Butterfly Secrets

by G. L. Blackhouse

  “No, thanks, I had really rather walk. It’s not dark yet. I’ll be fine. Tell Aunt Georgia bye for me?”

  “Okay, but it’s your funeral. You know she don’t want you stayin’ there,” Julie said.

  “I know. I’ll call her,” I said as I walked out the door.

  The evening breeze felt warm against my skin. The air was clean and fresh, unlike the Chicago smog I had grown accustomed to. I took a deep breath in.

  I guess there were things about here that I had missed. I had shut so much out since Jordy, turned off so much of me that I didn’t even know who I was anymore.

  As I walked, I thought of Mama, Daddy, and Jordy. I could see Jordy on her old yellow bicycle as I walked behind her trying to keep her from falling over. God, Jordy, I wish you were here. I said to myself as a single tear streamed down my face.

  I approached the small pond that had been there since I was a kid and sat down as I cried and sobbed.

  “Grandma, I can’t do this. I can’t do this without you, without Jordy. Why did you bring me here?” I asked, throwing a pebble into the pond. I watched as it rippled all the way to the other side.

  “What am I supposed to do? Roy wants the farm. He killed Daddy and Mama, but I have no proof. Nobody. No case. That’s what everyone says,” I said, looking up at the sky for answers.

  Suddenly, two blue butterflies appeared next to me. They flew all around me back and forth like synchronized swimmers in the air before one of them landed on my hand. I reached out with my other hand to touch it, and it sat there while the other one flew close by. I took a deep breath. It looked just like the ones on the jewelry box that Jordy had given me for my birthday before she died.

  “Jordy? ” I asked.

  I knew now that not only did Grandma May want me here. But so did Jordy. I would fight Roy. This time he wouldn’t win.

  CHAPTER 12- VISITOR

  I dried my eyes and stood up. It was now dark, and there were just a few stars in the sky to guide me as I walked home.

  I jumped as I felt a quick nudge and looked down to see Aunt Georgia’s dog, Ellie.

  “Oh, Ellie. You scared me!” I exclaimed as I reached down to pet her soft fur as she happily wagged her tail.

  “I wonder what Tiny will think of you?” I said.

  “Oh, no! Tiny,” I thought. I had been gone for hours to Aunt Georgia’s visiting and had sat at least another hour by the pond.

  Poor Tiny. She must be scared to death in a strange place, not knowing when I would return.

  I picked up my pace, with Ellie following behind me as she surveyed our surroundings to ensure we were safe. I finally approached the house and heard a loud bark coming from inside.

  I opened the door and was met by Tiny, who ran circles around me and jumped up and down.

  “Oh, Sweetie. I missed you, too!” I said, kissing her head as I picked her up, and she excitedly wagged her tail and showered me with kisses.

  Tiny licked my face happily and then suddenly turned her head and started growling at Ellie, who just stood by the steps.

  “It’s okay, Tiny. It’s just Ellie,” I said softly.

  I walked over to Ellie and gave her another swift pat and thanked her for walking me the remainder of the way home and told her goodbye. Tiny sniffed and growled, not appearing very impressed with Ellie.

  I walked in and closed the door. I went into the kitchen and got Tiny some fresh water and food and set her down.

  I glanced at the clock on the wall and yawned. It was getting late.

  Exhausted, I sat down on the couch. I threw the blanket over Tiny and me. She nestled herself underneath my arm, and I told myself I would only rest for a few minutes.

  My head was filled with thoughts of Grandma, Mama, Jordy, and Roy as I drifted off to sleep.

  I can barely breathe. My sides are sore. My eyes are swollen, and it hurts to open them. I’m being carried by someone. I can see trees whizzing by, and land going by. I can hear the heavy breathing of a man. I can hear a shrill sound coming out of one of my eardrums. Searing pain fills my ears. My eardrums feel as if they burst. I can feel blood trickling down my lip, ears, and sides. Everything is fuzzy. I don’t know where I am. I start to panic. I am able to open my eyes enough to see a big dirty hand on a steering wheel. I can hear water rushing in the background. The man is cursing at me and is very angry. I look over and see a tattoo of a mermaid on his forearm. He yells something at me. I feel a hard slap to my face. I am in a car. I can feel the water rushing in to surround me. I kick frantically with the last of my strength. I scream, but no one can hear me. As the darkness of the water engulfs me, and everything goes black.

