Private Stock

by Iris Bolling

  “I was looking at rooms tonight and I think I’m going to take the suite downstairs until Cainan comes. Then we will take the master suite upstairs.”

  “I think that’s a wonderful idea. Then on your wedding night you two can christen the master suite by hanging from the chandeliers.”

  “Mother!”

  “What? Girl your father and I hung from chandeliers, rooftops and a little bit of everything we could find. How do you think I ended up with five children? Hell I can tell you exactly where each of you were conceived.”

  “Too much information mother. TMI”

  CHAPTER 19

  “Good morning Daisy,” AnnieMarie walked down the back stair case into the kitchen dressed in a beautiful emerald green, boat neck tea dress with three quarter length sleeves, knee length, flared skirt and four inch heels. Her purse was swinging on her arm and her wrist length matching gloves were in her hand.

  Daisy simply loved the way AnnieMarie carried herself. She was like a mini Winnieford, who she always referred to as the queen of pearls and gloves.

  “Well, well, don’t you look adorable this morning. What’s on your agenda today?”

  “First up is you.” AnnieMarie replied as she took a seat at the island.

  “Me?” Daisy asked as she placed a cup of tea in front of her.

  “Yes. I need your help in assembling a cleaning team for the estate. Then I need to put together a permanent domestic staff.”

  “Un huh, so you gonna do that without one single thought as to how your moving out will impact your mother?” Daisy set the tea pot down with a huff.

  “No. I talked with mother last night. She is fine with me moving out. In fact, to my surprise, she knew exactly what I wanted to do. Now I need your help to get started.”

  “I’ll think about it.” The responding sigh was loud enough to be heard around the world. “What is the rush?”

  “The wedding for one,” AnnieMarie hissed back. “And because I want to. Can’t you see how excited I am about this?”

  That was the problem, Daisy thought. She could see the happiness in the child’s eyes. With everything that was going on in her life, Daisy actually admired how AnnieMarie was going full speed forward planning her life. She wanted to be happy for her, but Daisy still hadn’t figured out how to keep Walker Sr.’s secret if AnnieMarie was in that house. She was sure to sort through things room by room. That is just how the child was made up. Which meant eventually she was going to come across some skeletons that needed to remain buried. “There’s a ton of documents and old remnants that should be handled with care. All those things need to be sorted through before you go up in there.”

  “Oh Daisy, I know. I was in the attic for a while after Chrystina and Gina left. There are trunks and trunks of things at the far end of the attic. They’re stacked from floor to ceiling. And guess what? They are all labeled by years. I was thinking of a way to preserve all of it.”

  “Trunks?”

  “Yes. Beautiful old cedar chests. You can actually see the trunks themselves have historical meaning. They seem to come from different periods of time.”

  Daisy listened as AnnieMarie talked about the trunks. If they were labeled, it may be easy to find what she needed and remove it, without AnnieMarie ever knowing.

  “Okay, I’ll do it.”

  AnnieMarie stopped talking and was staring at her. “Do what?”

  “I will put a team together to clear out the house. I will even help.”

  “Oh, Daisy,” AnnieMarie ran around the island and hugged her. “Thank you. I am so excited. I can’t wait to get started. Can you arrange for someone to start today?”

  “I will,” Daisy nodded. “In fact, I will go over this morning to get started.”

  “Good morning.” Winnie said as she came down the stairs.

  “Good morning Winnieford,” Daisy replied. “I’m going over to the estate to get started on the clean-up.

  “I was just on the phone with Viv to see if she would like to join us.”

  Daisy noticed Winnie was dressed in slacks, a tunic top and pearls. Her designated work outfit, that looked like she should be on somebody’s runway. “Us?”

  “Yes, I’m going over this morning while AnnieMarie is at work to get started. Besides this becoming her home, it is also Myles’ wedding location. We are going to need a team of people to get it ready.”

  “Hmm.” Daisy sighed. More people could create an issue. “What rooms in the house are you using for the wedding?”

