Chapter 16 – Is Stuart Even Her Son?

Annette blinked at the man's startled delight. Did she know him? No. Nor did the original owner of this body.

Sean turned to Stuart with childlike excitement. "That's her! The slingshot girl I told you about!"

Annette's heart dropped.

Just great. So he'd seen everything. And now he'd even reported it to Stuart.

Facing Stuart's mildly puzzled gaze, she forced a sheepish smile. "It was just dumb luck."

Charlotte stepped forward, feigning concern. "Sister-in-law, where have you been? You're a mess."

Sean furrowed his brow. "You're Annette?"

Stuart nodded. He was still trying to match the rough-tough girl from this morning with the infamous reputation she carried.

"Sister-in-law," Sean said again, this time with admiration. "You've got skills. That shot was something else. Did Marshal Clark teach you?"

Annette gave a hollow laugh. "Guess I got lucky you saw it."

"Not at all," Sean gushed. "Your reflexes rival our best guys."

Annette prayed he'd stop talking. She'd already exposed too much.

Stuart, evidently reaching his limit, frowned. "Don't you have things to do? Don't bother coming back."

"Huh?" Sean blinked.

"You talk too much."

Annette burst into laughter, and even Sean looked mildly wounded.

Charlotte awkwardly inserted herself, "I should go. You two talk."

"I'll walk you out," Sean offered quickly.

As the two left, Annette turned to head back in—only to hear urgent footsteps pounding down the hallway. Two women came huffing and puffing around the corner, bags slung over their backs.

"Did you find out which room it is?"

"Left side at the end!"

Despite being just two people, they made enough noise for ten.

Annette barely had time to react before the younger one spotted her. "That's her! That's my sister-in-law! Annette!"

She bolted over, tugging at Annette's arm.

Now Annette could see them clearly. The older woman, with her leathery skin and sharp eyes, radiated calculation. The younger girl—round-faced, sun-darkened, and loud-mouthed—was clearly trouble.

"Sister-in-law, didn't you see us?" the girl huffed.

Annette recalled from memory: Grace, Stuart's mother. Nancy, his sister.

The original Annette had only met them once—on the wedding day. They'd fought like alley cats at a banquet table. Grace called for her son to "discipline" his wife right then and there.

Lovely people.

Brushing the girl's hand off, Annette stepped back. "He's inside. Keep your voices down—this is a hospital."

Grace snorted. "We're country folk. Loud voices, big hearts."

She shoved past Annette, wailing the moment she saw Stuart. "My poor baby! What happened? Are you okay?!"

Nancy echoed her mother's sobs. "Brother, you alright?"

Annette sighed. And to think she was worried about being stuck with this family.

Maybe a divorce wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Just as she turned to leave, she caught the tail end of Grace's conversation inside:

"You've got a job now, right? Find your sister a husband too."

Stuart groaned. "Didn't she already have one?"

"That slick city boy?" Grace spat. "Ran the moment he could. You find her someone better. You owe her."

Annette, ducking back into the hallway with a pot of duck soup in hand, nearly dropped it in disbelief.

This family...

Was Stuart even biologically related to them?