Bluegrass Brothers: Bluegrass Undercover - Part 18
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Part 18

"I think you can start calling me Dad now." The floodgates broke as the tears streamed down her face. Marcy sobbed again and pulled her in for another hug as Jake went to congratulate his son.

The Blossom Cafe was packed for an impromptu victory celebration and engagement party. The Rose sisters were in their zone. Miss Daisy flitted from table to table pa.s.sing out food, Miss Lily used a heavy hand as she mixed her special ice tea, and Miss Violet was talking to people through the window as she put food on large plates.

"I don't know if I should have another. You know, I hold a very prominent position in the town and I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm a lush." Pam Gilbert said as Miss Lily pushed another gla.s.s of special ice tea into her hand.

"Oh lighten up, Pam. Even the PTA President can celebrate tonight. Go wild, undo that top b.u.t.ton by your collar and no one will recognize you!"

Annie tried to contain the bark of laughter threatening to erupt at the scandalized look on Pam's face. All of Keeneston had turned out. Summer had cornered Henry, who looked petrified at her advances. The Davies family was all around her and the feeling of belonging swelled inside of her.

"Hmm. So, someone finally landed one of the famous Davies brothers. What are you, knocked up? "A snippy voice said from behind her.

Annie heard Paige's gasp and then hiss. She turned around and got an eyeful of bottled blonde hair and b.o.o.b.

"Lord love ya, are you carrying a small child up there?" Annie asked as she pointed to what could only be described as a b.u.mp-it on steroids. She had never seen hair teased and piled up so high before. And she even knew women from Texas!

"Kandi Chase-Rawlings, meet my new sister, Annie Blake." Paige slung her arm around Annie's shoulder and just smiled as Kandi stomped off in a huff towards an even more terrified looking Henry.

"Someone should go rescue Henry. He was scared before when Summer mentioned always wanting to marry a lawyer, but I'm afraid he may keel over when Kandi gets her fake nails into him," Paige told her brothers.

Everyone looked at each other. No one wanted to deal with Kandi.

"Oh fine, I'll do it. Y'all are a bunch of wimps," Peirce said as he bravely went forth to rescue Henry.

"I can't believe how many people are here. The whole courthouse showed up. I'm sure the rumor of the two of you deciding to tie the knot tonight helped. Congratulations to you both! Will and I are so happy for you!" Kenna squealed as she gave Annie a hug and as Will shook Cade's hand.

"Oh! Oh! Sit yourself down right now. A pregnant lady shouldn't be on her feet too long or those ankles will swell as big as balloons. And heels! You're wearing heels! Don't you know those will give you ugly looking veins. Bless your heart! Don't you dare grab that drink!"

Kenna rolled her eyes and allowed herself to be pushed into a chair as Miss Lily clucked over her.

Annie stepped back and watched the town interact. People laughed and teased each other. Kids and parents alike were reliving the game, and a sprite of a girl was shooting daggers at Kandi and Summer as they fawned over Pierce. Henry had taken the s.h.i.+ft in attention to his advantage and snuck off to talk to Judge LeMaster. But, unlike Henry, Peirce seemed completely at ease with the women vying for his attention.

"Hey, Kenna, who is that?" Annie asked as she pointed out the blonde pixie with a couple bright blue streaks in her hair.

"Who? Oh, that's Tammy. She's the secretary at our law offices." Kenna looked to where Tammy had started walking and cringed. "For once I feel sorry for Kandi."

"I wish I had Tammy on my security team. She is a force of nature." Ahmed turned to Annie and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Congratulations. Cade is a very lucky man. Never let him forget you are too good for him."

"Gee, thanks man." Cade moaned, all the while smiling.

"Well, he is right on all accounts." A smooth silky voice said from behind her.

Annie glanced behind her as Mo and Dani approached. He had his fiancee's hand tucked into the crook of his elbow as he guided her through the crowd to stand in a circle next to her and Cade.

"Congratulations you two! I couldn't be more excited!" Dani gave her a warm hug and Annie couldn't be happier. She had a wonderful fiance, a new family, and friends. Actual friends.

