Decided to post this chapter in honor of my friend annie1999fan's birthday. Happy Birthday, Rachael!
Also, I realized I've covered these scenes in almost all my Annie stories but given the different nature of the relationships here (and being desperate to reach my word count for NaNoWriMo) I thought it was important. Skipping over as much as possible!
The next couple days moved faster than the ones prior – something the Warbucks household didn't think possible. Between press conferences, interviews, and radio appearances it was a wonder how any of them had time to sleep and eat. Once the media day was behind them it was time to face the mob of people surrounding the gates. As much as she needed Oliver's help meeting potential couples, Grace was glad he took Annie down to Washington D.C. It wasn't necessary for her to be witness to this pack of liars and cons. Plus, she knew mayhem was likely as the meetings went on. Oliver's temper would have grown to dangerous highs. These people meant business. They were doing and saying anything to get their hands on the reward. She knew she was in for a depressing day. In any case, she was also glad Annie was finally getting to meet the President after a week of constant requests.
Hundreds of discouraging interviews only added to Grace's sad mood. Somehow she hadn't expected such a turnout and hoped to use some time today to go visit Agatha. After her conversation with Oliver a couple nights ago, she knew putting it off or avoiding it wasn't an option. Things left off on a bad note the first time. If she could help it, she wanted to part on good terms. From the sound of things, it didn't seem like they would ever be good friends again, but that shouldn't stop an acquaintanceship. Two years was a significant amount of time. Not the longest, but long enough to have formed a strong bond. Even when her anger was still at its strongest, she knew she would never have a friendship with anyone else as she had with Agatha.
The crowd didn't break up until late afternoon, the same time Oliver and Annie returned home from Washington D.C. No trip to the orphanage today. In a way, it worked out. If she was so much of an alcoholic a morning visit was probably most wise. However, the sorrows of the day were not over. Now she had to tell Annie she hadn't found her parents.
"Okay, Rooster. I'll admit that was clever. But the only reason I didn't recognize you was because it's nearly dark out, all right? So none of your wisecracks."
"I ain't makin' any, dear Sis."
Agatha scoffed. "Dear Sis? What do you want now? You didn't steal enough of my cash the other day?"
Holding his hat to his hard, Rooster said, "Aggie, Aggie… I admit it was a lame attempt. I felt bad when I lost it in a poker match, honest. But I'm here now with a plan that benefits both of us."
"All of us," Lily reminded.
"Right," Rooster said, rolling his eyes once Lily was looking elsewhere. "All of us."
"I'm listening…"
"That kid. The one that was on the radio."
"Don't even mention her to me. She's out of my life and I don't need to hear that name ever again. None of them."
"Calm down," he said. "So that chick friend of yours screwed you over. Get over it. If you listen I can tell you the way you can get back at her."
Eyebrow raised, Agatha questioned, "How?"
"What we just did out there. If you fell for it anyone will. Well, a handful of people anyway."
"I said no cracks."
"You're right, you're right. We gotta work together here. This is no time for arguing."
"Have you taken into consideration that Grace has met you before?"
"Come on, Aggie, that was what, ten years ago? More? She ain't gonna remember me."
"I wouldn't be so sure. She remembered me right away."
"She met me a few times. She saw you every day."
Lily, who'd been off in the other room doing who knows what with Agatha's jewelry, reentered in time for jealousy. "Who's this girl you're talkin' about?"
Rolling his eyes again, Rooster answered. "That one Aggie knows, remember? We talked about this."
"Ooh, right."
Agatha sat up. "I dunno. It sounds risky. She's gonna be suspicious of anyone, I'd guess. She wasn't letting go of that kid before she even took her home."
"That's why we need you. You know all there is about the brat, am I right?"
"Details and stuff," Lily added.
"Yeah, sure I do."
"Brilliant."
"But what am I getting out of this? I want a good cut of the loot."
"Of course. We'll split it three ways."
With one loathsome glance at Lily, Agatha replied, "Half."
"Half?!" Lily squeaked.
"Half! Or no deal," she insisted.
"You ain't gettin' any of my money, you-"
Rooster cut in. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down. All right. Half for you, Aggie, and half for Lil and me."
Lily stomped her foot. "Rooster!"
"Knock off the whining. We'll double it the minute we get to Atlantic City."
"But what about the kid?" Agatha asked.
"What about her?"
"She comes with the money. I ain't throwin' her back in here. She'll just run away again. I wouldn't care if I knew she didn't have a place to run to."
"You leave that part of the planning to me. All I need from you is information."
Agatha stared at him a moment, hoping to somehow get a glimpse of his plan through the look in his eyes, but all she could see were spots. Once they focused on the details of the room again, she stood up and walked to the closet. "There's an envelope in one of the boxes in here. We find that and we're golden."
"What's going on, Grace?" Oliver walked into the office with Annie, surprised to see a strange couple standing before him.
"The Mudges…" Grace said, a tone of defeat growing with each word. "Apparently their train was late getting in. Their questionnaire is the closest yet."
"We are so sorry to bother you, sir," Rooster said with a peasant's voice. "We don't mean to be interruptin' you at this hour. You must'a been sitting down to dinner."
"Not yet," Oliver replied without any emotion.
