The Ladybug Jinx (15 page)

“Yep, I’m faxing my order tomorrow.” Eli winked at Sam.

Sam walked out of the retirement home a different man than when he walked in. He knew Celia was going to be happy about her grandfather. She was constantly talking about him and he changed her life.

Sam knew his news was going to be equally blowing. He had to figure out a way to tell her.  A way she would understand. And understand why he needed to get away. But telling her why he had to leave was going to be tricky. He didn’t want her to know he gave her the money and had to sell his soul to the devil in order for it to happen.

Sam was going to have to sleep on all he had learned today. His soul was a little lighter getting everything off his chest. He always had Bianca to bounce things off of, and Eli was more than willing to listen. Plus he wants what’s best for Celia.

Sam wondered if he went about the situation with Celia the right way.
Why doubt yourself now
, he questioned himself. He’d have let the cards fall as they may, and he fell in love on the way. He was determined to make it to Celia and tell her how much he loves her.

“This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

Winston Churchill

14

The squealing tires caused Celia to drop her wire cutters to see who was barreling up her driveway. Charlie leaped around the foot of the door. Celia opened the door. Sam came running from his car.

“Celia.” Sam sighed with relief when he wrapped his arms around her. She held on for dear life when he picked her up and swung her around. “I am so glad to see you.”

Her eyes drank in his joyful expression as her head lay in the palm of his hands.

“Sam?” Celia chest bounced up and down with giggle. She didn’t understand his behavior, but she liked it. “Why are you so happy?”

“I had to get here as fast as I could.” Sam threw his head back in laughter. He was screaming in the air. “That old clunker barely made it! Celia Marie Briggs.”

“First off, are you drunk?” Celia hadn’t seen him drink or smell it on him. “Secondly, how do you know my middle name?”

“Who cares? I couldn’t wait until tonight when we are alone.” Sam’s eyes glowed with excitement. He pulled her to him. The kiss sent the pit of her stomach into a wild swirl.

“You are starting to scare me.” She couldn’t keep her eyes off his beautiful smile.

“I love you Celia.” Celia watched his lips form the most perfect words to her ears. “I never thought I would love again, but I do. I love you.”

Celia fell into Sam’s arms. His lips captured hers, more demanding this time. She took in all the emotions they were both feeling. She would remember this moment for the rest of her life.

“I love you too.” Her eyes filled with tears of happiness. It had been such a long time since she felt emotions and it overcame her every being.

“What? What’s wrong?” Sam wiped away her tears. “Why are you crying?”

Celia loved the care she saw in his eyes. “Nothing. I am happy. I haven’t felt this way in a long time or if ever.” She searched between his eyes. She wanted to remember this moment forever. 

Sam turned the sign around on the door. “It’s lunch break time.”

Celia looked at her watched, amused she said, “I already had lunch and it’s four in the afternoon.”

“I don’t care. I want to talk to you.” She could see it was urgent. She followed him upstairs to the family room. He sat her on the couch and watched him pace back and forth like he didn’t know how to begin.

“What?” Celia patted Charlie nervously. “You’re scaring me a little bit.”

She sat there so lovely with her apron on and a few remnants of flower sprigs in her hair. Many times during the day, she’d run her hands through her hair and leave pieces of flowers up there.

“I took off a year of work to take care of Bianca. When she died, I died.” Sam squatted between his legs. He took her hands in his and kissed each finger. “I threw myself back into my work for six months so I could forget about her. Everywhere I turned, everything I did in California reminded me of her.”

Sam rubbed his hand alongside her face. She closed her eyes. He glazed his pointer finger over her lips. She could get use to his touch. In fact, she couldn’t imagine life without it.

“When I first came to Grandberry Falls, I never intended on staying.” He could see the confusion in her eyes. “I stopped at the restaurant for a bit and saw the classified for a new delivery boy. Since I know a little about flowers and I was running, I applied and decided to stay.” He stood up and paced again. She wrung her fingers around each other in anticipation of what he was going to say.

“Celia?” Marty hollered up the stairs. “Why’s the door say closed?”

“Sam and I are discussing something.” She looked proudly at Sam.

“I can see that, but you need to get downstairs and finish your orders for the day. Work now, play later.” Marty didn’t smile at Sam or Celia. Celia had closed the shop when in reality she still had a big loan to pay off. “Playing doesn’t pay the bills.”

“We can talk after dinner.” Celia walked over to Sam and kissed his lips. She whispered in his ear, “We can talk all night.”

*

As soon as Celia left the room Marty started in. “Not now Sam. Not ever.” He gritted his teeth at Sam.

“Marty I love her.” Sam didn’t understand where Marty was coming from. He could see the anger in her father’s face.

