Bluegrass Undercover (Bluegrass Brothers)

organization is all in jail,” Romero ordered. “Go home, Blake. Keep me posted.”
     
    Annie pulled into St. Frances’ parking lot and found two trucks parked in front of her house. Warm light lit up her porch as she climbed the steps. She recognized Cade’s farm truck, but the other truck was not known to her.
    She cautiously opened the door and stuck her head into her house. She took a whiff and started to drool a little. It smelled warm and yummy. Cade was sitting on the couch with his dad, watching SportsCenter . She looked around her small house and found Marcy in the kitchen. She was pulling the casserole out of the oven and Annie’s stomach rumbled. There was the source of the great smell.
    “Welcome home, dear! Cade said you had a meeting that would run late. I also know you don’t cook, so I thought I would bring this chicken pot pie over so you have something good to eat before bed.” Annie bit the inside of her cheek to prevent from tearing up. No one had ever thought to make sure she had a good meal before bed.
    “Thank you, Marcy. Maybe someday I will learn to cook that. It smells great.”
    “Well, to each her own. If you don’t like cooking, then don’t. Cooking is made with love after all.”
    “It’s not that I don’t like it. I just don’t know how. I never had anyone to teach me,” she said quietly.
    “Well! Why didn’t you say so? I’ll teach you. Now, it’s late and you need your rest. Jake! It’s time to go.” Marcy leaned forward and gave her a motherly kiss on the cheek and a squeeze of her hand before herding her husband out the door.
    Cade came to stand beside her and slipped his arm around her waist. “I take it, it didn’t go well?”
    “No, we got nowhere. I knew every person there and have no reason to suspect any of them. So, we booked the ones we’re holding and will just hope that the boss will get nervous and slip up. But, your mom’s cooking is making me feel better.” She walked into the kitchen and got down a plate. “I must admit. I’m getting spoiled being around her. It gives me a feeling of family I never had.”
    “You could have the family you want now.” Annie thought about what he said as she ate a late dinner. Could she have it all?
     
    *      *     *
     
    Annie sat at her home computer and stared at the old email. Cade was at practice at Commonwealth Stadium for the championship game Saturday evening, and here she was, sitting alone at home on a Sunday night. She forced her thoughts back to the old email from her cousin Chrystal. Cade and his family were stirring up feelings she never knew she had or wanted. All she could think about was wanting to share the love and closeness the Davies shared. But, was Keeneston just one more stop in a life of constant moves and let-downs?
    She hit reply and typed a short message to her cousin. She did not agree to meet, but it was enough that the feeling of being alone in the world abated. The knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts.
    “Hiya!” Paige pushed her way through the door with bags of food, heading straight for the kitchen.
    “Hello, dear. We’re here to teach you how to cook. I brought all the makings for Cade’s favorite and easy dinner. And,” Marcy pulled out a white box with a green ribbon tied on it and handed it to her, “this is for you. Every cook needs one.”
    Annie opened the box and pulled out a light-green apron lined with a white ribbon. Her name was embroidered across the chest. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. “Thank you so much. This is lovely.” It was also a sign. She was putting down roots. She had love and friendship. This wasn’t just another stopover. This was home.
     
    Annie smiled and asked old Mr. Fowler how his hip was doing as she walked with him to the cafeteria for lunch. Mrs. Bentley waved hello as she hurried to her next class. Ms. Lopez stood by the big double doors waiting for their lunch date. Ever since yesterday when Paige and Marcy spent the afternoon with her, she realized how much she had become integrated into Keeneston in the months since her arrival.
    “Nervous about tonight?”
    “You know I am, Margaret,” Annie told her friend as she sat at one of the teacher tables in the brightly lit cafeteria.
    “There’s always a first time and it’s always the worst. But, I promise, it does get better.”
    “Really?”
    “Sure. I remember the first meal I cooked Randy and it was horrible. I had to