Special Delivery

Marigold stared at the bouquet on her table, then the one on her counter and one more on the coffee table. She tried hard not to picture the two bouquets sitting on her desk at the elementary school, but of course there they were forcing their way into her mind. The rich yellows and oranges with hints of red all mixed with dark green foliage were beautiful and filled the room with color, but all she wanted to do when she saw them was scream. He was destroying her love of the flower she was named after just like he had destroyed their relationship.

How he thought sending bouquet after bouquet would make everything right was beyond her. Tears started to build up as she thought about Chris. “That lying, cheating, no good, awful, horrible…” she chanted in her head for the millionth time adding a new adjective to the list like she had each time he popped into her mind.

She hadn’t even been gone a month before friends started telling her they had seen him around town with some other girl. She blew off their concerns; Chris’s sister was coming for a visit, so it was probably just her. She had been excited about the opportunity to go teach summer school to some very wealthy kids. The pay was amazing and she needed a nice financial boost to help pay off college loans. She was nervous and worried about leaving Chris for the summer, but he had been so supportive and encouraging. They had a strong relationship that could handle a few months apart, or so she thought. Their nightly phone calls and little texts throughout the day had diminished significantly after the first week, but she thought it was just because they were both busy and exhausted. She had ended up playing full time nanny along with school teacher for the kids when their real nanny had to leave for a family emergency. She didn’t mind much because it came with a very large pay raise. Chris claimed he was taking any extra overtime he could at work while she was gone. So, a few less phone calls and texts only seemed normal.

She was super excited when the kids finished up everything a few days ahead of schedule and, the family had hired a new nanny, so she was free to leave. She decided to fly home and surprise Chris. Little did she know just how much of a surprise it would be to both of them. She could still clearly picture the shock and horror on his face when she opened his front door and found a pretty woman sitting on his lap, kissing his neck. She was not sure what her own face looked like but it felt like fire was exploding out. Chris nearly dumped the woman off him trying to jump up, “Marigold, I uh,” was all he got out before she slammed the door.

She had ignored every phone call, deleted every message without looking at or listening to it, and refused to answer the door when he came knocking. She threw herself into the new school year, glad for the distraction from her pain and anger.

Chris had given up on calling or coming over and had started to send her flowers each day. She couldn’t reject a poor person just trying to do their job and she couldn’t bring herself to throw away a living thing. Hurt and anger were boiling just under her skin. “I am not going to take another bouquet from him,” she determined. “Someone else can receive his gift!”

The next day was her first Saturday since school started and she was back teaching. She had planned to be outside hiking up a nearby canyon to keep herself occupied, but with this new plan, to make sure she didn’t get his flowers, she stayed home waiting for the doorbell to ring.

She was not expecting what happened when she opened the door though. The bouquet was pushed towards her face and a gorgeous tenor voice began to sing out an apology.

Marigold stood stunned for a moment thinking, “Good grief what has he done now,” then she gathered her courage, “Please stop,” she said weakly. The man faltered but continued on a little less confidently. “Really please stop,” Marigold pleaded.

He did and slowly put the flowers down. That was the first time she really saw him and realized just how handsome he was. She shook her head reminding herself men were trouble.

“I am sorry,” the man began, “it’s a song delivery. I’m supposed to give them to you with a song.”

“Look, I know you’re doing your job and I don’t mean to be rude to you, but I don’t want these flowers or his pathetic apology”

“Ouch, was I that bad?”

Marigold went red and started a stumbling apology.

“I’m just joking,” the man chuckled, “you sure you don’t want me to finish or give you these.” He said holding the flowers out again with a big grin showing perfect white teeth.

Trying hard to keep her emotions in balance she sneered, “No, I am quite sure I don’t want either. Do you have any idea what he is trying to apologize for?”

“Uh, no, they don’t give us any back stories for these deliveries,” he stammered.

Fury building in her blood she blurted out before thinking, “He cheated on me! He sent me off with hugs and kisses and promised to call me every day and I come home to find a girl wrapped around him smothering him in kisses! So, do I want his flowers and his apology, NO!”

The man looked her up and down then whistled and said, “What?! That man obviously has a few screws loose, why on earth would he cheat on you. You definitely don’t need his flowers or apology.”

Marigold, blushing now from the compliment he had paid and for her unplanned emotional outburst. “I am so sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything, you don’t need to know any of this. It’s not your job to listen to customers blubber about their life.”

“Actually it’s my favorite part of the job,” he confided. “Well, not your story, but most of them are songs of love or friendship and the recipients are overjoyed when they tell me how much they love whomever sent me.”

