The Ladybug Jinx (8 page)

Celia was right, he was the talk of the town and didn’t know it.

“Sam Reynolds.” He stood up again, but she shooed him down.

Mitch stood up giving her his seat.

“This is Wendy Owens. She is a buyer for the Figure 8 Boutique.” After Mitch introduced her, he gave her a small kiss on her lips.

Sam wondered what that was about. It was friendly. Not a good boyfriend kiss, but crossing the line of a friendly kiss.

“Where’s Beth?” Mitch asked Wendy. “Beth Harrison is the owner of the Figure 8 Boutique and usually right behind Wendy.”

“She’s at the shop wondering what she can do to stop the outlet mall from coming. She’s afraid it’s going to put her out of business.” Wendy took a sip of the beer Tommy had sat in front of her.

“Fine line being mayor and friend. Especially when the city is divided about this whole outlet mall thing going on.” Mitch put his beer on the bar, and with a hint of fear in his eyes, he said, “I’m worried about it. Luckily, I have a few more months to find a happy medium to benefit Grandberry Falls.”

“You’ve got a hard job.” Sam said.

“You have no idea.” Mitch drank his beer staring ahead.

Yes I do, Sam thought. Mitch had no clue how Sam understood.

“I better get going.” Sam slapped a tip on the bar. He was use to leaving a big tip, but with little cash in hand, he’d have to make good on the tip later.

“Don’t leave. We are just getting started.” Belle held her mug up. “You going to the hoe down this weekend?”

“I’m not sure.” This was the first time Sam had even heard of the hoe down.

“My Granny would love to see you again.” Belle smiled. “Plus, everyone in town wants to get a look at the new guy.”

“I bet they do.” Sam waved bye.

If he did go to the hoe down, he’d make sure he was really disguised.

Before he crossed the street to go to his one-room apartment above The Fatted Pig, he walked over to the waterfall.

“Thank you Bianca,” he whispered throwing a penny in the waterfall in memory of the love of his life.

He ran across the street and around the side of the busy restaurant. Before going up the steps he looked at the cozy downtown, the heartbeat of Grandberry Falls.

With a little more satisfaction in his soul, he jotted up the steel steps.

Sam couldn’t wait to get in front of the TV. He clicked, but nothing was on but the tabloid shows. He stopped when he heard his name. The picture they showed was at least ten years old, making him look like a hormonal teenager.

He turned up the volume.

“Actor Sam Barber didn’t show up for any of his interviews about the upcoming filming of the new vampire manuscript. His agent issued this statement: Mr. Barber is taking a much needed leave of absence. As you know his beloved Bianca succumbed to cancer and he spent the last year of his life devoted to her. While taking care of Bianca, he did honor his commitments. Rest assured this is a short lived hiatus and he will be back to interviews in no time.”

Sam didn’t even care what people were saying about him after that. He turned the television off and threw the remote next to him. His agent couldn’t be further from the truth. There was no way he was going to call him and make things right. Sam wasn’t ready to go back. No one knew him here and he liked the freedom. The freedom from constantly running and the freedom from the paparazzi.

“
Love is not blind; it simply enables one to see things others fail to see.
”

Unknown

8

“That was unnecessary.” Disappointment dripped from Marty’s mouth. “You’re someone completely different around that poor boy.”

Celia couldn’t understand why Sam brought out the worst in her, much less try to explain to her dad how she felt. She needed to focus on the shop and keeping Sam at a distance would be the best thing to do.

“You know what, Dad,” Celia said trying not to show any emotions because her father was good at picking up on those little tidbits, “don’t get used to Sam. He is a wanderer. He won’t last long.”

Secretly Celia wanted to be proved wrong. There definitely wasn’t any man in town that looked like Sam or acted like Sam. He didn’t seem to care about John Deere or doing things at a snail’s pace. He was fast and had focus. Only problem with his focus, he wasn’t focused on her.

“Cee, that boy’s lost.” Marty filled his plate up with roast and potatoes. “Maybe he has a past, maybe he doesn’t. Just give him time and he will open up.”

Celia sat and listened to her father. He’d never given her advice on men before, it was always her mother. She liked the way her dad was caring and looking out for all parties involved.

“I need a delivery boy. Not a best friend.” Celia didn’t know who she was trying to convince, herself or her dad.

Celia was glad to see the evening come to an end. She was tired of all the small talk and dancing around Sam. She missed talking to her dad about all the conversations he had with the people he delivered flowers to. That part of their lives had come to an end, she’d have to find something else for them to talk about.

*

Falling autumn leaves tickled the window with the northern winds blowing into town. She knew all the leaves would fall off the trees within the next few hours and before day break she would wake to bare trunks.

The leaves blowing around caught Celia’s attention as she put Marty’s dishes in the sink.  “I wonder where he’s from.” She made the blank statement out loud.

“The word around town is California,” Marty muffled. Celia turned looking at her father stuffing his face with the pumpkin pie he’d brought from The Fatted Pig.

“He’s a long way from home.” Celia was trying too hard not to bait him for more information. “Does he have family here?”

“Mamie said he’s living above the diner.” Marty wiped his mouth and took a big drink of the sweet tea Celia makes especially for him. Celia waited to see if he said anything else. “She also said that the day he came to town, he was driving that fancy car and when he came back in the afternoon, he was driving that beat up truck.”

“See I told you there is something is up with him.” Celia didn’t need to hear any more, but she had a deep ache to know more.

“Mamie also said he asked about you and your shop because he was reading the paper.”

Celia stopped eating and looked at her dad. “Why me?”

“She said he wanted a job.”

“Leave it up to this town to gossip.” Celia became somewhat irritated because just a day ago she was killing her father and now today she had hired a wanderer.

“She only told me because he specifically asked about the shop and she was looking out for us.” Celia didn’t understand why her father was having so many conversations with Mamie.

“When did you go to the Pig?” Celia tilted her head and furrowed her brows.

“I don’t give you my schedule. I’m a grown man and my friends meet up there sometimes.”

Marty seemed annoyed and she didn’t like it. He would’ve been all up in her business. Celia decided to let it be. She didn’t want her father to be upset with her. He was the only family she had and she loved him dearly.

“The Ladybug.” Celia looked at the clock. It was well past closing time, but sometimes Mamie would call if there was a death in the town to give Celia warning.

“Is Celia there please?” The voice asked with authority.

“This is she.” Celia figured it was a new order.

“This is Bob Pike with American Bank and I was looking at your loan. You have not been paying the correct amount. I was wondering if you are having some problems with your payment?”

“I’m sorry, I am with someone right now. Is there any way you can call me back during business hours?” Celia was aware she hadn’t been paying the adjustable rate.

When the one year arm mortgage came up, she was unable to secure a fixed rate. She was paying what she could, but she needed to order inventory for the shop.

She wasn’t about to ask her father for help or for a loan. It was hard enough getting his approval for the shop. Disappointing her father was not in her future. And now paying Sam didn’t help either.

“We seriously need to talk about this.” Celia was becoming increasingly annoyed with Bob’s persistence.

“Yes, we can talk tomorrow.” Celia gently hung the phone up. She didn’t want to give her father any indicator her business or life could be in trouble.

“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.