She Only Speaks to Butterflies (11 page)

“Can we go now? I’m freezing!” Sherry complained good-naturedly as Chris’s arms were wrapped around her. He was standing behind her as they looked off the pier, into the water. The trees were fiery red, yellow and copper-colored, and there were leaves sprinkled on the ground in such a distinct pattern, it was as though someone laid them that way. The fall breeze swept through Sherry’s hair, causing her nose to turn red.

“I just love this time of year, don’t you?” Chris asked, kissing her on the cheek. “I love it when the season’s change. It’s mother nature’s way of showin’ off.”

Chris looked at this watch. “Are ya hungry?”

“Not yet. Let’s just stand here and watch the scenery. It’s so peaceful, don’t ya think?”

Suddenly they heard a plane overhead as Chris broke free, turning Sherry around. “What’s this?” he asked, feigning suspicion as he wrapped his arms around her front. “Sounds like a single-engine plane.” As the plane flew overhead, Chris held Sherry close. She watched as the plane approached the centre of their view, and the attached message scribed on the tail of the plane was visible. It read. “Will you Marry Me, Sherry?”

She put her hands up to her face, smiling and gasping, and he walked in front of her, bending down on one knee. He removed her hands from her face and placed a small black box in her left hand. he looked at it with eyes alight as she whispered to him. “I wanna hear ya say it.”

Chris furrowed his brow briefly and swallowed. “Will ya marry me?”

Sherry put her arms in the air, shouting. “Yes!” As he rose, hugging her tightly.

“Now ya can have this,” he said matter-of-factly.

The box held a diamond solitaire so sparkly in the fall sunshine that Sherry had to squint to look at it carefully. “It’s so beautiful,” she said, awestruck.

Sherry tilted her head back, tearfully admiring the ring, just like she did that day. Only this time her tears were not joyful. Gertrude knocked on the door and entered, walking over to her daughter.

“I wondered what was takin’ you so long.” She tucked a stray curl behind Sherry’s ear. “We’ve gotta leave in twenty minutes.”

“I know.” Sherry wiped the tears away. “I’ll be ready. Just gotta put some war-paint on.”

“You don’t need any, dear,” Gertrude suggested. “Besides, funerals aren’t for show.”

Gertrude looked at her daughter’s ring. “You gonna wear it?” Her face was impassive, like her answer didn’t really matter, she just wanted to gauge her daughter’s feelings.

“No. It’s bad enough I still wear my weddin’ band.” Sherry’s voice was matter-of-fact.

“Ain’t nothin’ bad about lovin’ a man, sweetheart,” Gertrude advised. “Dead or alive, ya still love him. Ain’t nothin’ to be ashamed of.”

“I know.” Sherry removed the solitaire. “The therapist says if I’m ever gonna move on, it has to come off. Both of them.”

Gertrude lifted her finger, her voice taking on an authoritative tone. “Now, you listen here. Ain’t no therapist in the world can tell ya when it’s time to move on. Only yer heart can tell ya that. Don’t force anything on yerself. It ain’t healthy.”

“Maybe yer right,” Sherry conceded, smiling at her mom through another flush of tears. “But it don’t matter. With the ring on or off, it still hurts.”

…

Mandy Marx greeted Sherry as she entered the church. Kenny and Gertrude had slipped into the Sunday School room to sit with Denise during the service. Sherry nodded hello to Reverend Telly at the podium. Thankfully it was a closed casket, with a beautiful spray of white lilies draped over the coffin, and a black and white photograph of Jinny Marx resting on a tripod in front. Few flower arrangements were there, just two with a ‘Mother’ banner wrapped around them.

About thirty people from town and some unfamiliar faces sat scattered around the congregation. Some nodded hello to Sherry as she made her way down the aisle.

Martha was sitting by herself in the fourth row from the front. Noticing Sherry, Martha motioned her over. “Mandy says it’s to be a short service. Twenty minutes tops.”

“She seem well? Daddy and I saw her yesterday and she fell to pieces,” Sherry whispered.

Lina Groves strutted in, inviting herself to sit beside Martha. “Shame what happened to Jinny.” She picked up a hymnal from the wooden book rack in the pew before her.