Marigold smiled and said, “well, I want these flowers delivered to someone else so their day can be brightened. They are only going to make me angry.”

The man looked thoughtful for a moment then a sparkle came into his eyes. “I know just the place to go, and you should come along too!”

Surprised Marigold stood silent, unsure of what to think or say.

“Come on, join me! It will make your day better seeing smiles and joy spread across someone’s face. It always makes my day better.”

Marigold thought for a minute more and decided she had nothing stopping her and this would probably be a far better way to keep thoughts of Chris away than taking a hike.

“Ok,” she said, “let me get my things.” She retreated into her apartment, put on shoes and grabbed her purse. Coming back out she remarked, “Alright, lets go!”

Before heading off he held out his hand to shake hers saying, “I’m Spencer, by the way.”

“Oh, yes, and I’m Marigold, but I guess you knew my name already. Pleased to meet you Spencer.”

When they got to his car he opened the door for her, making sure she was fully inside before shutting it.

Marigold was impressed, “Chris had never…”she cut the thought off telling herself, “you will not think of him you will not think of him.”

When Spencer climbed in the car she struck up a conversation to help keep the promise she made to herself. “So, where are you taking me,” she questioned.

Spencer started the engine and looked over at her, “It is one of my favorite places to deliver to actually.”

“Oh, do you go there a lot?”

Spencer laughed, “I guess that depends on your definition of a lot. I have a set monthly delivery and normally end up going once or twice more.”

Marigold entreated, “And, are you going to tell me where it is?”

Grinning like a kid at a parade Spencer teased, “I’m not sure, maybe I’ll make it a surprise.”

An uneasy feeling spread over Marigold and she began to chastise herself for getting in a car with a stranger. They were coming to a stop light and she was seriously thinking of jumping out when they stopped. Her face must have shown her concern because Spencer said as he slowed down and put his turn signal on, “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to make you nervous.” Spencer continued as he turned the corner. “We are just a couple blocks away now, it’s an assisted living facility.”

Relaxing some Marigold decided against jumping out of a moving vehicle.

Marigold looked around the space they had entered; it was an odd mix of hospital and home. Five feet in front of the door was a large reception desk with a few women sitting or standing behind it. One looked up, and when she saw Spencer a massive grin spread across her face. “Spencer,” she called, “it is so good to see you! Who is the lucky reciptiant today? I see you brought backup, this must be a special delivery.”

Spencer leaned on the counter grinning right back, “Actually, Richelle, I was hoping you could help me, well us,” he said pointing to Marigold, “decide who gets this lovely gift.” Turning to Marigold he continued, “This is my friend Marigold and she wanted to make someone's day brighter, so who needs a little extra pick up?”

All the ladies almost simultaneously sighed, “ahh.” Richelle holding her hand at her heart looked at Marigold, “That is so kind of you,” she whispered. Taking a deep breath she went on, “Mrs. Hamilton I think could use a pick me up. Her son was supposed to fly in for a visit, but his plane was delayed and he may not make it now.”

“Thank you so much,” Spencer stressed.

He looked at Marigold and nodded his head to the right, then started walking in that direction. Marigold followed, surprised he knew where to go.

They walked through a kind of foyer where several older people sat in comfortable looking chairs, some napping, others reading or just staring off at nothing. Spencer said hellos to those they walked past, calling each by name. Sometimes he would hold a hand for a second, other times he gave a soft pat on the shoulder. One lady received a big hug; she patted his checks asking, “Did you bring those for me?”

He smiled kneeling down next to her and pulled one flower from the vase saying, “not all of them Mrs. Caroline, but this one was picked special just for you.”

Her face filled with light as she took the flower, “I remember planting marigolds every year with my mom. Thank you Spencer, you are a treasure.”

He kissed her cheek and they walked on down a large hallway and knocked on a door.

“Mrs. Hamilton, it’s Spencer, may I come in?”

A choked, “yes,” could barely be heard. He opened the door and they walked into a very well decorated hospital room.

“We have a special delivery for you,” Spencer said as he handed her the flowers then started singing the most beautiful rendition of “You are my Sunshine.”

Marigold joined in and the two sounded perfect together. Mrs. Hamilton started to cry and once they finished she reached out to them and gave each a hug. “Oh, Spencer, I needed that. You two brought some joy into my miserable day, thank you!” Looking into Marigold's eyes she held her hands saying, “I am so glad to see our Spencer has found a lovely young lady. You keep hold of this one dear, he is a keeper.”

Both Marigold and Spencer blushed, neither one having the heart to tell her they were not together.

But, the tiniest crack started to form in the wall Marigold had put up around her heart. Maybe, just maybe Mrs. Hamilton was right.

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