  I awoke to a loud noise outside. Startled, I jumped and looked around the room. I could hear Tiny at the front door barking loudly. I threw off the quilt and made my way carefully to the door. I glanced at the corner and could see the shotgun still leaning up against the wall. My hands shaking, I grabbed the gun and cocked it as I had seen my dad and Uncle Bobby do many times before. My heart pounded as it ripped through my chest.

  “I-I’m not afraid to shoot you!” I yelled.

  The footsteps stopped. My fingers trembled as I pulled back the curtain. I could see a shadow of a man as he walked toward a big truck and started it up and then drove away.

  I let out a breath as my hands still trembled.

  I thought about calling Jimmy, but I knew that he was unreliable. I knew I couldn’t call Julie or Aunt Georgia. It would just be proof to Aunt Georgia that I didn’t need to stay here.

  I decided to call 911 instead.

  “Just great, no service,” I said as I threw my hands up in the air. Frustrated, I walked around the room until I got one bar.

  “Lancaster County Police Department. What’s your emergency?” a woman answered.

  “Y-yes. I have a prowler outside,” I said with my voice shaking as I continued to peek out the curtain with Tiny barking wildly at my heels.

  “Is he still there, ma’am?”

  “I don’t know,” I said, trying to get a better look.

  “Okay, where are you, ma’am?”

  “I-I’m at the Smith Farm. Jennifer and Patrick’s old place.”

  “Ma’am. What is your name?”

  “Amelia Smith.”

  “Okay, ma’am. Stay on the line. We are sending someone out,” the lady said.

  “Thank you,” I said as my voice cracked.

  “Try to find a safe room, ma’am, and lock the door,” the woman ordered.

  Nervously, I waited for someone to arrive while I stayed on the line. I couldn’t hide. I just stayed in the living room with the lights off., anxiously pointing my gun towards the entrance while Tiny barked wildly.

  Suddenly, I heard a loud bang and jumped. Tiny jumped, too. I picked up the phone, and it had disconnected. “Great! No service.” I said in a panic.

  My heart pounded even more forcefully as I sat there holding the gun, trying not to make a sound while my hands shook.

  After what felt like an eternity, I heard several loud knocks on the door.

  “Em. Em. Anyone home? You okay?” I heard a man’s voice say on the other side.

  Finally, I recognized the voice as the sheriff’s.

  Slowly, I got up and walked toward the door and opened it, still holding the gun with my hands trembling.

  “Whoa,” the sheriff said, surprised. He stepped back.

  “Em. Put that down. You’re okay,” he said.

  “Oh. I- I’m sorry, “I said, putting down the gun as I realized what I was doing.

  “Do you even know how to use that thing?” he asked.

  “A little,” I said softly.

  “Good Lord. Where did you get that? No, let me guess. That no-good cousin of yours. God, Em, you gonna get yourself killed,” he warned.

  I nodded.

  “Better be glad I know ya. If you had that out in the city, they might have shot ya.”

  “Ya okay, Sheriff?” a voice said through
the walkie talkie that was clipped to his waist.

  “Yep Eddie, It’s okay. It’s just Em. She’s fine. But, you and Bud check the place out, okay?” the sheriff said, grabbing the walkie talkie.

  “Sure thing, Sheriff,” said the voice on the other end of the line.

  “Let’s go sit down.” the sheriff said as he quickly surveyed the room.

  “So, what happened, Em?”

  “I was upstairs, sorting through some things. Then, I went back downstairs and fell asleep. I woke up to the sound of footsteps outside.” I decided not to tell the sheriff about the nightmare. I was still trying to process it all myself.

  “Then, you got your gun?”

  I nodded.

  “I think it scared him off,” I said.

  “So it was a guy?” he said, taking out a note pad from his uniform shirt pocket.

  “Yes, I think so. I couldn’t see for certain because it was so dark, but it looked like one.”

  “Did you see him leave?” the sheriff asked, still writing.

  “Yes. He got into a big truck with several bright headlights on top.”

