She Only Speaks to Butterflies (14 page)

As they sat down at the table and drank their tea, Sherry noticed a pad of paper on the refrigerator with a list of to-do items written on it. Lee followed her glance. “Yeah, there’s a few things need fixin’ ‘round here, but I can’t complain. As I said, Mandy left me pretty much all the furniture and dishes.”

“If ya need help fixin’ stuff up, I’ve got lots of tools…and I’ve fixed pretty much everythin’ on this list in my own house,” Sherry offered. “Plus, my house is similar to this one, so I’m pretty familiar.”

“Thanks,” Lee smiled. “I appreciate that.”

“Ya got anything else to bring in?”

“I’ve got one more load to bring from the other place, but it’s nothin’ that can’t wait.”

After a beat, Sherry said conversationally. “So yer from Texas?”

“Born and raised.” Lee corroborated. “You?”

“I lived in Texas a while before movin’ out here for school.” Sherry took a sip of her tea. “Then I met my husband in college and we got married and stayed here.”

The sudden mention of Chris created an elephant in the room, causing Lee to rise, looking for some biscuits from the cupboard.

“Thanks,” she said, taking two crème filled cookies from the package. “What about you? What landed ya here from Texas?”

“Work,” Lee said simply. “I trained in Texas but there ain’t many jobs out there. The wait list was a mile long.” He paused. “Nothin’ was keepin’ me in Texas anyway, so I figured what the hell.” He cleared his throat. “Excuse the language.”

“So what did ya do before bein’ a fireman?”

“I worked in construction. The work was good but I’d been doin’ it since college. Needed a change.”

“I used to work in an office before openin’ up Peach Tree Clothing a coupla years before Denise came.”

“Business good?”

“Sure. But I can’t take all the credit.” Denise rested her chin on her hand. “My partner Leon is the one who helped it take off. He’s better dressed than anyone in this town, I can vouch for that.”

Lee glanced quickly at his watch. “Is someone watchin’ the little one?”

“My parents.” She brushed a stray hair off her face. “They’re here for the summer…maybe longer.” She paused, scanning the room. “I don’t s’pose you have a phone hooked up yet, do ya?”

Lee gestured towards the wall-mounted phone beside the refrigerator. “Mandy fixed it so the bill comes in my name. Number’s the same.”

“Mind if I use it? Just wanna call and say g’night to Denise.”

“Sure. Whatever ya need. But don’t feel obligated to stay if you’ve gotta be somewhere,” Lee insisted warmly.

Sherry smiled. “I was just on a walk. It’s no mind.”

“Where were ya headin’?”

“Baker’s Farm. In fact, now that I think of it, that’s prolly where my folks took Denise…to see the butterflies.”

“Well, if it’s all the same to ya, I’ve been unpackin’ all day. I don’t mind joinin’ ya up at the farm.”

“Sure. That’d be nice.” Sherry got to her feet, heading for the door. Lee closed the door and they began walking down the street towards the farm. He motioned her through the front gate.

“After you.”

Sherry pointed out the names of all the neighbors and how long they had lived there. She gave him the scoop: who was nice and who to keep his distance from. When they reached the farm, Tim the farm hand was sitting on the front porch, drinking a glass of water.

“Evenin’ Sherry,” Tim greeted. “Everyone’s back at the conservatory. Help yerself.”

“This is Lee Givens, Tim,” Sherry introduced. “He’s workin’ over with Alan at the fire station.”

Lee offered his hand. “Pleased to meet ya.”

“Likewise.” Tim tipped his cap.

Ned’s head poked out from the barn. “Sherry! Yer Pa said you’d prolly end up comin’ this way.” He turned to Lee. “Evenin’”

Lee reciprocated.

Ned waved them into the barn. “Well come on back, we’re just about to feed the little flutterbugs now.”

The wooden screen door creaked as Lee and Sherry walked past Ned. Bessie, one of the dairy cows, let out a grunt. “Well, hello there, Bess.” Sherry stroked the bovine on the snout.

“Looka here.” Ned pointed to the small stall at the end of the runs. A pile of straw about the size of a couch pillow sat in the corner. Lying inside was the baby calf that was born the night of the town hall meeting.

