For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (29 page)

Once Vannie was upstairs, Libby turned to Aggie.
“
I know you feel insecure in your job. It’s hard to know if you’re doing the right thing, saying the right thing…
”

“
You’re telling me.
”

“
But Aggie, you’re a natural at it when you’re not concentrating so hard on doing everything perfectly. That was a brilliant conversation.
”

“
Really? I thought I botched it.
”

Libby made an exaggerated roll of her eyes and threw up her hands as if to say,
“
What do I do with her
,
Lord?
”
She hugged Aggie briefly and said,
“
You gave her hope but made no promises. You showed her that you’d be reasonable but wouldn’t compromise standards. You also didn’t let her dwell on things that were untrue about herself
--
a lesson you could learn.
”

Before she could continue, Vannie called for her from her room.
“
Can you come see this, Mrs. Sullivan?
”

“
I think she’s discovered that she used a zipper too long. I mentioned it once, but she thought she knew best.
”

“
Ugh. The story of my life.
”

While Vannie and Libby sorted out the issue of the zipper, Aggie went to check on Luke’s progress. It seemed odd that he was working on things without her, but she’d decided to focus on clothes until he went to work on the basement. It seemed as if things were going much slower without her
--
a fact that was gratifying.

“
So, how is it going?
”

“
Well, the floor is sanded, and I have primer on the walls anyway. It’s taking forever to get everything smooth.
”

“
See, and you thought I was no help. Ha!
”

Luke’s eyes smiled before it reached his lips.
“
Aggie, we got what we got done as fast as we did because you never quit. You’re like the Energizer bunny. You kept going, and going, and going…
”

The happiness his words brought was evident immediately.
“
I wondered if I didn’t slow you down. It’s not like I know much.
”

For a moment, it looked as if Luke was going to say something, but he turned and opened a new tack cloth. Starting at the far corner, he began wiping, and as he did, he spoke.
“
Aggie, I overheard some of your conversation with Mom and Vannie.
”

“
That’s becoming a habit of yours, isn’t it?
”
Her hand flew to her mouth. What had been meant as a joke sounded like a rebuke.
“
Oh, Luke. I’m sorry. I was teasing but
--”

“
Well, it’s true, isn’t it? It isn’t intentional, but still…
”

“
But, I know you weren’t being nosey. You know that anything that goes on in this house is open to your knowledge, right?
”

He glanced back at her.
“
That is quite a trust you’ve given me. Thanks.
”
Several more swipes of the cloth came before he spoke again.
“
Mom’s right, you know. You’re good with her. You’re good with all of them. I think your sister was a blessed woman to have someone like you to trust her children with.
”

Thursday, August 28
^th

Late Thursday afternoon, Tina and Luke admired the row of outfits hanging on the doorjamb to the library. How they’d accomplished so much in so little time, Aggie couldn’t tell. She’d finished two skirts and two t-shirt dresses in three weeks. During that time, Vannie had completed three dresses and four skirts. Libby, on the other hand, had created six outfits for Kenzie, three each for the twins, and a couple of church dresses for Vannie. Somewhere in that mess of things, each girl managed to acquire three nightgowns. Aggie was both discouraged and impressed.

“
How did you get so much done when you weren’t here for a week!
”

Libby looked a little embarrassed at Aggie’s effusive praise.
“
Well, if you want the truth, I sew faster at home and alone. Most of this I did while helping Corinne.
”
She glanced over their work.
“
This’ll only get them to the first cold part of winter. They’ll need warmer things by then. We have more sewing to do.
”

Aggie’s gulp was clearly visible.
“
Oh, help. I don’t think I can do it again!
”

“
You’re learning,
”
Libby insisted charitably.