“You never know when yer number’s up,” Martha said conversationally.

Lee Givens walked into the church. Both Sherry and Marsha looked up, noticing his attire. He was very handsomely dressed in a black suit and a navy blue tie. He nodded hello respectfully to the girls, taking a seat on the other side, in the adjoining row.

“Funny seein’ him here,” Martha commented. “He didn’t even know Jinny.”

“He had to come,” Lina added casually, thumbing through the hymnal. “He needs to be respectful.”

“Well, of course, but—”

“He wants to buy her house,” Lina interrupted.

“What?” Martha was surprised. “Man, he works fast!”

“He’s got himself a girlfriend and a house and he’s barely lived here two weeks,” Lina said smoothly, impressed with herself.

“Greg stands to earn a nice commission sellin’ Jinny’s house,” Lina bragged. “We’re thinkin’ about havin’ one custom made after this.”

Martha snorted. “Must be nice.”

Reverend Telly shushed her. Almost everyone in the church heard the interruption and suddenly all eyes were on the girls. Sherry’s face was beat red as she quickly looked toward Lee and then away again.

Ned and Kate arrived and Sherry jumped up. “I think I’ll go sit with the Bakers.”

“But—” Martha said.

Sherry ignored her.

As she passed Lee he smiled quickly, turning his attention toward Reverend Telly, who was adjusting the microphone, getting ready to start the service.

Ned and Kate sat in the row behind Lee. “Mind if I sit with you?” Sherry asked.

Kate patted the bench. “Not at all, sweetie.”

The service was brief but very touching. Mandy read a eulogy, bringing almost everyone to tears talking about how her mom was so brave raising three children on her own after her Pa died. The fact that Jinny never indicated her financial trouble was a true testament to her independence. Mandy closed commenting on how her mother actually sold all her prized possessions over the years to try to keep afloat, making it clear why she had next to nothing left at her passing.

After the service, Reverend Telly invited everyone to stay for refreshments. “I better go see how momma and daddy are doin’ with Denise.” Sherry excused herself down the right side of the church to avoid disturbing the others filing down the center aisle. She walked into the Sunday school room. Denise was at the reading center. Gertrude was reading her a story while Kenny perused the children’s drawings pinned to the walls.

“How’d it go?” Kenny asked. “Is it over?”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “Everythin’ alright in here?”

“Oh yeah. Momma’s been readin’ to her and she showed me all the pictures she’s drawn.”

As people started filing into the hallway, helping themselves to refreshments, suddenly Lee appeared. “Excuse me.” He cleared his throat. “I think your little one might have lost this at the hall yesterday.”

He handed Sherry Denise’s purple butterfly key ring. Sherry’s eyes widened with delight. “Oh, thank you so much. She was cryin’ and so upset about it.” She looked at it and handed it to Denise, who was at her side in a beat. “That’s very kind of you, Lee. Thank you.”

Denise stared at the key ring and then at Lee.

“It’s no problem, ma’am,” Lee smiled. “There was only one other little girl there, and she said it wasn’t hers. I didn’t think it belonged to any of the older boys. Not many boys like butterflies,” he chuckled under his breath. “I’m an exception.”

“You like butterflies?” Sherry was intrigued. “Have you been to see Ned’s conservatory?”

Lee’s expression was that of a child’s who had just been offered his favorite ice cream sundae. “Oh yes, ma’am, it’s beautiful. I love it. There was one just like that in the zoo where I lived as a boy.”

“Oh yeah?” she asked. “Where did you grow up?”

“Texas, ma’am.”

“Which part?” Kenny was suddenly interested. “I came from Dallas.”

“Fort Worth, actually,” Lee blushed. “Not far from there.”

Kenny offered him a handshake. “Nice to meet ya. Kenny Porter.” He gestured to Gertrude. “This is my wife, Gertrude. But we all call her Gertie.”

“Pleasure, ma’am.” He gave Gertrude’s hand a gentle pump.

“Well, I best be going,” Lee said, backing away and waving.

“Wait a minute.” Sherry looked down at Denise. “Wave thank ya to Lee, honey.”