“Oh, ain’t she a dear,” Sherry giggled. Ned opened the stall, allowing Sherry access. She bent down to pet the sleeping calf. Lee followed behind her, stroking a forlorn-looking Bessie behind the ear.

Bessie’s head leaned forward, toward Lee, as she grunted again. The cow lifted her head, away from Lee, and a dollop of fluid spurted from her snout, landing directly on Lee’s shirt. The mucous-like substance slithered down like the white of an egg, until it met the hem. He lifted it away from his skin, trying to hide the look of disgust on his face.

“Dang! Bessie! Geez, I’m sorry Lee,” Ned apologized. “She ain’t never done that before.”

“That’s alright,” Lee laughed, wiping some of the sputum off with his hand. His shirt was soaked in front. “Coulda been worse, it coulda come out the other end.”

“True,” Ned agreed. “Let me go fetch you a clean shirt.”

Lee didn’t argue.

Kate’s face appeared from behind the glass window of the conservatory door. “Hey, I thought I heard voices.” Lee was still holding his shirt out, avoiding getting the goo on his skin. “What on earth happened?” Kate asked with concern.

Lee chuckled. “Apparently I was mistaken for a Kleenex by Bessie over there.”

“Let me go fetch you a clean shirt,” Kate offered.

Sherry stifled a smile. “Ned’s already on it.”

“Well come on in then. Denise and yer folks are feedin’ the butterflies.”

Gertrude and Kenny stood, watching their granddaughter. Denise held her right hand out, as a beautifully speckled blue-winged butterfly landed on her palm. When it flew away, fluttering its wings gently, she noticed her mom and Lee. Something in her eyes lit up.

“Hi, sweetie.” Sherry gave her a quick hug. “Are you havin’ fun?”

Denise didn’t answer but looked at Lee expectantly. “Hello ma’am. How ya been keepin’?” Lee said to Denise.

There was a ghost of a smile on the little girl’s face. Lee didn’t seem to notice that her response was non-verbal. “Whatcha got there?” He pointed at the plate of ripened fruit on the ledge beside her.

“Is that what butterflies eat?” Lee asked the child, as if he didn’t know.

Ned entered the conservatory, carrying a plain white t-shirt. “I think it’ll fit. It’s an XL.”

Ned didn’t even have a chance to offer him a place to change. Lee whipped his soiled shirt off over his head, turning his back. Sherry, Gertrude and Kate turned around respectfully. However, Denise remained facing Lee. His back was to her as he lifted his soiled shirt off. Denise’s eyes bugged out as she observed the large tattoo extending from shoulder to shoulder, encompassing the first third of his back. It was a butterfly. The biggest she’d ever seen. Purple, with the most beautifully ornate wing pattern she could ever have imagined. The wing detail was so distinct Denise could count the scales and colours on each. It took her breath away. Her mouth was agape.

Lee quickly pulled the clean shirt over his head, through his arms and finally smoothed it so it rested comfortably on his body. He made a pass through his hair with his hands and bunched up his State of Arkansas Fire Department t-shirt.

“You can just throw this out.” Lee blushed slightly as the others turned back toward him. “I’ve got about ten of ‘em.”

Kate took the shirt. “Nonsense. I’ll have it washed up by tomorrow. It’s no mind.”

Denise’s eyes were still glued on Lee despite the butterflies that had landed on her.

“Well would ya look at that,” Lee whispered, watching the butterflies flock to the little girl. “Such gentle creatures, aren’t they?”

When one landed on the end of Denise’s nose, Lee placed his hand by the plate, and looked at her, silently asking permission to take one of the pieces of fruit. He dipped his hand in and placed a segment of orange in the center of his palm, lifting his hand to grab the attention of the creature flapping its wings on Denise’s nose.

Like a fragile bird, the butterfly rose and landed on Lee’s hand. It began feeding on the fruit. A few other fellow insects followed as Lee watched in awe. Denise was oblivious to the butterfly, the one etched on Lee’s back had her spellbound.

…

“Momma! Momma!” Sherry shouted urgently.

Gertrude was putting laundry away in Denise’s bedroom. “Up here, dear,” she called.

