A Texas Family Reunion. Judy Christenberry

brother until he was forced to admit it. Then he asked Jim not to let his mother know about his other family.”

      “Would she be upset?” Jim asked.

      “Oh, yes! She’ll probably throw a fit. Ever since her husband died, she’s clung to David, and she wouldn’t want anyone coming between them. But he knew, when he heard your name. And he denied it!” Alexandra exclaimed.

      “Don’t be too hard on him,” Jim said softly. “He might not have made it if your aunt hadn’t adopted him when she did. David was the youngest of the boys and therefore the most vulnerable.”

      “How old were you?”

      “We were five and eight,” Jim admitted.

      “Wow…you were very young too,” Alexandra said.

      “I guess.” Jim grinned wryly.

      “Jim’s a big brother to the world,” Carrie said as she slid an arm around her husband’s waist.

      “Well, I think David’s lucky, he just doesn’t know it yet,” Alexandra said.

      Chapter Two

      Alexandra couldn’t get the scene out of her mind, of Jim confronting David and trying to get him to admit his kinship. She’d worried about David for some time now. Because he had assumed both his father’s and his uncle’s responsibilities she feared he might be overloaded.

      Not that David listened to her. He’d been raised to think a woman couldn’t take care of herself or think for herself. His mother played the role of the southern belle to the nth degree. Her own mother was that way, too, but Alexandra had always been determined not to follow the same path.

      Which explained her career choice; law enforcement was not for hothouse flowers.

      “Do you want us to call you Alexandra or Alex?” Carrie asked as she carried over some supplies to Alexandra’s new desk.

      “It doesn’t matter. I answer to both,” she said with a smile.

      “I noticed David calls you Alex,” Carrie said.

      “Yes. I was five when I first met him. He thought that because I was a girl, I would be easily dismissed, but I was determined to show him otherwise. I was in my tomboy phase. Maybe I still am.”

      “And he hasn’t noticed you’re a beautiful woman now?” Carrie asked, raising her brows.

      Alexandra felt her cheeks flush. “I’m not beautiful, Carrie. But I do have a boyfriend.”

      “Well, I think you’re very attractive, and I’m glad someone appreciates you. Is he a policeman?”

      “Yes, he is. That was another reason I left my job as a cop. They frown on fraternizing.”

      “So you’ve made plans to marry?”

      “Not yet, but I think… I hope my leaving will make things better.” Alexandra smiled, thinking of her boyfriend. Neil had been one of her instructors at the police academy. After she’d finished the course and been assigned nights, he’d asked her out to dinner. They’d begun seeing each other when they could, but her schedule didn’t fit well with his.

      She was seeing him tonight. As far as she knew, he didn’t know about her change of job. It had happened quickly while Neil was on vacation. He’d gone to Tennessee to see his family.

      “You’ll have to invite him to visit us. I’d love to meet him,” Carrie said.

      “I haven’t even introduced him to my family yet. My cousins are gorgeous,” Alexandra said. “I don’t want him to be…distracted.”

      Carrie chuckled. “Well, I can’t wait to introduce you to Vanessa, Will’s stepdaughter and Jim’s sister. Also the twins, Rebecca and Rachel. They’re all beauties, and you kind of have their look.”

      “Well, if it helps me do my job, that’s all I care about.”

      Carrie perched on top of Alexandra’s new desk. “I think it will help you. Men normally are not suspicious of pretty women.” She grinned. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re joining us. Will and Jim can be a little protective, but they do let you do your job.”

      “Will said you’re pregnant. Are you going to keep working after your baby is born?”

      “Yes. I’ll take a couple of months off and then come back gradually. We have enough work now to keep four of us busy, so it may get a little rushed when I’m out of the office.”

      “That’s okay. Will said we work as a team here, and that’s one of the things that attracted me to this job. I work well on my own, too.”

      “You come with high recommendations from your sergeant.”

      Alexandra actually blushed. “He’s an old friend of my father’s.”

      “Whatever the reason, he sure thinks the world of you,” Carrie said with a laugh. She pushed herself off Alexandra’s desk. “If you need anything else, let me know.”

      “Thank you, Carrie. I appreciate your friendliness.”

      “We’re like a family, Alexandra. I think you’ll enjoy it here.”

      Alexandra watched the pretty blonde walk back to her own desk. Carrie and her husband seemed to have a loving relationship. Alexandra hoped that was true. They were such nice people.

      She’d been impressed with Will, too, and had looked forward to starting her new job. Of course, she should’ve known David wouldn’t believe she knew what she was doing.

      From the moment her cousins had moved to Plano and settled just a few blocks away, she’d fought David for control. Since he was three years older, it wasn’t exactly a fair fight. And her girl cousins had followed David around, doing whatever he told them to do. She’d tried to free the girls from his will, persuade them that he wasn’t their boss, until the oldest cousin, Janet, had asked why they would want to do the opposite of what David said. He only had their best interests at heart. Their mother had said so.

      Alexandra had immediately asked her own mother why they would want David to tell them what to do. Her mother had explained that some women preferred that men guide their decisions.

      Alexandra was repulsed by such an idea. Her father always called her his little radical, even at five. She abandoned the effort on her cousins’ behalf, but she refused to allow David to control her life.

      “Alexandra,” Jim said from his desk, “I’ve talked to my sisters, Vanessa and Rebecca, who live in Dallas. They’re very anxious to meet David, but I’ve talked them into waiting until next Monday night. That way Rebecca’s twin, Rachel, who lives in West Texas, will have time to get here.”

      Alexandra nodded. “Sounds good, but I’m not sure David will continue to associate with you and your sisters.”

      “Why not?”

      “You heard David talk about his mother. He always tries to do whatever she wants. She only has to say she might like something and David finds a way to get it for her. He made a deathbed promise to his father to take care of his mother and sisters.”

      “You can’t fault him for that,” Jim said, frowning.

      Carrie joined the conversation. “I agree with Alexandra. Being protective is one thing, but taking away choices stifles a person’s development.”

      “But David just tries to grant his mother’s wishes,” Jim protested.

      “But how can she appreciate what she gets if she never has to lift a finger to get it?” Carrie argued.

      “Maybe his mother is too old to learn new tricks, sweetheart. Anyway, it’s not our business. So we’re all agreed next Monday night would be a good time to have my sisters and David meet?” Jim asked.

      “Yes,”