"Excuse me. I hate to interrupt the celebration, but there is someone looking for you, Annie" Annie turned to where d.i.n.ky was standing with a young woman in her early twenties.

She was about her height with curly dark red hair standing nervously in front of her. d.i.n.ky stood up very straight and it looked like he was trying to impress whoever this girl was.

"Yes? Can I help you?" Annie felt the circle break apart and all turn towards the newcomer. Cade came to stand next to her, and she was comforted by the feel of his rea.s.suring hand on her back. Marcy and Jake stood on either side of them, as she waited to find out who this woman was.

"I'm Chrystal Sharp, your cousin. I got your e-mail and I just had to meet you," the girl said hesitantly.

All conversation stopped in the Cafe. Everyone wanted to know who this new person was. After finding out Annie was undercover, they all a.s.sumed the story of a cousin in Louisville was just a cover and Annie hadn't corrected them. Annie just stared at the girl who looked somewhat like her. She didn't know exactly what to say.

"I had to come find you. I looked all over town, but couldn't find anyone. I guess they were all at the game. Then I came across this nice man who said he knew where you'd be. Is there someplace we can go talk?" She asked as d.i.n.ky seemed to stand even straighter with the compliment.

"What did she say?" Someone in the back of the Cafe 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 gla.s.s 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 pa.s.sed 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 rea.s.suring 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 fiancee 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 Cafe 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 gla.s.s 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 gla.s.s 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 confusion.

"You have a sick sense of humor. You realize since you closed the door so fast he now thinks he just slid through gla.s.s." Cade leaned against the kitchen island in nothing but some low hung jeans. "What got you up early?"

"I got a phone call this morning from Noodle," she told him.

"Noodle?"

"It seems that the sheriff is on medical leave and they need more help. He offered me a job as a deputy and the head of the rural drug education program. Twice a week I would have office hours at the high school."

"What did you tell him?"

"That I could start in two weeks," she said as she smiled.

"Are you sure?" She could hear Cade trying to contain his excitement at the idea of having her working in Keeneston.

"I'm positive. I don't want to do undercover work anymore. I loved working with the kids, and maybe I can make a difference in some of their lives. I want to be near you, to have the kind of family I never thought I would have." Annie ran her hand up his bare chest and wrapped her fingers around his neck, bringing his head down for a kiss.

The doorbell rang and Annie reluctantly pulled away. Justin jumped onto the sliding gla.s.s door and fell sideways, opening the door enough for him to nuzzle it open and slip through. He ran ahead of her to the front door and barked.

Annie opened the door and was surprised to see Chrystal, Paige, Marcy, Kenna and Danielle standing there. "Um, not to sound rude, but what is everyone doing here?"

Marcy stepped forward, "I talked to Chrystal some after the game, and we thought it would be fun to do some wedding shopping. Well, I told Paige...."

"And I insisted I come too. You're going to be my sister after all," Paige cut in.

Kenna walked forward with her rounded belly and Danielle by her side, "And when Paige told us what you all were up to, we also invited ourselves."

"But, we come bearing gifts." Danielle handed over two binders to Annie who stared at them in awe. "That's right. All the wedding planning details, names, colors, locations, you could ever imagine. I had to steal it from the royal wedding committee to make a copy. I like keeping those folks on their toes."

"So, I thought it would be fun for us to all get together and start planning your wedding," Chrystal said.

"Have you all decided on a date? If not, can I suggest April?" Kenna asked with a grin. Annie rolled her eyes. G.o.d, she loved this town.

Epilogue.

Annie set the patio table with the china she had received for her wedding three months ago to the day. She and Cade had a beautiful ceremony at St. Francis the week after Valentine's Day. Cade had told everyone it was her birthday, and there would be a party at the farm that afternoon. Birthday invitations had gone out to the whole town. The Rose sisters were in charge of keeping it a surprise.

While the Rose sisters and others were putting final touches on cakes, gifts, and so on, she and Cade had quietly gotten married with just their family present. Marcy had cried alongside Chrystal, whom she had become very close to in the last six months. Paige had been her maid of honor while Marshall had been Cade's best man. Justin had looked very handsome in his black tuxedo and tie as he walked her down the aisle. She had worn a beautiful white lace dress that had belonged to Marcy. Paige had added a red satin sash that flowed down the train. It had been perfect. Kenna and Will were even able to attend with their perfect, two-week-old baby girl Sienna. Will and Kenna were beaming with pride as they showed off the cute baby with strawberry blonde hair. With her chubby cheeks and her mommy's mischievous glint to her eye, Sienna was the life of the party.

