her words were static and drawn out.

  She hoped her eyes were burning a hole in him because they felt like they were on fire.

  “Oh those.” Sam’s grin turned down in a frown. His laughter stopped.

  “Did you drop them and you were afraid to tell me? Did the hospital not accept them to be delivered?”

  Celia searched for any type of sign he had a good reason to not deliver the flowers. She could see pain in his eyes. But why? What was he hiding after all of these weeks?

  “I gave them to someone else.” Sam quietly said.

  Celia stormed up the cobblestone walkway. “You’re fired!” She screamed without turning around. “You’re fired!”

  It was louder the second time. She wanted to make sure he heard her. She didn’t hear Charlie’s paws following her.

  She
looked back and Charlie was sitting at Sam’s feet.

  “Charlie, come on.” Charlie stared at her and didn’t budge.

  “Celia, let me explain.” Sam and Charlie started towards the shop.

  Celia took off inside and began to strip and clip the stems at an alarming rate. She didn’t want to hear what he had to say. She was angry—at herself for letting emotions get in the way of business.

  “You don’t realize what it costs me. Cost the shop.” Celia was already strapped for cash and to give a refund was not good business. She pointed her bottle nosed tweezers at him. “I have to give them a refund or make another one. It’s my name on the line. Do you know anything about a brand or a name? My name! Not Sam Reynolds, wanderer!”

  “I couldn’t do it.” Sam braced himself against the farm table and stared at her. “She looked at me.”

  Celia’s body began to soften. His voice was sincere and kind, making it hard for her to be mad. She was more accepting of what he was going to say. “She was really sick. When she spoke it was soft, gentle like.”

  Before he turned away from her, she swore she saw a tear in his eye.

  “I’m listening.” Celia was still.

  “I couldn’t deliver flowers that mean joyful when she was not joyful. She reminded me of Bianca.” Sam looked up. Celia’s heart was sad. “It’s too fresh for me. I’m sorry. I ran and handed them off.”

  Celia didn’t know what to say. She had just experienced an emotional break through with him and didn’t want to rock the boat any more. Sure she was angry with him, but she understands agony. Especially when her grandfather died. She can still feel the pain.

  “I understand, Sam. I just don’t understand why you couldn’t tell me or leave the flowers with the front desk.” Celia wanted an answer. She didn’t want to let him off scot-free.

  “I didn’t think. I was unable to think.” Sam shook his head like he was confused.

  “I did send another arrangement. This time I had my dad do it.” She acted like his story didn’t affect her. “I’m going to have to dock your pay for the whole sale price of the items.”

  She hated to reprimand, but she needed the cash.