Free Fire and Ice: A Paranormal Romance by Cindy Adkins Page B

front of Sarah.  “Here, Sarah,” he said.  “Can I explain to my parents what’s been going on?”
    “Please do,” Sarah told him.  She was in no shape to tell them herself.
    Billy sat in the chair across from them.  Alise had her arm around Sarah.  “My poor child,” she said.  “Something terrible has obviously happened and whatever we can do, we promise, we will.”
    “Sarah’s been helping me,” said Billy.
    “What?” asked Alise.
    “I’m afraid that she has been so busy looking out for me that she has not even been able to get any sleep,” he told them.
    “Don’t you worry, Sarah. You’re welcome to stay right here until you feel better,” offered Alise.
    “It’s not what you think, Mama,” Billy began.  He told his parents the entire story from beginning to end. 
    Harris looked like he wanted to say a mouthful, but he kept his wits about him for Sarah’s sake. “I hope you realize something, Son.  This girl has been a better friend to you in a week than you have had in a whole lifetime,” he said.
    “What do you mean, Dad?”
    “Sarah doesn’t want anything.  She doesn’t need anything from you—a car, or anything else.  Sarah tried to help you because she thought you were in danger and she’s one sharp cookie.  She’s right. Charla would eat you for lunch!  You are lucky you met Sarah.  I’m glad your sister is not here.  Gabby doesn’t need to hear a word about it.  She still talks to all of her friends in the parish.  Do not breathe a word of this to anyone.  I mean it.  We have to find out if any of those buildings are in Shaunessy’s name.
    “Oh my gosh, you’re right, Harris,” said Sarah.  “They could be.”
    “Of course, they could.  That Charla is one shrewd woman,” said Harris.  “Billy, I’ve tried to hold my tongue, but I have to tell you that I don’t think that the apple fell far from the tree with Jessie.”
    “What do you mean, Daddy?” asked Billy.
    “Well, she is gone, so there’s no sense opening up old wounds. But, let’s just say that she had other interests while you were changing her oil,” said Harris.
    “Do you have to talk like that?” asked Alise.
    “The boy asked me and I told him,” said Harris.  “But, I’ll be damned if that Martin family is going to ruin his life any more than they already have.”
    “Do you mean that Jessie wasn’t faithful?” asked Billy.
    “I mean, not only was she unfaithful, but she went to meet other guys in the car that you bought her!”  Harris was clearly disgusted.  “Enough tears.  You’ve cried enough tears over her, Billy.  Now, we need to get to the bottom of things and get those people out of our lives for good.  Charla better not mess with me because I’ll fight fire with fire.  Every fisherman in the parish knows what she was up to and they’d testify if necessary because they all loved Eddie.  He was a good guy.  He never hurt a soul.”
    For those few moments, Billy was not even paying attention to what was going on around him.  Jessie cheated on him?  No wonder she didn’t want to get married.  What if the child she was pregnant with wasn’t even his?  What about all the money that was missing?   Billy did not know what to think, anymore. 
    Sarah had been nothing but nice to him.  Billy talked about Jessie non-stop on the ride to Florida hoping that he could hold Sarah at bay.  It was intentional.  He was not ready to switch gears and allow someone into his heart.  But, then sometimes when he looked at her, he could not stay detached.  He felt like a human seesaw going up and down with emotions.  That morning when Billy made love to her, he felt like he was cheating on Jessie.  Yet, she had cheated on him all along.  He had made a big mistake, no doubt.  He wished he could explain how sorry he was to Sarah.
    “Harris,” Sarah spoke softly.  “I’m so glad we came here.”
    “I’m just sorry that you’ve been dragged into this