“
At the rate of a snail across a porch, maybe.
”

Tina interjected an opinion before Aggie could disparage her work further.
“
Well, considering that you created something wearable, cute, and that won’t fall apart without repeated applications of glue, I’d say you’ve come a long way, baby.
”
She elbowed Libby as she continued.
“
I’ve a mind to take pictures and email them to Ms. Slade.
”

“
You do that. Meanwhile, I fully intend to collapse on the couch until one of the kids demands my attention.
”
She sighed.
“
Tina, remember my idea for moving into a tiny house so the kids would have to stay in eyeshot or earshot?
”

“
Yeah?
”

“
I think I should have done that. This getting up every few minutes is for the birds.
”

The other two women exchanged glances, and before Aggie knew what happened, the children were changed into swimsuits and packed into the van.
“
We’ll bring them home in time for bed and not a minute before. Take my car, go see a movie, go out to dinner, or go take a long, hot bath.
”

“
Oh, you don’t
--”

“
We want to, Aggie. Goodbye!
”
Libby’s cheerful voice rang out on her way to the van. Squeals of excitement faded as they drove down the driveway and off to town.

Luke glanced at her.
“
Ok, what’s it going to be?
”

“
What’s what going to be?
”

“
What do you want to do? Movie, dinner, bath
--”
He frowned.
“
That did not come out right.
”

Laughing, Aggie dragged herself back off the couch and pointed to the basement.
“
Let’s see if we can get that drywall finished.
”

“
Oh, no. I am
not
going to risk a tongue-lashing from mom. No siree.
”

“
Coward.
”
Her eyes challenged him to recant.

“
I do not deny it. If you’d lived with my mom for twenty-eight years, you’d never consider crossing her. It isn’t allowed.
”

“
But I want to get it done. I want this house project finished. I’m tired of all the upheaval.
”

“
Yeah, it’d probably be nice to have your family back to yourself more often, wouldn’t it?
”

She’d forgotten that with the house finished, Luke wouldn’t be there every day.
“
I
--”

“
It’s ok, Aggie. I understand. Anyone
--”

“
No, Luke. I just
forget
that finishing meant you wouldn’t be around anymore.
”
She sighed.
“
We’ll miss you.
”

“
I’ll have to bribe the kids to unplug appliances and unscrew door knobs so you’ll call and ask me to come help.
”

“
You don’t need an invitation, silly man.
”
Aggie grabbed an armful of the hanging clothes and started for the stairs.
“
I have a bad feeling that we’ve taken terrible advantage of you. I hope you’ll come back and just be here because we like having you around, not because we need something from you.
”

Obviously amused by her inability to ignore work, Luke grabbed the rest of the garments and followed her upstairs.
“
You should be reading a book, taking a bath, or ordering food that you never get to have anymore. You should not be doing laundry.
”

“
This isn’t laundry! I’m putting away the fruits of our labors. First stop, Cari and Lorna’s room.
”

Each garment was hung in its proper room, the nightgowns removed from their hangers and folded into proper drawers. She carried the empty hangers back down to the laundry room and turned to find Luke watching her with an unreadable expression in his face. Assuming he was ready to scold again, she feigned defeat.
“
Ok, ok. How about this? You go get us Chinese food, and I’ll take a shower and find those movies Mom got me for my birthday.
”

“
Deal. Do you like it spicy or mild?
”

Aggie shrugged.
“
I’m good with either. Just make sure there’s crab and cheese fried wontons.
”

“
Rangoons?
”

“
Yeah. Those.
”

Grinning, Luke stuffed his hand into his pocket, retrieved his phone and keys, and dialed a number before he made it to his truck. Eager to be dressed and downstairs before he returned, Aggie rushed up to the top floor, panting after two flights of stairs, and threw open her dream of a closet. The mostly empty shelves and sparsely filled rods looked a little forlorn, particularly when most of the clothes on them looked so ratty. She started to reach for her most comfortable skirt and then paused. It was stained with paint, ripped in two places, and had a bleach spot the size of a coffee cup on the back. What was the point of having time to herself if she had to look tatty to do it?