| Chapter Four Sara looked around the room that Kathy had just led her into. "Its beautiful" she whispered, still not able to believe that total strangers would open their home and hearts to her. "Let me show you the rest of the house, by then Grams and Gramps should be back" Kathy said. Since they were upstairs, Kathy showed her the rooms there. "And this one is mine" she said as she opened the door across the hall from Sara's. "I'm really glad you agreed to stay with us. It'll be like having a sister I never had before" Kathy gushed as she led her downstairs. They were in the kitchen preparing lunch when the front door opened and someone called out "Kathy, we're home." "Grams we're in the kitchen, lunch will be ready in just a minute." An elderly couple entered the kitchen. "Sara, I'd like you to meet my grandparents, Adolph and Ursula Fernandez. Grams, Gramps this is Sara Parker." Sara reached out and shook their hands, "Its nice to meet both of you, Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez. Thank you so much for letting me stay." "You're more than welcome here. And please call us Grams and Gramps, everyone does" Ursula said. "Okay Grams" Sara said as they sat down to eat lunch. They talked quietly, getting to know one another. "I do need to tell you all something. I don't feel its right to keep it from you" Sara said as she twisted her napkin. "Whatever it is can't be that bad" Gramps said. Sara smiled at his attempt to ease her discomfort. "My grandpa died a week and a half ago. In his will he left me his house and his holdings." Sara continued to tell them everything that had happened all the way up until she was attacked in front of the store. "I'll understand if you want me to leave. I don't want to bring any trouble to you." The three other occupants of the room exchanged looks and Gramps said, "Sara, we want you to stay. Thank you for telling us, we'll do all we can to help you." Sara wiped the tears from her face as she listened to the compassion in his voice. "Come on Sara, let's do the dishes and then we'll go down to the store and I'll show you the ropes" Kathy said as she took the dishes into the kitchen. That evening after spending a couple of hours at the store, Kathy and Sara laid on Kathy's bed listening to the radio. "I can't wait for my cousin Alex to come home this weekend. He's on vaccation. I think you'll really like him, and I'm sure he'll like you. I can't wait for you to meet him" she said. "Kathy, I know who your cousin and Nick are. I've known who Nick was since I met him in the hospital." Kathy's eyes grew wide and she exclaimed "You knew?!" "Yeah. It's kinda hard to miss who he was when I have every cd they've ever made. I figured out who Alex was when Grams showed me the photo album earlier." "That takes a load off of my mind. I wasn't sure how to tell you" Kathy said as she stiffled a yawn. "I think I'm going to hit the bed. I still tire easily. I'll see you tomorrow, good night" Sara said as she stood. "Night Sara" Kathy said as Sara left the room. The rest of the week flew by as Sara settled into work and life with the Fernandez's. Her wound was healing and the pain was lessening. She still worried about the danger she was in, but she tried to put it in the back of her mind. CHAPTER 5 Saturday morning, Sara was in the kitchen doing dishes after Kathy left for the store and Grams and Gramps went to the grocery. She had the radio on and was singing to the words as she washed, rinsed and dried. "Hello anyone home?" a raspy voice called from the hall. Sara dried her hands on a towel and went to the hall to welcome Alex home. "Hi. Grams and Gramps are at the grocery and Kathy left for work about five minutes ago. You just missed her" she said as she extended her hand. "Who did you say you were again?" he asked as he accepted her hand, and shook it firmly. "Oh I'm sorry. I thought Kathy might of told you. My name is Sara Parker and I'm staying here for awhile." AJ looked at the strikingly beautiful woman before him and wondered how that had happened. The question must of showed on his face because she said, "I was attacked outside of your cousins store and she and Nick called 911 and made sure I was taken care of," she shrugged her shoulders before continuing, "To make a long story short, Kathy and your grandparents invited me to stay here. I've been here in Orlando for two weeks and here in the house for one week." AJ nodded not sure what to say. Sara smiled at him and said, "You could call Kathy at the store and check out my story if it would make you feel any better. I wouldn't mind. I know I would be skeptical if