Denise, who had been staring at Lee the whole time, released her mother’s waist. She ran to Lee, embracing his middle. He was so taken aback by her show of affection that he bent down slowly, holding his arms out. “Oh, darlin’, my cup runeth over.” he said, hugging her gently.

Sherry hands covered her mouth in shock. Glancing over, Lee noticed her expression. “Oh, I’m sorry, ma’am.” He carefully released Denise. “Was that too much?”

Putting her hands out in front of her, Sherry refuted. “Oh…no, no. Not at all.” She grinned. “She usually...” Sherry swallowed. “She usually doesn’t react like that.”

Lee nodded, not sure what to say. “I’ll see ya later.”

“Yes. And thank you again.”

“My pleasure,” he winked.

“Nice man,” Kenny commented.

“Of course,” Gertrude agreed. “I never met a Texan man who wan’t nice.”

Chapter 10

“Gosh, Leon, what’re ya doin’ to me?” Sherry said to herself, looking at all the boxes of summer clothes piled up in the storage area. “It’s gonna take me a week to get these things priced.”

Leon suddenly appeared in the back room with Sherry. “I need yer help out here. Lina just walked in and she’s not lookin’ too kindly at me.”

Sherry’s face dropped.

“What?”

“Do you not see all these dresses? I’ll be here for a week! Why didn’t you stagger the orders?”

Leon closed the door. “Did you forget what’s comin’ next week?” His foot tapped impatiently on the linoleum.

“I guess I did.” Sherry’s face turned red as recognition hit.

“I was wonderin’ why you hadn’t ordered any dresses.” Leon licked his lips. “The Annual Charity Dance is next weekend. You always help out with that. Did anyone mention it to you?”

“Reverend Telly mentioned it durin’ service last Sunday, but I guess it slipped my mind,” she explained. “I guess I’ve been so pre-occupied worryin’ about the damn therapist’s appointment tomorrow.”

“Listen. Don’t sweat it,” Leon said. “We’ll get through it even if you go out there and serve Lina the Mean-a.”

Sherry’s face softened. “I’ll be right back.”

Perusing the meager summer dress collection Lina glimpsed Sherry coming out of the storage room. “This all the dresses you’ve got? I may have to go out of town to get somethin’ decent.”

“No worries, Lina,” Sherry said impassively. “We just received a large shipment today. They should be on the racks later today or tomorrow.”

“I’ve been lookin’ forward to takin’ a trip, maybe I’ll do that instead.” Her nose was in the air.

“Sounds like fun.”

Lina scoffed but said nothing.

“So I guess our county fire starter is outta business,” Lina added conversationally, still perusing the rack. “Seems he’s lost his touch. Ain’t been no fires in a coupla weeks now.”

Sherry tried for positive. “Well maybe our prayers have been answered.”

Lina ignored the comment, changing the subject. “So Greg sold Jinny Marx’s house.”

“Oh yeah? Who to?” Sherry checked herself. “Sorry, you probably can’t tell me that.”

Lina waved. “Oh, please! Greg don’t care who I tell things to. Hell, he’ll prolly be happy I told
you
.”

Sherry’s hands rose in defeat. “It’s your choice.”

“Ah, never mind,” Lina teased. “I’ll be back in a coupla days to take a look at them dresses.” She walked out the door, knocking over a few pajamas on hangers, seemingly by accident.

Sherry sprinted over to the rack, replacing the clothing. Leon heard the bell ring when Lina left. He popped his head out.

“She gone?” he asked. “I ain’t in the mood for her today.”

“Coffee?” Sherry offered, placing the last garment back on the rack.

“Yes, please,” Leon pleaded, handing her the money.

Sherry waved to Wade Thomas in the barber shop, who was sweeping up after a client. He came to the door as Sherry walked past on her way to the coffee shop. “Hey, Sherry, how ya doin’ today?”

“I’m doin’ fine, Wade, thanks.”

“Hey, tell Kenny to come on over for a buzz. I ain’t seen him in a while. Saw you guys at church last week but the wife run me on out right quick to get to some linen sale.”

“Sure. I’ll tell him.” Sherry waved. “Take care.”