Free The Ladybug Jinx by Tonya Kappes Page A

in silence, next to the carnations he forgot to deliver. Celia didn’t even pay any attention to them. Sam could tell she was off in her own little world and he didn’t mind. The more she didn’t pay attention to him, the better off he was. He was already having a hard time hiding his feelings today.
    “Shall we?” Marty didn’t ask any questions. Sam was grateful for the kindness Marty was showing him.
    Sam didn’t question Marty. He didn’t protest when Marty suggested they go. Sam needed the guy time. He needed to get lost in his made up world, only it wasn’t made up to Marty or Celia.
    A couple winding roads and a few curves, they were passing through town and headed into the country, toward the funeral home.
    “Marty Briggs.” The tall grey scary man scared Sam even more than the first time. “I wondered who you were sending in here earlier today. He looked like he’d seen a ghost with old Johnny lying in there.”
    Sam looked away. This guy looked worse than “old Johnny.”
    Marty shook his head and began introductions, “Ed Simms, this is Sam Reynolds The Ladybug’s new delivery boy…er…man.”
    “Where you from?” Ed asked taking Sam’s hand. Sam tried to pull away from the vice grip.
    “California.” Sam’s blood had been completely shut off from the rest of his arm.
    “Long way from home.” Ed took out some of the flowers and put them right in front of old Johnny.
    Sam shivered.
    They couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
    *
    “Where’s everyone?” Sam and Marty sat down at one of the café tables near the waterfall. On cue, Kerri Ann began to fill their cups.
    “Funeral. I’m filling in.” Kerri Ann didn’t say much. She continued to clean around them.
    “Kerri Ann was Celia’s mother’s best friend. She’s a widow, like me, and she fills in for people here and The Fatted Pig when people are out.” Marty took a sip of coffee.
    The steam from their cups circles around Marty’s head, “Everyone in town usually shows up in some way during funerals. When my wife died, Celia’s mom, everyone was great. The entire town came out to say goodbye.”
    Kerri Ann patted Marty’s hand in a way that Sam took notice. It wasn’t an empathy pat, it was a linger, you know I’m there for you rub. Sam gave Marty a strange look.
    “I didn’t ask about Celia coming by your place, don’t ask about Kerri Ann.” Marty put Sam in his place and Sam knew it. There was obviously something going on between them.
    “You want to tell me about your past?”
    “I never had a dad.” Sam continued to look forward with both hands around his mug. “I had two special women in my life. My mom and my fiancé.”
    “What do you mean had?”
    “Both died. I wanted to make a new start for myself and ended up here.” Sam wasn’t going to give any more information about his life. He knew Marty didn’t watch those crazy tabloid shows or pick up magazines, so he didn’t mind sharing a small part of his life. It made him seem more real and help with his disguise.
    “Is that what happened at the funeral home?” Marty knew exactly what Sam was going through.
    “Yeah. I haven’t been to a funeral since Bianca.” Crap, Sam thought. Of all the imbecile things. He didn’t want to say her name.
    “It does get better.” Marty didn’t even act as though he heard the name. “It takes time. Give yourself time.” Marty turned to face Sam. “How much time has it been? I only ask because Celia doesn’t take food to just anyone, and I do have to look out for my girl.”
    Sam smiled remembering Celia standing on those steel steps made his heart flutter. “It was a shock to me. But I think she was just reaching out welcoming me into the community.”
    Sam didn’t want to reveal the attraction he was feeling towards Celia. She didn’t give him the same vibes and he didn’t want to look like some babbling idiot.
    “Don’t worry. If anything was going on there, I would discuss it with you first.” Sam