I came home and found a stranger living with my family." "I think that's a good idea." With that he walked to the phone and called Kathy. Deciding to give him some privacy, Sara returned to the kitchen to finish up the dishes. As she was putting the last dish away, the front door opened and Gramps called out "Sara, we're home." Sara folded the towel and placed it on the counter and then turned to help bring in the groceries. "Thank you dear" Grams said as she started putting away the food. Sara stepped up and began to help. AJ stood in the door and watched in amazement, as Sara worked right along side his grandma. "AJ when did you get home?" Gramps asked as he turned from the cabinet. "This morning. I came straight here after seeing mom." "Let me introduce you to this young woman here. AJ meet Sara Parker. She's been staying with us and helping out at the store and around the house." "We've met" he said as he glanced in Sara's direction. Sara met his gaze and smiled nervously. "Grams, I'm off to the store to help Kathy. It was nice to meet you AJ" she said as turned to leave. Gramps kissed her cheek and told her to be careful. "It.. it was nice meeting you too" AJ stammered as he watched the open display of affection between his grandparents and Sara. After she left, AJ and his grandparents moved into the living room. "You really don't mind her staying here?" he asked as they took their seats. "Heavens no. The poor thing has been through so much in the last month. We couldn't just turn her out, not to mention the fact that since she's been here, she's taken alot of work off of us" Grams said. "What do you mean she's been through alot?" AJ said, becoming curious about this woman. "Her grandfather died. He was her only relative. Her parents died when she was little and she went to live with her grandparents. Then about four years ago, her grandma passed away. The morning after the reading of her grandpa's will, she got a letter from her grandpa's lawyer warning her that she was in danger and to leave that night. She was to meet a family friend, but found out that he'd died also. Having no where to go, she kept driving. She was standing outside of Kathy's store, waiting for it to open so she could apply for a job when she was attacked. She was stabbed and spent almost a week in the hospital recovering. Kathy asked us if Sara could stay here with us and we agreed. She's been here ever since" Gramps said, a tender smile on his lips. "Wow! She has been through alot. What kind of danger is she in?" "We have no idea. The police are investigating the attack here, but she's not said anything about what is or may be happening where she's from." They spent the rest of the day talking and catching up. AJ was so glad to be home and he couldn't wait to see his cousin Kathy. "BONE!" Kathy yelled as she ran through the house. AJ laughed and hugged Kathy tightly to him. "Hey Bono. What's up?" They talked animatedly and Sara went up the stairs to change, giving them both some privacy. She checked her stitches, to make sure they were clean, then slipped a tank top on. She went down to the kitchen to see if she could help. "Hey Grams, need any help?" "Chop the potatos please" she said as she indicated with a hand the pile that waited. They worked in companionable silence, preparing the meal. "Thank you Sara. Why don't you go find Kathy and AJ" she said, phrasing it more as a statement instead of a question. Sara smiled and went to find the cousins. "Sara, here we are" Kathy called when she saw Sara come to the door. Sara stepped out onto the deck and closed the door behind her. "I don't want to interrupt.." she began. "Don't be silly. You're not interrupting, have a seat" Kathy offered. "I'm, uh really sorry about this morning. I was just in shock" AJ said. "That's no problem, like I said I'd be skeptical too." After dinner, Sara took a blanket outside and spread it under the darkening sky. She laid down and stared up at the stars, thinking about her grandpa and how much she missed him. "Can I join you?" AJ asked. Sara turned her head to look at him and he saw that she was crying. "Hey what are the tears for?" he asked as he sat beside her. She tentatively raised her hand and found that she really was crying. "Just thinking about my grandpa" she whispered as she wiped away the remaining tears. "Grams and Gramps told me what happened. Have you thought about contacting the police in your hometown, or the lawyer and see what's being done?" She shook her head and began to cry again. AJ laid down beside her and pulled her into his arms. "Shh", he crooned, "I'm here for you." Sara's