  AnnieMarie was seated back at the island drinking her tea. “The foyer of course, both ballrooms and the sunroom for dancing.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Winnie said as she sat next to her daughter.

  Daisy placed a cup of tea in front of Winnie as she tried to figure out how she could get into those trunks without being seen. “AnnieMarie was telling me about some trunks in the attic. Do they have locks on them?”

  “You know, I really can’t say. I was so busy reading the labels on them I didn’t notice. But I don’t want anyone in the attic. I want to go through each trunk myself. There is no telling what may be inside.”

  “I think your plans to preserve the Dunning family history in a museum style setting is a wonderful tribute to the family,” Winnie stated. “In fact, I will call my friend at the historical society to see exactly what needs to be done to get whatever you find certified.”

  “That would be great, Mother.”

  “Hold on…hold on,” Daisy protested. “Don’t you think you need to see what is actually inside the trunks before you contact anyone on the outside? There may be things inside that are not good for public consumption. Just slow down.”

  AnnieMarie sighed. “You know Daisy, you are right. We are getting a little carried away,” She leaned forward and giggled. “But I am so freaking excited. Oh and Mother, I did speak with Preston about the pictures at his mother’s house. We are going to go by to take a look at them sometime today.”

  “Good,” Winnie exhaled. “At least three of those paintings, I know were originals and belong at the estate.”

  “Well, we will know for sure today,” AnnieMarie stood. “I have to get to work.”

  “You’re not having breakfast this morning?” Daisy raised an eyebrow.

  AnnieMarie grabbed her purse and gloves. “I have too much to do today to stop and eat. I have a house to move into.”

  Daisy watched as the door closed behind her.

  “Daisy?”

  “Hmm?” Daisy replied as she contemplated how she should conduct the search. The trunks were the key. If Walker had put that report anywhere, it would be in there. That’s where she would start.

  “What’s in those trunks you don’t want AnnieMarie to see?”

  The question caused her to snap her head around. The knowing look on Winnie’s face concerned her. She’d been here before. She could handle this. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “Just like you had no idea what was inside Hep’s safe,” Winnie raised an eyebrow. “That lie came back to slap us all in the face.”

  Daisy watched as Winnie stood.

  “You don’t have to tell me, Daisy. We all know, it will come to light eventually.” She picked up her tea cup. “I’m going to have my tea in the sunroom. I think I’ll call Viv back and try to convince her to meet me at the estate.”

  Daisy watched as Winnie walked out the room. Yes she had kept the information that was in the safe from the family per Mr. Hep’s instructions. If that information had been released sooner, they all would have known that Preston Long was a Dunning, that Walker Jr. was a thief, and that Cainan Scott was in witness protection. The secret she was keeping now, would hurt this family more than necessary. It would do no one any good to bring it to light. No. She had to find a way to get that report out of the estate. Period. Daisy shook her head. “This family would have been better off if Walker Jr. had never been born.”

  $$$

  Cainan
stood in the family room looking at the pictures that had been added to the mantle over the fireplace since he’d left. Kandace’s wedding pictures, Kennedy’s graduation and his parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary. He missed all of that he thought as he picked up the picture of his parents.

  “That was a special day,” his mother said as she stepped down into the family room.

  Cainan turned to see her walking towards him in her robe and slippers. “Why are you up so early?”

  She walked over and hugged him. “I needed to see you. I looked inside your room and you weren’t in there. I will admit, that put be in a bit of a panic.”

  “I’m here Mom,” he hugged her back.

  “I know. It’s just going to take me a minute. In the meantime, I promise to do my best not to be overbearing.” She kissed his cheek then walked into the kitchen. “I see you made coffee. How long have you been up?”

  “Since around six.”

  “You couldn’t sleep?”

  “It actually felt great to be in my old bed again,” Cainan smiled as he sat at the island that separated the kitchen and family room.

