Read The Ladybug Jinx for Free Online Page A

he was told. Sam walked straight towards the west hallway with his focus on door number two. Of course door number two was at the end of the hallway. Sam laughed. The doors were decorated with wreaths or other ornamental items which was odd to him.
    “Door number two.” Sam said, “No decorations. My kinda guy.” Sam knocked on the door louder than he normally would.
    “I’m not deaf. Old maybe.” The elderly gentleman opened the door with a smile as wide as the Cumberland Gap. Quickly the smile turned into disappointment, not the usual greeting you get when receiving flowers.
    “I am assuming these are for you.” Sam held the white tulips for the man to take. “Second set of tulips I’ve delivered today.”
    The gentleman stared at him.
    “No name so I am leaving them with you.” Sam shook the flowers toward him again.
    The man grabbed the vase and shut the door in Sam face.
    “Alrighty then.” Sam bit his lip. He’d always heard old people were crotchety but he never been around any.
    *
    He took his time getting back to the florist shop. His Blackberry was in the truck glove box. Sam pulled over at the scenic view. It took him a minute, but he did press the red button. He had been gone a while and it was time to see if they were still looking for him.
    “Sam, got a great deal to discuss with you.” Sam’s agent sounded excited. “Where are you?”
    “Dude, call me.”
    “Sam, I checked with your publicist and they don’t have you away. Where are you?”
    “I’m standing in your house and you’re not here.” There was panic in his agent’s voice. “Did you hook up with a girl? Not that I would mind because you need to have sex.”
    “I am seriously about to call the police if you don’t call me.” His agent sounded more pissed than worried. “This isn’t good for your image Sam. Have you gone off the deep end?”
    Sam hit the erase key without listening to the other messages. He didn’t care. He wasn’t ready to go back.
    Sam could get on the internet with his phone, but he dared not do it. He didn’t want them tracing his phone. Or was that just in movies, Sam thought. His reality was so skewed from being an actor, he didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t.
     
    Celia was putting the finishing touches when Sam finally got back to the shop.
    “It will be ready in a minute.” She called to Sam. “How did the deliveries go?”
    “They were fine.” Sam didn’t feel like talking.
    “You found everything okay?” Celia looked up.
    “I met some very interesting people today.”
    “Like who?” Celia asked.
    Sam watched her hands glide along the stems quickly and precisely.
    “Hazel Greenlee for one.” Sam sat the empty cup on the counter. “She wouldn’t let me leave unless I took some…”
    Celia interrupted. “Tea. She’s very superstitious. And the match-maker in town.”
    Sam wasn’t about to tell her that he figured that one out.
    “Is she related to Jenna Greenlee?” Sam felt like he was doing research for a new movie role.
    “That’s her daughter.” Celia confirmed.
    “She doesn’t look old enough to have a grown daughter.”
    Damn, Sam thought. There must be something to this clean country air, if it keeps you looking young.
    “What? She doesn’t. Jenna’s daughter is in middle school.” There was question in her eyes.
    “Who’s the lawyer in New York?”
    Celia laughed in sheer joy. “Hazel Greenlee must’ve covered all the bases, including Belle?”
    Sam ran his hands through his hair that was much longer than usual. Part of his disguise. “Yes.”
    “Hazel raised Belle and her sister, Maggie. Maggie is the lawyer.”
    “Oh.” Sam decided to drop it. There was way too much history for him to learn, when he wasn’t going to be in town long enough to get to know any of them anyways.
    “Did she tell you about the eminent domain?” Celia arranged the last of the flowers in the vase.
    “Briefly. I’m sure her granddaughter will help