tears lessened as she lay in his arms. "I'm just so scared. I'm afraid if I contact them, he'll find out and come after me." "He? He who?" he asked softly. "My great uncle. Don't ask me how I know, but somehow he's involved in whatever danger I'm in. He...he just sat there with a smug look on his face when that part of the will was read." "What part Sara?" "In the event of her death everything will go to my brother Jeffery Parker. My grandpa would never have said that, never. I'm only twenty-two, and its not like he left a fortune." "Sara, if you were still at home, you would've probably already started going through your grandfather's personal things. Is there anybody back there that you trust to do something like that?" he asked quietly as his hand ran up and down her arm. "Mrs. Bixby, she's the housekeeper. She could do it." "Then why don't you call her and ask her to go through his things. Maybe she'll find something important. I think maybe you should contact the police too" he suggested in the same soft comforting tone. Sara nodded her head in agreement, but said nothing more. ~~~****~~~ "Did you find anything?" Jeffery Parker asked as he looked at his hired lackey. "I searched the whole house, and the only thing I found was this" he said holding out a piece of paper to his boss. "Well hell" he swore as he read the note. "At least now we know where she is. Let's go pay a visit to Mr. Blakely" he suggested with a sneer. 'Oh yes, the bitch was going to pay and pay dearly for all of this extra trouble' he thought as he climbed into the car. He'd already lost out on three deals because he didn't have the capital to back up his end of the deals. "What's the plan?" the hired lackey asked as he drove. "We're going to rough him up and see how much he really knows." ~~~****~~~ CHAPTER 6 Sara had taken AJ's advice and called Mrs. Bixby. She had been assured that Mrs. Bixby would go through Mr. Parker's personal things. And much to Sara's shock, she also informed Sara that Mr. Blakely had been attacked and was in the hospital. He had yet to regain consciousness. That night, Sara dreamed that her great uncle was coming at her with a knife, saying vile things to her as he advanced. "NOOOOOOOOOO" Sara screamed as the knife flashed in an arch. AJ heard her screams and raced for her room. Kathy also heard them and was coming out of her room as AJ raced past. "Sara, wake up Sara. Its just a dream sweetheart" AJ whispered as he held Sara in his arms. "Oh god it was so real. He was coming at me with a knife, he had killed Mrs. Bixby and was coming after me" she sobbed. "It was just a dream, you're safe now. I've got you" he said as kept rocking her. AJ held her until her breathing evened out and she fell back asleep. He laid her back on the bed and pulled the covers over her. "Is she going to be alright?" Kathy asked from the door. AJ held his finger in front of his mouth, and waited until he shut the door before answering Kathy's question. "I think she will be now. She found out earlier today that her grandpa's lawyer was attacked and he's not regained conciousness yet. I'm pretty sure that's what triggered the dream." Kathy stood in the hall with her arms wrapped around her trying to ward off the chill that seemed determined to invade her body. "How much more can she take?" she whispered. AJ wrapped his arms around his cousin and said, "She's strong. She'll make it. Now let's get some sleep." Kathy nodded and allowed herself to be led down the hall to her room. ~~****~~ TWO DAYS LATER "Did you find her?" Jeffery asked the man before him. "Uhm not exactly" the man replied softly, as he steeled himself for the outburst from his boss. Not one to disappoint, Jeffery reacted in the predicted way. "What do you mean not exactly?" he roared, bringing his fist down against the desk. "I went to Gainsville, to the hotel where Johnathon stayed. I asked the clerk if he knew where I could find a Mr. Riley. He informed me that he had passed away due to heart failure. Then I asked him if a young woman had come in asking about him. The clerk said yes, but that she'd left as soon as she found out that he died. He said she didn't say where she was going, only that she got in her car and drove away." "Shit! I need that money and I need it now" Jeffery spouted, turning red in the face. "Go, but stay close. I'll contact you when I need you." The little man moved as if the hounds of hell were on his heels. As he stepped outside of the house he took a deep breath and vowed that as soon as this was over and he got his share of the money he was getting out. He was just to old for this business. |