  “You want a refill on that?” Kaitlyn asked with the coffee pot in her hand.

  Cainan pushed the cup to her. She filled it then pushed it back. He stared into his cup as memories of he and AnnieMarie sharing their morning coffee filled his mind.

  “What’s her name?”

  His head snapped up. “Who?”

  “The woman who just came to your mind when you looked at the coffee.” She replied as she sat across from him. “When Kandace told us she was pregnant, that night when I went to sleep I had a dream about you and a house filled with children. It was so vivid I even remembered some of the names the next day. I told your father about the dream. He held me as I cried and at the time I couldn’t understand why the dream did not have the same effect on him. Now, I know. While I had no hope that it would ever come true, he did.”

  “Don’t be upset with Dad.”

  “Oh, I’m not. He did what he had to to keep you alive. He ain’t getting none for a while because he lied to me,” she laughed. “But I can never be mad at him for bringing my baby home.”

  Cainan laughed. “Too much information, Mom.”

  “So tell me about her.”

  He looked into his mother’s eyes. He could see the hope that was there now. Her eyes were alive, unlike in the picture he held a minute ago. His leaving must have been hell on them. It was up to him to bring them back to the loving family they were before his fake death. He could do that by filling them in on his life for the last two years.

  “Her name is AnnieMarie Dunning,” he smiled. “She is very proper. Dresses like Audrey Hepburn and floats around like a sexy angel on stilettos.”

  “Well, that’s an interesting combination,” his mother chuckled.

  “She is a very interesting woman,” Cainan smiled. “Each morning we would have coffee together with our Barack and Michelle mugs. We talked politics, business, agendas at first, but then…” he hesitated, “she became my anchor. Seeing her smiling face every morning kept me sane. She reminded me why I was doing what I had to do. After a while it became serious. I knew I was falling in love with her. We shared one kiss,” he chuckled, “and I knew,” he said as he looked up into his mother’s eyes. “I knew I wanted her for the rest of my life.” His smile changed. “But I also knew I couldn’t let her walk into my life the way it was. Since her father knew the truth, I pulled back. I told her to speak with her father about us. If he gave his blessing, then we would move forward.”

  “How did she take that?”

  Cainan smirked. “I don’t know which one of us she was more ready to kill, me or her father.”

  “What did her father say?”

  Cainan raised an eyebrow then sighed. “As she told her father, he had a heart attack and died. For months AnnieMarie felt so guilty, she wouldn’t talk to me. She didn’t come to work or deal with the outside world. That’s when things started going haywire at the office. There was an attempt by one executive level employee who tried to take over control of the bank. That ended up in a shootout. Then one of her family members attempted to take control and that ended in a kidnapping. And now this.”

  His mother began laughing. “So you are telling me your life was in more danger working at the bank than it ever was as an FBI agent.”

  He laughed with her as he nodded. “It seems so.”

  “So, what are your plans now?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “After the trial are you going back to her or are you going to bring her here to live?”

  Cainan had to think about that for a minute. “I didn’t realize how much I missed you all until I was in that room with Kandace and Kennedy shouting at each other. I don’t want to think about leaving again right now.”

  “What will you do if she asks you to come back? Would you leave us and move back to Virginia? Could you imagine your life here without her?”

  Cainan looked away as he thought about that question. Could he imagine his life without AnnieMarie? “I don’t know, Mom. I just don’t know.”

  “Well,” she shrugged. “You don’t have to make a decision now. Besides, now that we know you are alive and where you were, Virginia isn’t that far away.” She set the coffee cup down, then placed her hand over his. “How about an omelette with all the trimmings, a few croissants and another cup of coffee.”

  “Omelettes?”

  His mother laughed as she stepped over to the stove. “I noticed how you put an ‘s’ on the end of that. Yes, omelettes with green peppers, tomatoes, bacon and spinach. Just like you like them.”