Cy even made a brief appearance to welcome her to the family. She had been taken aback by the similarities in all the brothers, but the cold, fierce distance behind Cy's eyes had her feeling an instant connection to him. After all, she had once been like that. Although no one seemed to realize it, Miles had the same look. He just hid it better. They were determined to conquer some enemy in their past, and if she was a betting woman, she'd put her money on them.

After the ceremony, they had entered the "surprise" birthday party and surprised their guests instead. The Rose sisters cried and hugged them after playfully hitting Cade for fooling them. Trey had stared at them in awe as he pulled out a little piece of paper from his pocket.

Put $50 on February 21st for the Cade/Annie wedding. The winnings should cover the gap in tuition and scholars.h.i.+p you received from Miami of Ohio.

Annie lifted her finger to her lips and gave him a wink from across the room. Trey was the only person in town to bet on the correct month and day. He won the pot of over $5,000.00 and could now afford to attend his first choice college.

Annie smiled to herself as she filled the gla.s.ses with sweet tea. She had another secret, but this one she'd share with the family. After all, the new deputy sheriff shouldn't be accused of rigging illegal gambling pools. It just wouldn't look right.

"Cuz?"

"Back here, Chrystal!" Her little cousin had just graduated from the University of Louisville and was moving to Lexington to start her first job.

"Look at all this food. Did Marcy come over again?"

"Nope. She cooked it all by herself," Marcy answered as she came out of the kitchen with a platter of food.

Within minutes, her family was around her, talking, laughing, and teasing. Her cousin had been adopted by the whole family and was being interrogated by Miles about her latest boyfriend. Cade stood behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled her neck and whispered something dirty in her ear that had her laughing out loud.

Cole and Paige came around the house and joined the party. They had just returned from their honeymoon. They had been married on some large rocks, in the middle of a stream, in the woods on her parents' property. Wild flowers had surrounded the natural alter as most of the town formed a semi-circle around the couple on the banks of the stream.

"h.e.l.lo, everyone!" Paige bounded up the stairs as Cole hurried after her. He looked slightly ill. His face was pale and he looked nervous. "I know it's Annie's dinner, and thank you for hosting it tonight, but I just can't wait until after dinner to make an announcement."

Annie watched as Paige clasped Cole's hand, and by the way she was glowing and the way Marcy was tearing up, there was no doubt what the announcement was going to be.

"We're going to have a baby!" Paige couldn't contain the smile on her face. Her mother started crying and even Jake got misty eyed when he hugged her. Cole started looking better the longer they were there, but he still looked terrified until Jake gave him a hug. When he had gotten Jake's approval, he visibly relaxed.

"Oh! A grandchild, oh Jake, we're going to have a grandchild." Marcy hugged her husband as tears trickled down her face.

"Ma, I'm sorry to tell you, but you're not going to have a grandchild." At Cade's statement, the patio went quiet. "You're going to have grandchildren." The patio remained silent as they stared at Cade, trying to figure out his meaning.

Cade squeezed her hand and took in the moment. Justin came bounding up with his yellow bow pulling back the hair from his eyes and stopped before Annie. He placed his nose on her belly and thumped his tail. Marcy gasped and pulled Paige and her into a tight hug.

"My daughters are having babies together. Jake, I can die now."

"Why don't you wait to die until after you meet the babies? You may then wish to re-evaluate the time of your death, dear."

"Congratulations, brother!" Cade shook Marshall's hand and gave him a hug.

"You better be careful. You might be next," he teased.

"I wouldn't bet on that." Even as Marshall said it, the unwelcome picture of a tall, angry, blonde crossed his mind.

Cade caught Annie's eye and they shared a secret smile. She was pretty sure they'd be taking Marshall up on that bet. They'd visit the Blossom Cafe tomorrow to do just that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.