  The sheriff gave a sigh and a worried look.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, still shaken up.

  The sheriff motioned me to come closer.

  “I think it was Roy,” he said in a whisper.

  “What?” I asked with a shaky voice, but deep down, I already knew. Everyone was right. Roy was dangerous. If he had bought off the guys at the department, he could have paid off anyone. No wonder he wasn’t convicted of any murders. It also explained why they hadn’t found Mama’s body.

  Suddenly, flashes of the dream of the woman in the car, bloodied and bruised, raced through my mind. The woman wasn’t me. It was Mama. But, it couldn’t possibly be true, could it? Had my dream shown me glimpses of the day she died? This place was driving me insane.

  “Sheriff, do you remember what happened on the day Mama died?” I asked as casually as possible.

  “Rain? Why it was one of the worst downpours, these parts had ever seen! Flash floods. We tried to go look for her body, but the water got up, and we had to call it off. By the time it stopped, and everything was cleaned up, it was too late. Why these waters run clear to the Mississippi. It’s no telling how far they took her.”

  Sadness filled my face.

  “Sorry, Em. I didn’t mean to… I mean.....”

  “It’s okay. Sheriff,” I said.

  “And Roy, was he with her?” I asked.

  “He said he was. Said he tried to get Jenny out and barely escaped himself. Who knows, Em? With these kinds of things, ya just can’t tell and when there’s no body, well...”

  “No case,” I said, finishing his sentence with an exasperated sigh.

  “Yep,” the sheriff said sadly.

  The deputies knocked on the door and walked inside.

  “It’s all clear, Sheriff,” one of the deputies said as he put away his gun.

  “Thanks,” the sheriff said as he stood up.

  “Thank you,” I said as I stood, too, and followed the sheriff to the door.

  They nodded and tipped their hats at me.

  “Em, why don’t ya let me drive you down to Georgia’s?” the sheriff suggested.

  “No. I’m fine. Besides, it’s dawn now. I’ll just have some coffee and get ready,” I said, glancing out the window, wondering where the time had gone.

  “Okay. You got a ride?” he asked.

  “Yep. Jimmy is dropping me off to meet Jackson today,” I said.

  “Jackson Roderick?” the sheriff asked.

  “Yes.”

  “That there’s a good guy. Why I reckon every woman in town is after him. Guess he just ain’t found the right one yet,” the sheriff said.

  “Thank you, Sheriff. I appreciate that,” I said.

  “Why, I’ll help you any way that I can, Em,” he said with a warm expression.

  I nodded and waved goodbye to the sheriff.

  I walked back into the kitchen as I made some coffee and tried to take it all in.

  My dream didn’t seem to be a dream at all. I heard the words of the sheriff about the flash floods, and it was one of the worst rains these parts had ever seen run through my mind. Images of my Mama, bloodied and bruised, burned into my mind like a branding tool. I cringed as I felt her pain.

  The story was that Mama had died from the flood and that Roy had barely escaped. But the images in my dream showed her being beaten and carried away. Had Roy beaten her half-dead and thrown in the car to appear as though she had drowned?

  My heart raced inside my chest at warp speed. Oh, my God. If my dream was real, Roy really had killed her, too. But how would I even begin to prove it? There was no body. No one would start to believe me based on a dream. They would think I was crazy.

  CHAPTER 13- REUNION

  Morning finally came, and I was glad to see the daylight peeking through the window when I opened my eyes. I made my way upstairs and to the shower. The old shower water faucet was slightly rusted and hard to turn. I took off my clothes and stepped inside. The steam filled the small room as the feel of the hot water caressed lightly against my body. I breathed in a deep breath as I slowly washed my body. I stepped out of the shower, placed a towel around me, and wiped the steam from the mirror to reveal my face. Who was I? I had been Amelia for so long now. I surveyed each fine line on my forehead and the freckles that dotted my checks, a reminder of my childhood, and the heat against my pale skin. Jordy and I had spent the summers playing in the sun. I finished getting dressed, pulled back my hair, and made my way back down the stairs. For a minute it almost felt like home.

  Suddenly, the sound of a loud car outside interrupted my thoughts. I reached for the shotgun and opened the door.