  “I want one,” Kennedy said as she walked into the kitchen. “Don’t be giving him special treatment, Mom. He left us for two years. I think he should be stripped and whipped with a leather strap.” She hugged Cainan. “I needed that just to be sure you are real.”

  “Oh, you want to whip me and hug me at the same time?”

  “Variety is the spice of life,” Kennedy smiled as she sat next to him.

  “What are you doing up so early?” Cainan asked. “If I remember correctly, you battle to wake up before nine a.m.”

  “That hasn’t changed much,” she replied as she thanked her mother for the coffee.

  He checked his watch. “It’s barely seven-thirty.”

  “Yes, well, Benjamin has no sense of time, called to say he would be over by eight to talk with you.”

  “Did he clear that with Jerome?” Cainan raised an eyebrow.

  “No, why should he?” Kennedy asked.

  Cainan cleared his throat. “Do you want him to get through the door?” His sister gave him a side eye. “Then I suggest you call him back and tell him to contact Jerome. If he doesn’t, he will not get in here.”

  “Benjamin is not going through a third party to talk to a witness on one of his cases,” she huffed.

  “Unless he clears it through Jerome, he will not be talking with me.”

  “Why? Who is this Jerome person anyway?”

  “The man responsible for keeping your brother alive,” his mother replied as she cooked. “If Benny wants to see Cainan he has to go through the proper channels.”

  “Ben, not Benny, Mom,” Kennedy corrected her.

  “He was Benny when he first entered this house over twenty years ago. He’s gonna be good old Benny now.” His mother replied.

  Cainan chuckled. “Kennedy how in the hell did you end up with Benny anyway? That man is so far beneath you.”

  “He was there for me, Cainan.” She said. “Losing you was difficult and he understood. While everyone else expected me to be strong, he allowed me to be hurt and sad.”

  Cainan hugged her. “I’m sorry you had to go through that… but Benny? Hell, you’re more man than he will ever be.”

  She pushed him away. “Yes, Benny, and you’re not funny,” she laughed with him.

  “Laughter in my kitchen before eight in the
morning,” Scott walked in and kissed his wife. “I must be in the wrong house.”

  “For this family to be surrounded by armed guards, you guys are mighty happy this morning,” Wayne said as he took a seat next to Kennedy.

  “We have reasons to be happy,” Kaitlyn replied as she placed a cup of coffee in her husband’s hand and the other in front of Wayne.

  “Where is Kandace?” Cainan asked as he looked around Wayne.

  “I’m coming,” he heard her voice call out. “It’s taking me a minute longer these days.

  Cainan saw her stomach before he saw her walking into the room. He wondered if she could possibly see her own feet with her stomach so big. But he wouldn’t dare ask the question for fear of hurting her feelings. “Oh God, please sit down,” he said as he stood offering her his seat.

  She tried three times to get her leg up to sit on the stool before giving up. “I’ll just sit at the kitchen table.”

  Cainan did all he could not to laugh. Kennedy rolled her eyes as Wayne burst into laughter.

  “Babe, let me get the chair,” he pulled it all the way back from the table. Kandace sat then turned, but her stomach was still too big to be at the table. “We have the chairs adjusted at our house so we don’t have this problem. We will just put the food on the table and you can reach from the side instead of pushing you up to the table. Okay, babe?”

  “It will have to do,” Kandace sighed.

  “When is the baby due?” Cainan asked a little concerned.

  “Next month,” Kandace replied.

  “You have to walk around a whole n’other month like that?” He asked.

  “Like what Cainan?” She gave him an evil look.

  “Like a baby blimp balloon ready to explode at any moment.”

  “Mom, make Cainan stop teasing,” she whined.

  Cainan smiled. “I have missed that so much.”

  “What?” She asked.

  “Your whining, I would think, though I cannot for the life of me imagine why?” Kennedy sighed.

  Cainan leaned over and kissed Kandace on the cheek. “Because I realized how much I love her.”

  “Ah, thank you Cainan,” Kandace said as tears filled her eyes.