Page 56 of Slow Burn (The Boston Beauties)

‘It’s true,’ Colleen nodded, holding her sister-in law’s hand.

‘And you didn’t tell me?’ Deb stood up, clearly angry, digging her phone out of her bag, ‘He has a hell of a lot of explaining to do.’

I stood up next to her, taking her phone from her. ‘You cannot mention this over your phone, ever. And I think it goes without saying that we can’t mention any of this publicly yet. He’s busy arranging a private jet to get her here as we speak, please don’t distract him. Colleen needs her here, and when Steve wakes up, he will need her here also.’

It dawned on her, ‘You knew, and I didn’t?’

I tried to smile, ‘Yeah, but only rather recently. Turns out our girl was a tad bit jealous of my relationship with Lisa…’

Deb laughed, actually laughed at the audacity of it. ‘Yeah, I wouldn’t let you go either.’

‘Deb,’ Colleen admonished.

‘What?’ she shrugged, sitting back down.

‘Does she know about her dad yet?’ I asked Colleen.

She shook her head, ‘I wanted to have the plane and immigration all sorted out before we told her.’

‘How’s she going to fly?’

‘She’s out of the country so Breton needs to ensure her passport is going to work with homeland security,’ I informed her on the technical side of things. ‘But don’t worry, it will, her passport is real, just has a different name, and she looks totally different now.’

‘You’ve seen her?’ Deb was shocked.

I nodded, ‘Once, not too long ago.’

Deb looked to Colleen, ‘And you?’

Colleen shook her head, looking sad. ‘Not yet.’

‘Where is she?’

‘The less you know the better,’ I told her, and Deb looked confused. ‘She plans on coming home soon, just as soon as they have all the evidence and loose ends tied up. And a plan to keep them…’

I couldn't say out of jail, I didn't want her to think that Breton could go to jail. I hadn’t been able to even fathom the fact that Breton and/or Jessa may have to spend actual time in jail for putting killers and con artists behind bars.

No other law enforcement agency would have taken the time or spent the money they had to get to the bottom of all that they had uncovered.

‘I was hoping she’d have been home by Christmas, but they have told me more like the spring now,’ I was treading lightly.

Christmas was only three weeks away, perhaps I could convince Jessa to stay now. As much as I was upset about Steve being in the hospital, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t happy and excited to be getting the chance to see Jessa, even under these circumstances.

My phone rang and I answered it right away as I saw Breton’s name on the screen, putting it on speaker phone.

‘Hey, you're on speaker, I’m here with your mom and Colleen.’

‘Boy, you have a lot of explaining to do,’ Deb started.

‘I know, but now’s not the time and most certainly not over the phone,’ he started in a firm and final tone, then asked, ‘Any update on Steve?’

‘We’re waiting on the nurse for an update,’ Colleen said. ‘I will have Andrew text you once we hear anything.’

‘Ok, thanks. I have a plane for Sarah at Luton’s private departures. It’s able to leave anytime in the next four hours, I just need to give them an hour’s notice to take-off time. It’s with Debon Air, they’re French, but were able to make it work, as they were planning to travel later today to New York. This way they make a few bucks...well, a shit ton, actually, but whatever, I’ll add it to her tab.’

‘Who’s Sarah?’ Deb asked, looking between Colleen and myself.

‘My girlfriend,’ I winked at her.

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