“Eli called when you left. I made him tell me why you were there for so long.” Marty wiped his hand over his face in despair. “I won’t let you destroy her life.”

But it was too late. Celia ran up the stairs with the cashier check in her hand.

“Oh my! You aren’t going to believe this.” She held it up high. “Someone loves how I am making a difference in the community and has donated two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.” She jumped up and down.

Damn,
Bart was fast.

She ran out of the room.

Sam smiled because he knew this was his bitter sweet moment. There was no way back now. He was going to have to follow through with the deal he made with Bart. Marty was going to make sure of it.

“Celia isn’t going to find out who you are.” Marty poked him in him in the chest. “You will devastate her.”

“I love her Marty.” Sam spoke in a loud whisper. He peeked down the steps to make sure Celia wasn’t in hearing shot. “I want to stay here.”

“You can’t. According to Eli, you sent her the money in exchange for going back to your old life. You are going to slip out of her life exactly the way you slithered in.” Marty glared.

Seeing Celia’s father this way ripped out his heart. He couldn’t imagine how this will hurt Celia when she finds out.

Sam’s mood had completely changed. He knew he was defeated and need to stick to his original plan.

“Marty, I do love her despite what you might think of me.” Sam wanted to beg Marty to forgive him. It was too late and he could sense that. “If I would’ve known I was going to fall in love, I would’ve done things differently. As you know, people do weird things when they are grieving.”

Sam had hit Marty below the belt. He could see Marty felt it by his expression when he got up to leave.

Sam hated to see the joy in her eyes only to know she will be in pain. He is responsible for putting her on this roller coaster ride. He slipped back into depression realizing what he had done. It wasn’t a good place to be. He had lost either way.

Sam would go to dinner for the last time and leave before dawn. He was good at slipping away. He would disappear. The way he figured, the paparazzi never found him, he got away, he found love and she would never know who he was.

*

This can’t be happening, Celia couldn’t believe her luck. Not only has she snagged the most eligible bachelor in town, she had the answers to her financial woes. She was on cloud nine. She racked her brain on who would give her the money.

Celia thought back to every situation. Was it the elderly women she helped with her groceries at the store? Was it the pedestrian she stopped for so they could cross? It was endless. She didn’t care. She had her money either way and the person wanted to stay anonymous which meant she didn’t have to spend the rest of her life indebted to someone. She could spend her days worrying about new directions for the shop.

“Can you believe this?” Celia gleamed from ear to ear. She caressed the check hanging from the refrigerator. “Do you know how good it feels to have made an impression on someone like that?”

“You’ve made that impression on me.”

“Do you know how much I needed this?” It was hard for her to concentrate on anything other than her wonderful life. “I will be able to pay off this house and really launch into weddings.” Celia looked like a bride marching around the room with calla lilies in her arms.

“It’s all coming true, Sam.” She leaned over the farm table and kissed his lips. “It’s all coming true.”

“
Lovers always think that other people are blind
”

Spanish Proverb

15

“Wow! Steak?” Marty questioned. “Not in the crock pot either.”

“Dad, stop.” Celia popped the cork off the champagne bottle. “This is a special day. I have the two most important men in my life and a paid off house.”

“Congratulations, honey.” Marty tipped his glass to her. She noticed he didn’t look or hold his flute to Sam.

“Did something happen between you two today when you were alone?” Celia’s brows narrowed. She pointed between the two. “You two forget I am good at reading people and you two look fishy.”

Each man smiled and dismissed her concern.

“It’s your day and we enjoy watching you.” Sam bent over to kissed her.

She dismissed the difference between the kiss he just gave her to the long, deep ones from last night.

“Nothing but the best for my boys.” Celia was the happiest she has ever been. She looked over at Sam thinking of all the possibilities their life had for them. There was no denying the love she felt for him.

“So dad, how’s Kerri Ann?” Celia cut up the lettuce for the salad. She decided it was better to accept Kerri Ann than not to.

“She’s good to me, Cee.”  

“I think you should invite her to Thanksgiving dinner.” Celia looked over to see her dad’s reaction. Sam looked up as well. “What? We will have it here this year. You, Sam, Kerri Ann and me.”

She hoped her enthusiasm was contagious. They were bringing her down on her celebratory night.

“I just might ask her.” Marty squeezed Celia.

She glanced over his shoulder to look at Sam. Sam gave her a reassuring look to let her know she did the right thing. Celia happily cut up the rest of the veggies for the salad.

“Sam, you going to be around for Thanksgiving?” Marty asked with a cautious eye.

“Ouch.” Celia jerked her hand away from the knife and stuck it under the faucet. She squeezed her thumb as the water washed the blood away. “Of course he’s going to be here. Where else would you go?”