"Oh, good. We won't keep you. We're so thrilled to be with our daughter again."
"The questionnaire is only part of the interview, Mr… Mudge… I'm afraid we need more proof before we just hand her over to you."
"Yes, of course. Shirley, hand the nice man the piece of paper you got."
Lily nodded and did as she was told. "Annie's birth certificate. I've held with me all these years."
Oliver took the paper, less than amused with these people. He glossed over the paper and was sad to see everything matched up.
"October 18th," he said.
Annie nodded. "That's right. My birthday."
Lily fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around Annie. "After all these years…"
Annie looked up at Oliver and then at Grace, unsure what to make of any of this.
"There is one more thing," Oliver said as he passed the paper to Rooster.
"Oh, well, I don't know what you have in mind, but I do feel it's important to make mention of a little trinket we left with her." Reaching into his pocket, Rooster pulled out a handkerchief that held the second half of Annie's locket. "I don't suppose you still have this, do you, Annie? You were so small… I'm sure by now-"
"Oh, Ralph!" Lily squealed. "She's wearing it! She does still have it!"
Oliver immediately looked at Grace. To his surprise, her expression hadn't changed with this new bit of information. Instead, she was locked in a hard stare in the other man's direction.
"She's our Annie," Lily finished.
"She sure is," Rooster nodded.
Not wanting to give in easily, Oliver said as he walked around to his desk, "So, I take it you heard about the money."
"Money? Oh… we didn't know you were looking for money. But why shouldn't you? Taking care of her and all that. We know it ain't cheap to raise a baby. That's why we had to give her up for a while. We ain't much better off now, but enough to be able to care for her. How much are you looking for?"
"You didn't hear about the reward?"
"What reward?" Lily question.
"On the radio. In the newspapers. Surely you've heard," Oliver said.
"No, sir," Rooster answered. "We've been traveling for the past couple days."
"So… you just happened to be on your way during this time?"
"Dumb luck," he laughed.
"I'll say it is… Well then, if you'll step over here I'll write your check while Annie packs her things."
"Sir, we aren't lookin' for no money."
"Having Annie back is reward enough."
Rooster in lead, the 'Mudges' took a couple steps back, then halting. "However… any money you might be offering would help with Annie. We want to make up for all this time and give her what she deserves."
"I see."
"Oh, Ralph, what a good idea! You wait here, I'll go help Annie."
"No," Annie said, moving away before Lily could reach her hand. "No, thank you. Grace can help me."
"If that's what you want, angel."
Grace, finally moving from the same spot she'd stood in since Rooster and Lily's arrival, followed Annie out of the room. She didn't know why, but for some reason, she could not take her eyes off of 'Ralph Mudge' no matter how hard she tried. There was something about him that was too familiar. But what? Even his voice sounded like someone she'd met before. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't place it. She felt closer placing the face, but ultimately there was too much going on for her to focus. She was sure the answer would come to her tonight as she tried to fall asleep. Right now she knew there were more important things to focus on — like saying goodbye to Annie. This would be more difficult than anything else she'd encountered this past week. Though it was impossible not to hear bits and pieces of the conversation, it took until she was upstairs for any of this to hit her.
. . .
Annie sighed in between the clicks of her suitcase. "I'm all packed."
"Already?" Grace asked. "You hardly have anything in there."
"I know, but it's all I need. My folks are clearly poor — and that's okay by me. I'm happy to have had all these nice things for a little while. You think you could maybe bring what I'm leaving behind to the orphanage? I know they'd love them."
"You're a good kid."
"It won't be weird seeing Miss Hannigan?"
Forcing a smile, Grace waved her hand. "Nah. I was thinking about stopping by there anyway."
"You're not gonna get her fired, are you? I know I said some things I probably shouldn't but if what you say about her being nice when you knew her are true I'd feel bad. But maybe talk to her? Tell her how awful all the kids feel and make her change?"
Grace sighed. "I'm afraid it won't be as simple as that, dear. People don't change overnight, though, it can seem it sometimes. I will talk to her and find out what's happened. That is if she's willing to speak with me. You saw what happened before."
"If I'm not around maybe it'll be different."
"That's true."
"I hope for the other kids' sake you'll be able to."
"So do I."
"…Grace, are you crying?"
Grace bit her lip in attempts to distract her from the oncoming tears, but it was no use. "I apologize. There's no reason for you to see me like this."
"Are you sad about Miss Hannigan? Or about me…?"
Setting the dresses and hangers down on the bed, Grace went over to where Grace was sitting. Holding her hand out, she helped Annie to her feet and hugged her as tightly as she could.
"Both," she said, "but mostly because I'm going to miss you."
"I'm sorry, Miss Farrell," Annie frowned into her stomach.
"Don't apologize. Just because I'm going to miss you doesn't mean I'm not beyond happy for you. It's not every day lifelong dreams are recognized."
"Yeah… I always pictured meeting my parents. But not like this."
Stroking Annie's hair, Grace said, "Often times things don't play out how you planned them."
"I hate having to leave, but I'm happy I got to come here and meet everybody. Especially you and Mr. Warbucks."
"We're happy, too."
"You'll come visit? I'll write you all the time, I promise."
Grace nodded. "And be sure give Sandy a kiss for me every night, too."