She Only Speaks to Butterflies

by Appleyard, Sandy

  “Amen.” Leon clinked his beer bottle with Jenny’s cocktail glass.

  Returning from the bar, Lee placed a glass in front of Sherry. The drink appeared identical to the one she had previously. “Thanks,” she said. “Did ya find out what it is?”

  “Long Island Iced Tea.” Lee’s eyebrows rose, matter-of-factly. “Bartender says they’re not fer lightweights.”

  “Aw, hell,” Jenny muttered. “She don’t need no babysitter.”

  Lee’s hands lifted in defeat. “I’m just relayin’ a message.”

  Jenny gave Sherry a look. “Yer folks musta warned the bartender before they left.”

  “Wouldn’t put it past ‘em,” Sherry scoffed, taking a chip from Sarah’s bowl. “They mean well.”

  Her parents, hands down, were the best. They’d supported Sherry through thick and thin. If it hadn’t been for her insisting on them keeping house in Texas so as not to disrupt their already busy lives, Kenny and Gertrude would have already closed up shop in Dallas, and moved to Arkansas with their widowed daughter. They would never see Sherry suffer, nor would she ever see them in pain in any way.

  By them advising the bartender to keep an eye on Sherry was merely a gesture of kindness and compassion, knowing she was too stubborn to accept extra help if she drank too much. She would never do a thing to harm their innocent ideals of her, which was why she’d only had two drinks over the course of an hour.

  Sherry took a chip from the bowl Sarah had been nursing and began chewing. She winced, grabbing her drink. She guzzled more than half of it and set it down, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Jesus Lord, what the hell am I eatin’?” Her face was scrunched like she just swallowed castor oil.

  Sarah shrugged. “Salt ‘n vinegar. My fav’rit.”

  “They’re awful.” Sherry meant it sincerely, exaggerating the word ‘awful’.

  Lee watched her empty her glass. His eyes widened. “I’ll get ya some water,” he said, trotting quickly to the bar.

  “I feel like dancin’,” Sherry declared as she sipped from the proferred glass the sexy fireman brought her.

  “Me, too,” Jenny said.

  The music had remained at a conversational level since the line-dancing competition ended, but the DJ raised it slightly at the sight of two people, the only two people, heading up to dance.

  “I thought Sarah was gonna knock Lina’s lights out there for a sec,” Jenny commented, completely missing the rhythm of the song with her feet. Sherry didn’t notice even though she was at an even pace with the music.

  “She probably woulda if Mark and Greg hadn’t stepped in,” Sherry said behind her hand.

  “I bet Martha woulda plowed her one.” Jenny reached for the bruise on her face, pale yellow, but still there. “Martha’s quite a spit fire, too. I wouldn’t put it past her.”

  Sherry examined the bruise for a moment and tutted, shaking her head. Jenny shrugged and they forgot about it as they danced for the remainder of the song. The volume level seemed to increase as the next song played. It was a faster, disco-style tune that both girls favored. Their moves picked up speed, Jenny’s steps wavering slightly but better the more she danced. Sherry remained even with the tempo until the chorus. Slowing, Jenny observed her friend, who had all but stopped dancing suddenly.

  “Are ya alright?”

  Sherry tried for casual. “I’m fine.” Her face had turned pale.

  Jenny wasn’t convinced. “Come.” She grasped Sherry’s hand in hers. The bathroom was thankfully twenty feet away.

  The cold, wet paper towel was refreshing on Sherry’s forehead. Jenny directed Sherry to the first stall and closed the lid, making her use it as a seat. “There. Now you sit there a minute while I get you some water.”

  Resting her head on the metal wall separating the two cubicles, Sherry swallowed as the room spun around her, creating a sensation like she was inside the eye of a hurricane. When Jenny returned a minute later, Sherry was face down in the toilet. “Oh, Lord. I was afraid that was gonna happen. Did ya eat anything recently?”

  Sherry shook her head, dipping it into the bowl again. “Just those god-awful chips.”

  Waiting patiently, Jenny fixed her hair in the mirror, checking her bruise once again. As Sherry’s retching subsided, she handed her some tissue. Sitting on the toilet seat, Sherry blew her nose and mopped her sweaty face. The main bathroom door knocked and Sherry froze, hearing Lee’s voice in the hallway. “Can I come in?”