Sherry’s face was pale, beads of sweat were forming on her forehead. “What is it, dear?” Gertrude rose, sensing her daughter’s panic.

“I can’t find Denise!” she said, frantically looking in the closet and under the bed.

“She was with yer Daddy out back a little while ago.” Gertrude walked calmly to the bedroom window, where there was a clear view of the backyard and Denise’s swing set. Kenny was napping on the hammock but Denise was nowhere to be seen.

“Well, she can’t be far,” Gertrude soothed, walking to the washroom. “Have you checked the bathroom? The livin’ room?”

“I’ve looked everywhere in the house and out. She’s nowhere, momma,” Sherry cried, running her hand through her hair.

“I’ll go wake your Daddy up and we’ll fan out. You check down the street, maybe she’s headed for the farm. I’ll call over to Martha’s and Sara’s and I’ll get daddy to start knockin’ on doors.”

Sherry ran down the stairs. She grabbed her keys and ran out the door. As she walked, calling Denise’s name, she raised her head so she could see in backyards and windows. She stopped cold when she caught sight of her daughter sitting on a picnic table beside Lee in his front yard. Sherry approached slowly as she watched him talk to her. He was shirtless, pointing to a tattoo on his right bicep.

Sherry strained to see if Denise was talking but she couldn’t tell because Lee was facing her and Denise’s back was to her.  It appeared Lee was mowing the lawn as the manual mower sat beside them with the handle bar facing down, as though he’d let Denise give it a go. From where Sherry stood, they looked as natural as old friends. It made her heart melt. Lee suddenly turned his back, showing Denise his butterfly tattoo and Sherry’s eyes bulged. Neither of them could see Sherry approaching, so she stood there, observing their exchange.

“This tattoo was drawn on by a dear friend of mine,” Lee explained. “The butterfly was the first one that ever landed on my nose, just like the one that landed on yer nose today.” His voice was soft and matter-of-fact. Denise examined the tattoo with her finger extended as though she wanted to trace the wing pattern.

“When the butterfly died, the man who ran the conservatory back where I grew up, gave me the creature in an air-tight case as a gift.” Lee dipped his head, like he was remembering a painful memory. “My friend found the case one day and offered to do this for me.”

Sherry strained to hear if Denise would respond. Lee didn’t seem to notice whether or not she did, it didn’t seem to matter to him. It was like they had a silent bond with one another, like distant companions who shared common thoughts and didn’t have to communicate verbally. It was a revelation.

Lee turned around suddenly, almost like he could sense someone was watching. When he saw the strange look in Sherry’s eyes his face dropped. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Sherry. I shoulda brought her right home. She just come over to me while I was mowin’ the lawn. I figured you wasn’t far behind. I didn’t mean to make ya worry.”

Sherry broke out of her reverie with his apologetic tone. “Oh, no, that’s okay.” Her hands were in front of her, waving away his guilt. “She never wonders away like this. She knows better.”

Lee looked at Denise with a warm, yet cautious glance, not quite admonishing her. “If ya ever want to come and visit, yer welcome to, but ya gotta ask yer momma first. K?”

Denise pursed her lips, staring at the ground, and walked toward her mom. Sherry looked down at her. “We better get back and let gramma and grampa know yer safe. They’re lookin’ all over for ya.”

“Again, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean no harm.” Lee rose to open the gate for Denise.

“No need to apologize. It’s not yer fault,” Sherry smiled. “I’ll see ya later.”

As Sherry walked away, she wanted so badly to turn around so she could ask Lee if she spoke to him, and offer an explanation if she didn’t. But something inside told her that Lee was a perceptive human being and didn’t need explanation.

Chapter 13

“Oh darlin’ aren’t you a sight for sore eyes!” Kenny gushed as Sherry walked down the stairs. “It’s amazin’ how ya get more and more beautiful with age, just like yer momma.”

Sherry turned to her mom, who was fastening her drop earrings in place. “Momma, how’d we get so darn lucky?”

Gertrude slipped her arm around Kenny’s waist. “God is good.”

“That he is,” Kenny whispered, chastely kissing his wife on the lips.

One glance at the clock and Sherry gasped. “Geez, we better get goin’. We’re supposed to be at the dance in ten minutes.”