Fire and Ice: A Paranormal Romance (7 page)

              Billy and Sarah were not even boyfriend and girlfriend, yet he was mentioning kids.  Did he like her?  Maybe he did.  She sure hoped so because she was falling for him.  Billy was easy-going in a way that she had never experienced with anyone before.  Whenever he held her, she just melted in his arms.  Just then, Billy leaned over and gave her a kiss. 

              “Good morning,” he said.

              “Good morning.”  She smiled at him.   

              “Hey, do you want to go for a swim before we take off?” he asked.

              “Yes,” she answered.  “That would be perfect.  But, what am I going to do about my hair?  It takes forever to blow-dry it.”

              “Do you need to?” he asked.

              “If I want to look decent to meet your parents I do,” she replied.

              “You’re totally decent,” he smiled.  “I can vouch for that,” he laughed.

              “I guess you can,” she grinned.  A free condo, a beach outside, wine, and no sex…Yes, she was decent, all right.

              “I don’t always come on so strong as I did last night,” he joked.

              “Me, either,” she assured him.

              “Want to make up for it?” he asked.

              “Right now?”

              “Yes.”

              Billy got up and headed to the master bedroom.  Sarah followed him.  They made love.  If he was interested in someone else, then he sure fooled her because she had not had that much passion in a long time.  When they finished, she laid nestled in his arms.  “Maybe I should kidnap you more often,” she smiled.

              “You think so?” he asked.

              “Well, I don’t know, but I’d say that Florida agrees with you.”

              “No, I think
you
agree with me.”  He kissed her.

              Then, she put her head back down on his chest.  “I thought we had a mystery to solve,” she said.

              “We just solved it,” he laughed.

              She gave him a hug.  “You’re right.  I guess we did.  By the way, you’re one hell of a detective,” she joked.

              “That’s only because you gave me the right clues.”  He kissed her again.

              “I guess I’m not decent anymore, am I?” she smiled.

              “You never were,” he said to her.

              “What?”

              “You aren’t decent.  You’re amazing,” he smiled.

              “So are you,” she told him.  He put his arms around her and held her tight.    

              “Yes,” she thought to herself,  “I could definitely get used to this.”

Chapter Seven

Parents

-

Harris and Alise Alfonso had a sprawling one-story beach house on the water in Panama City.  It was tastefully decorated with all of Alise’s large oil paintings.  The coral and pale blue color scheme throughout their home was as inviting as they were. The couple had grown quite fond of living in Florida amongst the mostly seasonal beach crowd.  The move from Louisiana was a welcome change for them.  “Even though we run the gallery,” Billy’s mother had told him in the past, “it always feels like we’re on vacation here.”

Billy and Sarah arrived in the early afternoon.  They were invited for lunch and shortly after they got there, Billy went with his father out to the terrace where he had already started up the grill.  Sarah and Alise headed toward the kitchen to get some plates and carry out the food that was ready.   

“You hit the jackpot,” Harris declared as he stood outside barbecuing some hamburgers. 

Harris was a robust man in his mid-fifties with deep brown eyes and dark wavy hair. He appeared to be an older version of his son. However, while Billy was easy-going, Harris had a reputation for being outspoken.

“What do you mean?” asked Billy sitting down at the table. 

“Sarah.  She is all that David claimed she was—and more.”

“You don’t even know her, Daddy.”

“No, but I know my son.  I’ve seen his face for four empty years.  Hollow.  Like no one was home.  This is the first day you’ve come to life since Jessie’s disappearance.  I don’t know a thing about this girl, but I like her.  I feel like she gave me my son back.” 

Just then, Sarah stepped out on the terrace carrying a stack of blue dishes.  Billy’s mother brought a pot of freshly cooked jambalaya.  They set them on the table and sat down.

“You can take the woman out of Louisiana,” smiled Harris.  “But, you can’t take Louisiana out of the woman.”

“Have you ever had jambalaya?” Billy asked Sarah.

“No, I haven’t,” she replied.

“Well, my mama’s is the best, so you’re in for a treat,” he smiled.

“I can’t wait to try it,” said Sarah.  Then, she looked at Alise.  “Thank you so much for inviting us.  It’s so beautiful here.  You have an exquisite home.”