  Jenny jumped up, walking down the length of the stalls, dipping her head down to check for anyone else present. When she was sure it was just the two of them, she answered. “Yeah, come on in.”

  Reluctantly, Lee remained on the other side of the stall, only entering the front portion of the loo. “Mark had to take Sarah home, she and Lina got into it again.” He hesitated, peering cautiously at Jenny, who was tapping her foot impatiently on the ruddy floor. “Are ya okay Sherry?” he asked.

  “Oh, fer lan’s sakes, she’s not naked!” Jenny growled. “Come in, she don’t bite!”

  Sherry’s head was still swimming and she realized that she was too drunk to be embarrassed. Her bottom stayed on the toilet seat while her eyes were half closed, wondering when the next wave of nausea would strike, praying it wouldn’t be while Lee was standing there.

  “You want me to take ya home?” Lee asked Sherry.

  She swallowed. “Not yet. I can’t go home lookin’ like this.”

  “I’d offer to take ya to my place, but Kevin’s havin’ a sleepover,” Jenny explained. “I’ll be lucky if I have a place to sleep m’self.”

  Sherry winced, placing a hand over her mouth. “Uh oh.”

  Jenny worked quickly, pulling Sherry’s hair back as she lowered her head into the toilet bowl. “How’re ya throwin’ up that much if ya didn’t eat anything?”

  Sherry placed her arm on the toilet seat and leaned her cheek on it. Lee took a step backward, hearing a voice at the door. “Everyone’s packin’ up; we’re closin’,” The bartender announced.

  “Shit,” Jenny murmured. “Sherry, they’re closin’, ya gotta go home now.”

  Sherry didn’t answer. Jenny patted her on the back, hoping for a response but Sherry simply moaned. Lee stuck his head out the bathroom door and with a sudden wave of panic he realized there was nobody there except a few lodge employees cleaning up. Feeling a strange mix of obligation and care, Lee said, “I’ll take her. There’s nobody left here.”

  Jenny glanced at her watch. “Jesus. It’s only eleven o’clock.”

  Lee shrugged. “Small town.”

  As Jenny moved out of the way, she watched Lee scoop Sherry up out of the stall gently, like she was a precious piece of china. Making sure her head rested against his chest, he draped her legs over his arms and gestured Jenny to lead the way. With slight parental-type concern, Jenny ensured Sherry was properly seated and belted in Lee’s car before she headed home herself.

  Sherry’s head lay against the cold glass window. She heard Lee say something but she couldn’t answer, fearing to open her mouth, as if there could be anything else left in her stomach to chuck. She simply placed her hand in his, responding to his statement.

  “You’re safe with me, Sherry.”

  Chapter 14

  The sunshine was bright and Sherry squinted, holding her hand out to shade her face. She moaned miserably, feeling her head pound. As she rolled over, she realized the bed sheets and pillow felt different. They smelled different. Looking under the covers, she furrowed her brow, looking at the previous night’s dress pasted onto her sweaty body. Bolting upright, she grabbed her throbbing head and winced. There was a knock at the door as her heart began to pound.

  “Sherry? You up?” It was a male voice but definitely not Kenny’s. Her chest heaved up and down as the adrenaline pumped through her veins.

  “Um…um…” Her eyes widened as she panicked, knowing she was not in her own bed.

  “Are ya decent?” The male voice ask
ed.

  “Um…yes.” She grabbed the covers, pulling them to her chin. The bedroom door opened a crack and Lee suddenly appeared.

  “Mornin’,” he greeted. His faded blue jeans and fresh, white t-shirt made his cleanly-shaven face glow in the morning sun. In his hand was a tray with orange juice, coffee, toast, scrambled eggs and a bottle of Advil.

  “I figured ya might be hungry, so I brought ya somethin’ to eat.”

  “Shit…did we…um…what happened?” Sherry hesitated, feeling her face flush as she covered it with her hand in shame.

  “No, ma’am. I slept on the couch downstairs,” Lee said firmly. “There was a search team out for ya last night, so unfortunately I had to tell yer folks that ya stayed here.”

  “Shoot.”