  To my relief, Jimmy stepped out of the car. He was wearing a gray muscle tee with a cobra on it, and the sleeves were cut out, faded jeans, his old work boots, and his signature shades.

  “Hey, Cuz! Glad to see that you’re using the gun I gave ya,” he said with a wide grin.

  I nodded.

  “You look torn up. What’s wrong with ya?” Jimmy asked.

  “I will tell ya, Jim, but you got to swear to me that you won’t tell Julie and especially not Aunt Georgia,” I warned him.

  “I swear,” he said.

  “I’m serious, Jim. Dead serious.”

  “Okay, I swear and hope to die if I tell,” he said poorly, trying to make a cross on his chest.

  “I think Roy was here last night,” I said in a whisper.

  “What? I’ll kill him for messin’ with my family!” Jimmy said with a red face.

  “Calm down, Jim. I called the sheriff, and he came over and took care of things.”

  “I’ll bet. Don’t ya know, Em, that Roy’s bought off half the damn town?” Jimmy exclaimed with a sigh. It was apparent that Jim didn’t have much faith in local law enforcement.

  “Well, the sheriff came over Jim. I don’t think Roy’s bought off the sheriff. I don’t,” I said.

  “All of them are the same, Em. I know. I’ve been in and out of jail enough to see the difference. Dammit!” Jimmy exclaimed as he punched the wall on the porch and then cradled his hand.

  “It’s okay, Jim. I’m fine. Really,” I said, trying to get Jimmy to calm down.

  “That’s it. You are gonna stay with Mama and Julie until we can get all this lined out,” he said firmly.

  “No, Jim, I’m not gonna run and hide! That is what Roy wants. Now, I am going to go to town and meet Jackson. You still takin’ me, or am I gonna have to walk?” I asked as I stepped off the porch and into the yard.

  “Wait! Wait! I’ll drive ya. Damn, you are stubborn. Just like Mama and Julie,” Jimmy exclaimed.

  I climbed into Jimmy’s car, and we made our way towards town.

  “You heard any word on my car?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

  “Yep. Clyde’s supposed to have it done today. Said you had a busted radiator, and
he had to replace the air filter and transmission. Damn, Em. That thing’s so old I’m surprised it even made it as far as it did,” Jimmy said.

  “It’s fine, Jim,” I said, crossing my arms. There was no way that I was going to get rid of my old car. It was one of the only things I had left of Grandma May.

  “You really should think about tradin’ it in, get ya somethin’ more modern. You make good money, it ain’t like you can’t afford it,” Jimmy said with a grin.

  “The car’s fine, Jim. I’m not getting rid of it. That’s final,” I exclaimed.

  “Okay, suit ya self, but it’s a money pit if you ask me,” Jimmy said, shrugging his shoulders. Jim knew better than to try to push. Once I had set my mind on something, I held firm.

  “Not getting rid of it,” I said once again.

  “So ya gonna meet with Jackson?” Jimmy asked with a wide smile.

  “Stop it, Jim. This is strictly business,” I said with a red face.

  “A little business mixed with pleasure never hurt,” Jimmy said, still smiling playfully.

  “You are crazy, Jim.”

  “Jackson is the most eligible bachelor in town, and I heard about how he looked at you the other day. I’d say that he has the hots for you, and Lord knows you sure used to have them for him. I swear, Em, the man’s got it bad for you,” Jimmy said with a grin.

  “I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m not. I don’t need one. I make my own money, and I am happy on my own. I just wanna get this done and head back home,” I said, as the words just fell out of my mouth.

  “You aren’t stayin’? Oh, Mama’s gonna be mad!” Jimmy exclaimed with a look of shock. Aunt Georgia was known to be tenacious and stubborn herself.

  “No, Jim. I’m not staying. You better not say a word to Aunt Georgia either,” I said, pointing my finger at him. It was too late to try and hide it. The words had just slipped out of my mouth to Jim about my plan to leave. Now, all that I could do was threaten him not to tell Aunt Georgia.

  “Em, you have to stay. You ain’t just gonna give in and let Roy have the farm, are you?”

  “No, Jim, I’m not going to let Roy have the farm. I was planning on turning the farm into a halfway house for girls in memory of Jordy.”