Anna was rushing around Frank and Nancy's house putting the finishing touches on the nursery that was her and Joe's present to them. It was pink frilly and girly, it was simple and perfect. Anna turned to Joe who was carrying a grey ottoman, "where at?" Anna pointed in front of the grey chair and he quickly placed it where she had instructed.
"Frank said they are leaving the hospital now. Everyone is downstairs."
Anna nodded at Joe. Anna had arranged a welcome home party for Lizzy, a small cake, a banner, some finger food, along with Laura, Fenton, Biff, George, Carson, and Kendall. Unfortunately, Bess was out of town with the boyfriend of the month. Anna and Joe quickly rushed down the stairs and had everyone get ready.
As soon as Frank opened the door for Nancy who was holding a precious bundle of joy, everyone said, "Welcome Home." Nancy and Frank both had huge grins on their faces, as they walked in. Kendall walked quickly to her uncle legs and started babbling reaching for him. Frank placed the carrier and diaper bag down and scooped up his niece. "Kendall say hello to your cousin, Lizzy."
Frank held Kendall near Lizzy and she quickly placed her hand on her little cousin. Nancy smiled, "baby. Your cousin, Lizzy." Kendall giggled and everyone quickly gathered around the baby.
Anna held her niece and namesake, her and Nancy was sitting on the back screened in porch. Everyone had left and Kendall was playing with some blocks beside Nancy. Joe and Frank were off discussing some past case. Anna smiled at Nancy, "motherhood agrees with you Nan."
"Well, it agrees with both of us."
"You know I think Lizzy looks a lot like Kendall did. Maybe they will look similar."
"You know, I thought the same thing. They will both be beautiful girls who will break a lot of hearts."
"With dads, who will break a lot of legs."
Nancy and Anna both laughed and Kendall stood up and started reaching for her mom. Anna smiled at her. Nancy placed her on her lap, "Kendall, I bet you can't wait for Lizzy to get older. You both might cause a lot of trouble."
"God help us, if they decide to solve crimes."
"Oh lord." Nancy replied while tickling Kendall.
Anna tiptoed out of Kendall's room and sighed, it was a Sunday afternoon, a few weeks after Elizabeth's homecoming. Anna found Joe in the study, "het are you still working on that case?"
"Yeah."
"Why all of this for a parole case?"
Joe sighed as Anna plopped in a chair placing the baby monitor on the desk. "This guy was pretty brutal."
"Apparently not too bad if he is out for parole."
"He got luck. He hired one of the best lawyers. He tortured Frank and almost blew up him and Nan."
"What?"
"Calm down this was years ago when you and Nan were still in college. He had a drug smuggling operation. He really was quite successful until we came along."
"Where you involved much? How did you all get involved?"
"Well, Nancy knew a girl who had a brother killed who was working for the store that was a cover-up for the smuggling. Confused yet?" Anna shook her head no and Joe continued, "He had a few stores and was loaded. I was involved quite a bit but Nancy went undercover working in one of the shops. Frank didn't have to act much he played her boyfriend and hung around a lot. They were found out. I was sort of monitoring the situation digging from the outside while they were both trying to get to the inside."
Anna nodded absorbing the information. It amazed her how much trouble they always got into. Luckily it usually worked out in their favor. "When is the court date?"
"Tomorrow."
"It will be fine, can we enjoy the Sunday afternoon?"
"What would you like to do, Mrs. Hardy?"
"Movie? Kendall is asleep."
"Sure go pick one out and I will be in there shortly."
Anna hopped up to go pick a movie while Joe looked through a few things and slowly put up the files and papers and joined his wife.
It was Monday evening, Anna and George was chatting in the family room while Kendall was playing. George wiggled her ring finger as Anna smiled, "Oh George, we get to wedding plan." George moaned, "You know I don't want anything flashy, honestly I want to be engaged a while."
Anna pouted slightly, "Biff did a wonderful job at picking out the ring." George nodded in agreement. Both girls heard the garage door slammed, Anna shouted, "Honey?"
Joe walked into the room and scooped up Kendall kissing her all over, "Hi girls."
"How did it go?" Anna asked and George held up her finger, "Biff and I are engaged."
Joe sat down next to Anna on the sofa and kissed her, "Bad." He turned to George, "congrats, when is the big day?"
"Not for a while and what went bad?"
"Had court on a case."
Anna rubbed Joe's leg and George made an O with her mouth, "outcome?"
"He is out on parole."
"Maybe he has changed."
"I hope so."