The Ladybug Jinx (16 page)

She stuck her thumb in her mouth and looked at Sam. Why would her dad say such a thing? He likes Sam.

“I might have to go back to California and take care of a little business.” Sam’s voice was commanding and loud. “But I hope to be here for Thanksgiving.”

Relived, Celia turned to Marty and said, “if you do, I’m sure Dad can fill in for the deliveries.”

“Absolutely.” Marty chimed in. “Anything for
my
number one girl.”

It was silent while Celia got all the food ready.

“Everyone must be hungry.”Celia made note of the silence which was broken by Charlie’s barking. Celia stood up to see headlights coming up the drive. She watched the elderly man get out of the car and get back in.

Celia took a step toward the door.

“Don’t, Cee.” Marty’s voice boomed out so she would stop.

“Dad, it’s an old man.” She pointed out the window. “He must be lost.”

Marty placed his hand on the door. “Let him go.”

Celia looked back at Sam. The fear in his eyes caused her to shove her father’s hand out of the way.

Marty turned to Sam. “This is all your fault.”

Celia turned to both men who seemed to be at odds.

“Your life is about to change only because he couldn’t leave well enough alone.” Marty’s fists hung at his side.

Celia turned when she heard the shuffle of the old man’s feet. He was a handsome gentleman carrying a boutique of white tulips. He smiled when he came face to face with Celia.

Instantly, she saw a resemblance in his eyes.

She stood in disbelief. He may have aged, but his wonderful smile and caring eyes told his identity.

“Grandfather? You lied to me all these years? I would expect this from Mom, but you?” Celia was disgusted.

Her grandfather stood holding the tulips.

“Please forgive us.” He held them out. “Forgive us all.”

She threw herself in his arms squishing the flowers. She had nothing to forgive him for. It was her parents’ fault.

“Are you the one who keeps ordering the white tulips?” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

He nodded. “I was hoping you would deliver them, but Sam showed up.”

“So you knew?” Celia turned to ask Sam. “Where’s Sam?”

She ran throughout the house calling his name. When she opened the door, the blue truck was pulling off in the distance.

“Sam figured it out this week when he starting questioning me.” Eli was overcome with joy. “Please don’t be mad at him. He’s a good man, Cee.”

Celia looked at her father. She noticed the last ten minutes had aged him. She didn’t know what to say to him.

“Why did you let me believe he was dead?” Celia asked, refereeing to her grandfather.

“Oh baby. I wanted to tell you, but your mother had other plans.” Marty stood next to her. “She was resentful that Eli had spent her childhood with his flowers. He never shared that with her and when you came along he shared it all with you.” He turned to Eli. “She took it so personal. I told her it was a grandparent thing. She wouldn’t listen.”

“I loved your mom very much. I did as she asked and left town,” Eli admitted. “I thought she would come around, but she didn’t. When she got sick, I tried to contact her but she didn’t want to make peace. When she died, I came back.”

Celia’s tears flowed like a river. She couldn’t believe her mother felt it was in her best interest to make her grandfather leave. Pretend he had died. Her mom saw Celia hurt and still told Celia he had died.

“I came to all your recitals, concerts, graduations. I sat in the back.”

Marty agreed. Celia always felt her grandfather’s presence when a milestone happened to her. She only thought it was his spirit, not his real person.

“He does love you, Celia.” Marty wanted her to love her grandfather.

“Sam knows?” She questioned Eli again.

“Yes, but he has his own demons to work out.”

Celia found his answers a little disturbing, but she wanted to focus on her grandfather. Besides, Sam would be over early for a great cup of coffee and a good morning kiss. We can talk tomorrow, she thought.

“A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes.”

Mark Twain

16

Celia woke up thinking last night was a dream. Lazily she threw her hands over her head and stretched. She turned over to look at Charlie curled up in his usual spot.

“Well buddy, I guess we have more people to love us in our life.” Charlie wagged his tail. He liked having all the company into the wee hours of the night.

Eli, Marty and Celia had stayed up getting reacquainted. They knew it was going to take awhile to get know each other. Marty had told Eli about Kerri Ann. He was happy for Marty. Celia liked watching them come to terms with their new lives. The two men had talked about Celia’s mom and how she only wanted to best for Celia. Unfortunately Celia didn’t feel her mother knew what was best for her.

Charlie jumped down and darted down the stairs, furiously barking and scratching at the door.

Sam! Celia knew he was here a little early to check on her. He had given her space to get to know her grandfather.

“Charlie, it’s just Sam.” Celia threw her rob on. The smell of coffee creep up the stairs and opened her senses. Charlie continued to bark. “Charlie, stop.”

Celia flung the door open ready for her good morning kiss, like the days before.

