Bluegrass Undercover (Bluegrass Brothers)

asked.
    “She wants to go someplace to talk to our Annie ,” another person answered before being shushed by the onlookers.
    “We’ll just all find out anyway. Why don’t you speak your mind? We’ll be quiet. Besides, Annie’s here with family,” Miss Lily told her as she shoved a glass of ice tea into Chrystal’s hand and took a seat so she could be the first to hear what this newcomer wanted.
    “She’s right. They will find out. What do you want?” Annie stood rigid as she watched the woman fidget with her hands.
    “I had to find you to tell you that I didn’t know. I didn’t know what my mother had done. See, I was only three when your mother died. My mom had moved up in the world. She had married my father who was much older than she was. He was a surgeon in Indianapolis and then moved to head up the department at the University of Louisville. He passed away three years ago at the age of eighty-three.”
    “I’ m sorry to hear that, hon,” Marcy put in when Annie didn’t say anything. Cade gave her a reassuring touch and she focused back on her cousin.
    “Well, my mother had been furious when she heard I had contacted you. I didn’t understand why. She said you were just like your mother, looking for a handout and that you would see how well off we were and try to steal from us. I knew that wouldn’t be so. I had done a lot of research and knew you were with the DEA’s office. Anyway, my mother just lost her battle with breast cancer six months ago. I was going through all her things when I found the letters from Children Services in Florida, begging her to take you or you would end up in foster care.” Annie saw tears start to glisten in her cousin’s eyes and softened a little. She had been just a child. She couldn’t have protected her.
    “When I got your email, I had to come see you. You’re the only family I have left, and I would love nothing more than to become a family.” Chrystal dug a tissue out of her purse and dabbed her eyes.
    Annie didn’t know if she could speak, so she just nodded. Her little cousin looked so relieved. Color came back to her face, and when she smiled, Annie felt it in her heart. Cade gave her a hug, and for the first time in her life Annie didn’t feel bitter. The chip that had sat on her shoulder for almost twenty years was lifted.
    “Welcome to the family. I’ m sure when my fiancée can talk, she’ll let you know you now have a rather large extended family,” Cade said as he rubbed his hand up and down Annie’s back.
    “Really, a large family?” Chrystal asked excitedly.
    “Yes, Cade has five brothers and a sister. And this is my future mother-in-law Marcy Davies and her husband Jake Davies,” Annie finally said.
    “This is my oldest son Miles, and that one is Marshall, and the younger one there is Pierce. Cy is out of town at the moment. And this is my daughter Paige.” Marcy introduced Annie’s new family to her cousin.
    She hadn’t heard them come to stand behind her, but they were all there now shaking hands with her cousin. The Café erupted with introductions and people came to embrace the newest extended member of the Keeneston community.
    “You know, I never got to thank you.”
    “What for, Peirce?” Annie asked.
    “It’s pretty cool that you saved my brother. It finally gives me something to hang over his head. He had to be rescued by a girl. That’s the best gift anyone could give me.” Pierce gave her a bear hug and went to torture his brother. She had never been happier in her life. She was finally at peace.
     
    *     *     *
     
    Annie came downstairs early the next morning. She and Chrystal were going to go shopping together later today before Chrystal had to get back to college on Monday. She opened the sliding glass door and called for Justin.
    She heard him run down the stairs. She heard when he slid around the corner, his feet clawing madly to get traction on the hardwood floor. He appeared then, hair blown back as he sped toward the door. Annie could see the instant he remembered that last time he had done this he went head first into the glass door. Justin tried to back pedal, but when that didn’t work he sat down. His hair slid across the polished hardwood floor, and his eyes grew round as he neared the door. He ducked his head in preparation for impact but went sailing through the open door and stopped on the patio. Annie shook her head and laughed as Justin stared at the now closed door in