“Thank you.  We love it here,” said Alise.  “We’re so happy that you kids came to visit us.  Next time, I’ll make some authentic Isleno food.”  Alise was a petite woman in early fifties with shiny black hair that she wore up in a topknot.  Her large brown eyes sparkled as she spoke. 

“I’d love to taste it,” said Sarah.  “I also want to tell you that your artwork is amazing, Mrs. Alfonso.”

“Please, call me Alise.”

“Your artwork is amazing, Alise,” Sarah smiled.

“Thank you, Dear.  When we’re finished eating, I’d be happy to show you more pieces if you’re interested.”

“Interested?  Oh, I’d love to see them,” Sarah told her.  “Your dishes are so beautiful, too.  I couldn’t help noticing how unique they are.”

“My mother made them,” said Alise.

“She did?” asked Sarah.

“Yes, she made pottery for years.  She still has her own potter’s wheel and a kiln,” Alise informed her.  “That was what prompted her to open the art gallery because her work was so well known.”

“Well, now I know who you get your talent from,” smiled Sarah. 

“Where did you find this girl?” Alise asked Billy.

“I didn’t,” admitted Billy.  “David went dredging for oysters and came back with Sarah,” he laughed.

“Well, she is a pearl all right,” said his father as he continued grilling.  “Sarah, we’re so happy to meet you.”

“Thank you, Harris.  I’m happy to be here.”

* * * * *

They all enjoyed lunch.  Sarah felt so at home with Billy’s parents.  When they finished, Sarah asked, “Where is Gabby?”

“She’s out on a boat with some friends,” said Alise.

“Oh, it’s too bad that the Gabster couldn’t be here today,” Billy smiled.

“I’m sorry I won’t get to see her,” said Sarah.

“I hope you’ll be able to meet her next time,” replied Alise.

On their way to Panama City, Billy and Sarah had decided to speak with his parents about Jessie’s family.  No doubt, they would keep the matter confidential, especially if their son was in any kind of danger of reprisal from Charla.  Sarah was eager to meet Gabby.   But, she was more interested in finding out if Billy’s parents could shed light on the situation at hand.  Gabby’s absence would allow them the necessary privacy to discuss the issue.

“Daddy and Mama, could we talk to you about something?” asked Billy.

“Why certainly, Dear,” said his mother.

“We’re not going to be grandparents, are we?” smiled his father.

“No, Daddy, it’s not that kind of ‘something,’ at all,” Billy grinned.

“Too bad because I was going to go buy him a fishing pole.”

“Harris, would you please mind your manners?” asked Alise. 

“Forgive me, Alise.  I’m just glad to see our son in such good spirits.  It’s been a long time,” he asserted.  “I had almost forgotten what it was like.”

“I know, but you don’t want to put our guest on the spot, do you?”

“I’m sorry, Sarah,” he apologized.

“No need, Harris,” Sarah assured him.  “I was just wondering if you were going to buy bait, too.”  She grinned at him.

“I like this girl, Billy,” said his father slapping him on the back.  Harris was good-natured.  “We need someone like her around here.  She’s a treasure.”

“All I know is that I’ve never seen my son look so happy,” Alise looked at Sarah smiling.

“You mean in four years, right Mama?” asked Billy.

“No, I mean
ever
,” said his mother.  “Maybe I look at things differently because I am an artist, but you two just look as if you belong together.”

Alise had never told Billy that about Jessie.  What had gotten into her? 

“Well, we actually wanted to talk to you about something else.  But, it has to stay here right between us,” said Billy.

“Harris,” Sarah looked directly at Billy’s father.  “You were friends with Eddie, Jessie’s dad, right?”

“For years,” said Harris.  “Eddie and I went way back.  Why?”

“Do you know anything unusual about Charla?”

“It depends how you mean it,” said Harris.

“Well, she sure knew how to spend Eddie’s money whenever he made it,” interjected Alise.  “She kept him in the poor house for nearly thirty years.”

“What did she buy?” asked Sarah.

“No one knows,” Alise told her.  “I used to wonder if she socked it away without Eddie realizing it.”

“Why do you ask?” Harris was surprised she knew about the family.

“We’ll get to that later, Daddy,” Billy assured him.  “Do you know anything else about Charla?”

“Only what the guys on the boats said,” Harris remarked.  “News spreads like wildfire among fishermen, believe me.”