  “But don’t worry. Martha took Denise to the pettin’ zoo and yer parents brought ya over some clean clothes and a toothbrush.”

  “Do they think…um…do they know…” Sherry searched for the appropriate words, using one hand to try to articulate and the other to keep the sheets at her chin.

  “No, ma’am. I told ‘em ya was feelin’ sick is all, and that ya were takin’ my bed. Scout’s Honor.” Lee remained a respectful distance away by the bedroom door. He took a step forward, placing the tray on the bedside table. There was a plastic bag with Sherry’s things in it, which he placed on the floor beside the door.

  “I’ll leave ya to eat and clean up if ya like. Shower’s in the ensuite.” He gestured to the closed door on the other side of the room. “Do ya need anything else?”

  “No, that’s great. Thanks,” she said, unable to meet his eyes.

  “Dammit,” she said to herself, taking a deep breath. Her first thought was of her parents. For God’s sake, they weren’t stupid. They knew she’d drank too much, and what would they think of her now? Spending the night with Lee; a man she barely knew. What was worse, was that the whole town would be thinking and saying the same thing. from one stupid night she’d tarnished her family’s name throughout all of Cog Hill.

  Disgusted with herself, she rose out of bed, popping an Advil into her mouth and tipping her head back with a shot of orange juice. The food smelled delicious despite the mild nausea. Taking a bite of toast, Sherry heard the phone on the bedside table ring. It stopped after the first ring and she stood still as there was suddenly a knock at the door. “Um…Sherry?”

  “Yes.” She hopped back into bed, pulling the sheets up again.

  “Um…it’s for you…it’s Ned Baker.”

  Sherry furrowed her brow. What could Ned want? How does he know I’m here?

  Confused, she reached over to the phone. “I’ll get it.”

  “Ned? Is somethin’ wrong?” Her voice was clipped as she answered the call.

  “Are ya alright, love?” His voice was tense with worry. “I heard you was sick last night.”

  Great, does the whole town know already?

  “I’m fine, Ned. Are you okay?”

  Ned sighed. “Oh, thank the Lord. What happened, Sherry? You was fine when we left the lodge.”

  She exhaled quickly. “Well, if ya must know, I had a little too much to drink.”

  “That’s what I figured, love. But are ya okay? Someone didn’t slip ya anything did they?”

  Sherry’s mind reeled. “Whaddya mean Ned?”

  “Well, pardon me fer sayin’ so, but there’s just somethin’ about that Lee that I don’t like. I don’t trust him is all.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Are you insinuatin’ that he drugged me?”

  “Well, I’ve hearda these things, ya know?”

  “Absolutely not. I had a Long Island Iced Tea and a coupla shots. I musta drank ‘em too fast and I didn’t eat anything for supper’s all.”

  Ned was silent.

  “Are ya sure, dear? ‘Cause I just don’t like the way he looks at Denise. All ‘em divorcees ‘round here ain’t nothin’ but trouble. ‘Specially all ‘em new people comin’ ‘round here.”

  “I appreciate that, Ned, but I’m tellin’ ya no, nothin’ like that happened. And fer your information, Denise adores him. Honestly, I ain’t never seen her react to a man the way she does to Lee. Ask my folks if ya don’t believe me.”

  He was silent again.

  “There’s somethin’ off about him. I think he’s got some kinda past. Somethin’ to do with kids, I can sense it.”

  In all the years Sherry had known the Bakers, she’d never known Ned to be irrational. Since Chris’s death, Ned had been a pseudo-grampa to Denise, filling the role whenever Kenny wasn’t in town. No other male had been present in Denise’s or Sherry’s life other than Ned and Kenny in the past two years. It suddenly made sense. Ned was being overprotective because there was a twinge of jealousy there. The old farmer had witnessed Denise’s admiration of Lee and it rubbed him the wrong way seeing as Lee was so new to town. Ned couldn’t be sure about him yet. Sherry couldn’t feel resentment toward the old man, he had such a kind heart and she would never do or say anything to break it.

  “Trust me, Ned, he’s an honest man. He brought me to his place to try and save my honor with my folks, left me fully clothed and put me in his bed. He slept on the couch.” She paused. “He brought me up breakfast and a change of clothes and I ain’t seem him since.”

  “Oh. Well, alright dear. But let me know if there’s any trouble, will ya?”