Camera flash bulbs went off continuously.

“Celia!”

She looked and the flash blinded her. Her hand shielded her eyes.

“Over here.”

She turned to see who was yelling. The flashing bulbs and screaming was too much for her to take. She was confused and unable to wrap her head around what was going on .

“How did you two meet?” The photographer yelled.

“Is he here?” Another one screamed.

“Is he going to be on your radio show?”

Celia didn’t know what was going on. She slammed the door in fear. Charlie ran around, freaked out. She didn’t even dare stop him just in case these people tried to come to the door.

“Mamie?” Celia called The Fatted Pig, it was the only number she had for him. “Can you please go get Sam and put him on the phone.”

“I’m sorry, honey. He left this morning and hasn’t been back.” Mamie was clinking dishes around.

Where in the world was he, she thought. He should be here by now.

“Is my dad there?” Celia started to panic.

“Yes, honey, hold on.”

“Mamie, please just tell him to get here as fast as he can.” Celia hung up the phone.

She went back upstairs to crouch down in front of the window. Slowly she peeled back the curtain and peeped out. The fifty or so paparazzi were chanting her name and telling her to open the door. She turned the television on.

“Actor Sam Barber has been hiding out in Grandberry Falls, Kentucky, with new love and local florist owner Celia Briggs. Ms. Briggs is the only woman who has entered his life since his fiancé Bianca died from cancer. When asked about Grandberry Falls, Sam’s agent said he was researching a role about a flower delivery boy. Well he fooled everyone by letting his hair grow, scruffy and losing some weight causing him to be unrecognizable.”

“No! No!” Celia screamed at the television before she buried her face in her hands.

She quickly turned it off. She didn’t want to hear any more. There was no way her Sam Reynolds was Sam Barber the actor. She clicked the television back on. All the major news channels showed a picture of him. It was his eyes that gave him away.

All the channels talked about The Ladybug Florist and Sam being the delivery boy. They told about her past life as a lawyer and they showed Grandberry Falls.

Celia turned the volume up. “I wasn’t sure it was him, but his voice so familiar.” The lady spoke directly into the camera. “I went down to the radio station and I could tell it was him. He was a little disheveled but it was him. He was holding hands with Celia Briggs the flower lady.” The television flashed a picture of the florist.

“We have a correspondent on locations. Susan are you there?”

“Yes, I am outside the florist. We have the first footage of Celia Briggs.”

Celia covered her face when the video footage from just a few minutes ago was running across the screen. She popped up when she heard sirens coming up the driveway; her father’s car was between them getting an escort.

“Dad!” Celia ran down the stairs with Charlie trailing behind.

Celia ran into her father’s open arms. She went limp and melted. The police held the paparazzi at bay. Celia was confused. She didn’t understand all that was going on. She did know one thing, Sam was not coming back.

*

Sam couldn’t believe what he was watching on television. He wanted to reach out to Celia and tell her he was sorry. He wanted her to know he really does love her. He doesn’t want her to believe what his agent was telling everyone. He wasn’t researching a movie role, he wasn’t using her to get to know her because of a role.

“It’s about time you came to your senses even if you did give away a few thousand.” Bart was coy.

Sam looked away. Bart disgusted him.

“Don’t ever talk about Celia. I left because I am sick of this life. I needed to get away.” He took a drink of water. He looked outside over the hills into the haze over Los Angeles. “I didn’t miss this nasty weather either.”

Bart said a couple words, but Sam didn’t hear him. He was in Grandberry Falls where he could ride around in the old Chevy with the windows down and the fresh country air whipping his longer hair around.

Sam overheard his agent on the phone. “She’s what?  Get her on the phone now.”

“Who are you talking to?” Sam questioned Bart. He knew it was Celia. Sam grabbed the phone. “Celia?”

The pause was deafening. “I have nothing to say to you.” Sam didn’t recognize her cold collective voice.

“Celia, I didn’t come there for a role. They are lying.” Sam wanted to beg for forgiveness.

“I hope you got what you needed.” Celia wasn’t listening to him and it was making him crazy.

“I swear I told you the truth about coming to town. I just ended up there.” Before he was done talking the phone line went dead. Sam threw the phone up against the wall, shattering to pieces. With his fists tight, he scurried over and got in Bart’s face. “What did you tell her?”

“I don’t want her to go on television or a tabloid and exploit you. We have to cover all basis for your stupid mistakes.”

Sam didn’t understand what the big deal was. He didn’t care if his image was getting tarnished because he went to a small town and fell in love. If the movie studios held that against him, he didn’t care. He still didn’t want to be here, but he gave his word and he has never gone back on his word.

“Get out,” Sam growled. “I don’t want to see you until this movie begins to shoot.”