“What did they say?” asked Billy.

“They said that she kept begging Eddie for a computer.  He actually bought her several throughout the years.  She’d sit there on that Internet and talk to strangers ’til all hours of the night.  Sometimes she’d still be up when Eddie left for work in the morning.”  Harris may have been onto something.  Sarah needed to know.

“Whom was she talking to?” she asked.

“Damned if I know,” replied Harris.  “She had men calling her all the time, too.  Eddie, poor bastard, it broke his heart.  Sometimes I thought he was lucky that he drowned in that water.  It may have been better than drowning in his own tears.”

“Jessie never mentioned a word of it to me,” remarked Billy. 

“She was too busy chasing you to notice what was going on under her own roof,” said Harris.

“Harris, that’s enough!” cautioned Alise.

“Well, it’s true.  Why shouldn’t I say it?”

“Because the girl is gone.”

“Telling a lie won’t bring her back,” he told wife.  “Sorry, Billy.  I don’t mean to hurt you.”

“It’s okay, Daddy.”

Sarah put her hand on Billy’s shoulder.  “Oh, my God, Billy.  Remember the computers?”

“Jesus, Sarah, you’re right.”

“What are you two talking about?” Harris wanted answers.

“Daddy, we’ll explain in a few minutes.  What else do you know?”

“Know?  I know that Charla was out whoring around.”

“Harris, watch your language,” Alise warned him.  “There are ladies present.”

“Well, she was,” insisted Harris.

“She’s a widow.  Why not let sleeping dogs lie?” suggested Alise.

“Because my friend Eddie suffered for years because of it and the only reason that he wouldn’t leave her was because she threatened to turn him in for tax evasion.”

“What?” asked Sarah.

“Eddie was a fisherman.  He spent his entire life on the water.  He worked hard to support his family.  Sometimes, he made money, but didn’t report it.  That was a long time ago.  Cash deals.  Charla had him by the balls.  When Eddie died, the sorrow went with him.  I think that she robbed him blind the whole time he was living and stashed it away.”

“I thought that Charla was hurting for money when Eddie died,” said Billy.

“No way!  That’s what she wanted
you
to think so that you would not quibble about the price of the boat,” insisted Harris.  “That’s when Jessie was calling all the shots in your life, so I wasn’t about to get mixed up in that deal or influence you one way or the other. 

“But, as far as Charla is concerned,” his dad went on, “I’d say she was rollin’ in dough.  She just didn’t want anyone to know it so they’d feel sorry for her.  The land on the bayou that her trailer was sitting on was worth a fortune.  It was prime property and she sold it.  If she did get insurance money later, that would have only been icing on the cake because that woman was sitting pretty long before then—and Eddie was the one who earned every penny of it.”

“Harris, do you know anyone that Charla was involved with?” asked Sarah.

“Which Tom, Dick, or Harry
wasn’t
she involved with?” Harris retorted.

“Harris, please is this necessary?” asked Alise.

“This little Texan asked me a question and I’m just answering it,” Harris said to his wife.  “Now why would I lie to this young girl?”

“What do you know about them?” asked Sarah.

“She met men from all over the country.  She’d drive over to the casino in Mississippi to meet them,” he informed her.

“How do you know?” she asked.

“Because she was seen over there so many times,” replied Harris.

“One guy was from Boston—a Mr. Shaunessy.  Eddie thought she was flying him down here on his money.  The nerve.”

Billy looked at Sarah and put his arm around her.  Sarah started to cry.  “Excuse me a minute,” she said and walked into the house.

“Now, see what you did,” said Alise to her husband.

Billy followed Sarah through the French doors to the den.  “Where are you going?” he asked.

“I don’t know.”  The tears were pouring down her face. 

Sarah was sobbing as she walked toward the pale blue sofa.  He rushed to put his arms around her.  “I’m so sorry,” he said.

Just then, Harris walked in from outside.  “Sarah, I apologize.”

Billy tried to console her, but it was not working.

Harris just stood there.  He did not know what to do.  What could he have said that upset her so greatly?  “Me and my big mouth,” he thought to himself.  He walked up to them.  “Sarah, please accept my apology.”

“It’s okay, Daddy.  It’s not you,” Billy reassured him.  “She’s just got to cry this out.”