  “I will, Ned. But everything’s fine.”

  “Come by with the youngin’ later, eh?”

  “Will do, Ned.”

  Sherry hung up, gobbled down the breakfast, realizing that she was starved having skipped dinner. Her clean clothes were brought into the bathroom as she quickly showered, brushed her teeth, dressed, and straightened the bed. Taking the dirty dishes downstairs, she placed them in the sink and poked her head in the living room, looking for Lee. The bedclothes that he used lay neatly folded on the arm of the chair. His suit, shirt and tie were draped over the other arm. Lee was nowhere to be seen.

  There was a noise coming from the basement. She followed the noise, which led her to an open door with stairs. As she climbed down the stairs, she saw Lee’s t-shirt soiled and crumpled on the floor in one corner of the empty basement. In the other corner he lay on his back, under the staircase, banging the hell out of something with the heel of his hand.

  He noticed Sherry and lifted his head up. “Sorry. I hope I wasn’t too noisy.”

  “No, I didn’t know where ya were.” She cleared her throat. “What’re ya doin’ under there?”

  She crouched down to his level, trying to ignore the glistening, rippled abdominal muscles and the steely blue eyes staring back at her. “Need a hand?” she offered.

  “There’s…somethin’…stuck under here.” He grunted as he continued banging. “There was a box full of junk left under the stairs and behind it is some smaller box that makes noise. I can hear the damn thing when I come down here to do laundry.”

  “Are you one of ‘em types that pulls things apart if they don’t sound right?”

  Lee stopped banging for a moment and rested his head on the floor, exhaling. “No. Seriously. Can’t ya hear it?” he asked breathlessly.

  Sherry listened intently, being careful not to stare and sure enough, she could hear a tinkling, tinny sound. She squatted right down and he scooched over, so she could come in beside him. The proximity was strange, she could feel the whole side of his body against hers. He raised his hand to show her exactly where the sound was coming from. As he did, he was forced to brush past her face and hair, his face was directly in front of hers. Thankfully within the small space it was dark, so she couldn’t tell if he was looking at her or not.

  “Can ya hear it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Here. Let me put yer hand where it’s stuck,” Lee said. “Maybe since yer hand is smaller, you can get it out.”

  Sherry allowed him to guide her hand where the sound was, and as he did, he accidentally brushed her breast with his arm. There was a
notable tingle that went right to her toes.

  “Sorry,” he whispered respectfully. “There. Ya feel that?”

  She paled, hoping he was asking about the hard box she felt wedged in between two planks of wood, and not the warm sensation radiating through her body from his touch.

  “Yep. Gimme a sec,” she said as he pulled his arm out and once again, brushed her breast, seemingly unavoidable since they were in such close quarters. He grunted another apology.

  She pushed with her index finger, sliding her hand in behind the box, coming in contact with a cold, metal thing on the side of the box, which felt like a key. Pulling on the metal key, she used it as leverage to get the box out. As she pulled, the same noise came from the box but it was faster. When the contraption was freed, the noise had evened out, becoming discernable music.

  “It’s a music box,” she smiled, looking at it in the darkness. “One of those old-fashioned wind-up kinds.”

  Sitting up, they both studied it. It was a small, palm-size, pink trinket box with a ballerina inverted inside. When you cranked the key, the music started and the ballerina sprang to life.

  “I’ll be damned.” Lee was in awe. He hugged his knees. His bicep and forearm muscle gleamed under the scant fluorescent lighting.

  “You must have really great hearing,” Sherry commented. “This looks antique. Jinny Marx must have left it here.”

  “D’ya think Mandy would want it back?”

  “I can get Reverend Telly to contact her and ask.”

  “If not…I’d like Denise to have it,” Lee suggested, and then he checked himself. “I…if that’s alright with you.”

  “She’d love it,” Sherry said, looking hesitantly at Lee to her right. On his left shoulder, Sherry observed a small tattoo of a young girl about two years old. The detail was as beautiful as the butterfly tattoo on his back. Only this little girl looked like an angel, a cherub, and the name ‘Leeanne’ was tattooed underneath. The image was exquisite, unlike anything Sherry had ever seen.

  Sherry studied it for a moment, touching him gently. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.