The Ladybug Jinx (5 page)

“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 deliver 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.

Sam carefully picked up the tulip basket off the truck floorboard. The truck door squeaked and the lady that sat on the porch stood up. Her rocking chair creaked almost as loud as the door.

Sam made a mental note to get some oil. Because it would be hard staying incognito or going unnoticed with that noise and what was the purpose of the truck if it was going to bring attention to him.

“Are you, Ms. Greenlee?” Sam held the basket close to his side. The mason jar of tea, next to her, would taste good right now, Sam thought.

Hazel Greenlee put her hands up to her mouth and asked, “For me?”

Sam saw the spark in her eye. This was what made his heart soar. You couldn’t act this good in movies. The real life joy was definitely hard to imitate.

“If you are…” Sam stumbled over his words and looked at the card, “Hazel Greenlee.”

She put her hands out to take the basket. “Yes, I am.” She smiled from ear to ear taking the tulips straight up to her nose after she took them and smelling each one.

“Enjoy.” Sam started to walk away, but stopped when she continued to talk.

“I bet they’re from my Granddaughter who’s a lawyer in New York City.” Pride over came her.

“You must be proud.” Sam hated lawyers. They were always telling him what to do, what was in the best interest of his career.

Hazel stood up, and laid the card next to the tea. “Where are my manners? Let me get you a glass of tea.”

“No thank you.” Sam really wanted to say yes. “I’ve got more flowers to deliver.”

“Um, hmm. I heard from Mamie how you took over for Marty. That job was killing him.” Hazel shouted through the screen door.

Sam didn’t know whether to leave or listen to her yelling from inside her house.

“Here ya go.” Hazel handed Sam a plastic cup filled with sweet tea. “You have to take it. If you don’t, superstition has it that you’ll have bad luck.”

Sam’s eyebrow raised in amused contempt. “What?”

“If someone offers you something from their home, you take it or you will have bad luck.” Hazel’s voice was stern. She wasn’t joking.

“Okay.” Sam took the cup. “Have a nice day.”

“Oh, they are from the city council.” Sam turned to watch Hazel open her card. “Some big wig company wants to come in here and build an outlet mall on my property. Can you imagine that?” She twirled her finger in the air, outlining her yard. “This is a working farm, not a shopping ground.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Sam wasn’t sure what she wanted him to say.

“You know, Celia Briggs is single.” Hazel hollered just as Sam trotted down her porch steps.

“I’m just the delivery boy.” Sam waved bye.

There was no denying that Celia Briggs was a beautiful woman. Sam wasn’t in the market.

“I see.” Clara peered at him with a leering eye. “Thank you for the flowers. It really made my day.”

“Oh, and if you need a hair-cut, go see my other granddaughter down at The Hair Pin.” Hazel continued to yell. “Ask for Belle Greenlee.”

Sam walked back to his car wondering if Hazel Greenlee was related to the Greenlee’s of Greenlee’s Hardware, but he wasn’t about to ask.

Plus Sam hadn’t thought about Bianca in a couple hours. That was the longest length of time since her death he hadn’t replayed a memory he had of her.

The last delivery in Wilmore was further than he anticipated. The 88’ Chevy crept along the windy road. The Veterans Home sat overlooking the mountains. It reminded Sam of a movie backdrop. Growing up in a single parent home in LA, he was well traveled to exotic parts of the world, but never his own homeland.

The drive way to the Veterans Home was lined on both sides with tall oaks that must’ve been hundreds of years old. Sam drove slowly underneath the canvas of fall colors. Another first. LA doesn’t get the changing of the seasons and coloring of the leaves. The reds, oranges, yellows, brown and greens were like a real life painting.

He followed the visitor’s signs and pulled up to the front. He wasn’t about to park in the parking lot and walk.

Sam didn’t know the protocol for delivering flowers. He hoped it wasn’t an old woman that smelled. His mother used to tell him, “Please don’t put me in a home for the nearly dead.” Sam used to laugh at her because her worst fear was going crazy.

“Can I help you?” The receptionist could tell Sam was lost. The inside wasn’t nearly what he expected. The interior was like a resort. It had a couple waterfalls with big leather chairs. An open café style restaurant with café seating and sky lights added just the touch to make it feel like a spa. Only it was filled with older people talking, drinking coffee and laughing.

“I am at the right place, right?” Sam showed the receptionist the card.