Free 3 From the Ashes by K.J. Emrick

sense in mentioning it until she understood it better.
    ***
    That evening Darcy rode her new bike over to visit Sarah and Louis at their home. Sarah answered the door to Darcy’s knock and brought her into the living room with a nervous smile. Entering the room Darcy felt like she had been transported into another era. Dark, antique wooden furniture was tastefully arranged against oak paneling on the walls. A mantel clock ticked softly above an empty and clean fire place. It was like the picture of a perfect home in a Norman Rockwell painting.
    Louis sat in one of the chairs, a newspaper open on his lap. He was a middle aged man with dark hair that was graying at the temples and thick round glasses perched on his nose. He had a kindly face and after all of the introductions had taken place he smiled at Darcy before asking her if she would like some tea.
    “That would be lovely, thank you Mister Fender.”
    “Oh, please call me Louis. Mister Fender is my very elderly father.” He grinned at her and then left the room to make the tea. Sarah offered Darcy a seat and they sat on the wingback couch facing the chair Louis had been in, a low and wide coffee table between them. They chatted about mundane things until Louis returned a few minutes later with a tray laden with tea and cookies.
    They chatted about the upcoming harvest festival while they sipped their tea. Darcy was itching to ask Louis the questions they had but she wanted Sarah to direct the conversation. This was her father, after all. Eventually Sarah cleared her throat and put her teacup down on the table.
    “Dad, we wanted to ask you about…” Sarah looked at Darcy for encouragement and then continued. “About Mom and the fire at your house.”
    Louis just looked at her and then put his cup down next to hers. He sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest defensively.
    “We’ve talked about this before,” he said shortly.
    “I’m trying to help Sarah learn more about her mother,” Darcy told him, hoping to ease his concern.
    “I know who you are, Darcy. Everyone in town does. I know how you like to go poking into places you aren’t invited. Why would you want to dig into such a horrible time? That fire was the worst thing that happened to me and you need to stay out of it.” He punctuated his warning with a shake of his finger.
    Darcy didn’t let his angry tone scare her. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Louis. Don’t you think Sarah has a right to know about her mother?”
    He actually jumped up out of his chair at that point, scaring both women. His voice began to raise in volume as he spoke. “If Sarah has questions about her mother, I’ll be the one to answer them.”
    Darcy wondered at his extreme reaction. It seemed totally out of place.
    “Dad,” Sarah said quietly, “I have asked these questions. You won’t talk to me.”
    He softened his tone a little as he turned to her, crossing his arms once again. “Some things are better left alone, Sarah. Your mother’s death is one of them.”
    “Is my mother alive?”
    That simple little question stopped him cold, his eyes popping, his mouth open with no sound coming out. With shaking hands he pushed his fingers through his hair. “Why would you ask that?”
    “Dad we aren’t trying to upset you. Just, please answer me. Darcy thinks that my mother might still be alive.”
    “Oh. Darcy thinks. I see. Well, Darcy needs to leave our family alone and not poke into things that are none of her business.”
    “I asked her to do this,” Sarah started to explain.
    “I don’t care!” Louis shouted. “I said leave it alone!”
    Sarah got up in a hurry from the couch and rushed out of the room. Darcy stared at Louis, not sure what to do. “I think maybe I should leave. I didn’t mean to upset you Louis. Please…tell Sarah I’ll talk to her later.”
    As she headed for the door Louis grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him. His fingers dug into her when she tried