For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (33 page)

“
I can’t expect you guys
--”

“
You don’t have to expect. We’re offering.
”
Luke pointed at the open page on her laptop.
“
Did you read about shingles? You want to avoid getting this if you can. It’s not the end of the world, but if it developed into shingles, you’d really be a mess.
”

“
Why does all this stuff happen to us? We get three or four times more accidents and problems than most people!
”

“
You have three to four times more people! Of course you have more incidents.
”

Aggie shook her head.
“
In six months we’ve had an ant infestation, grandma drama, a major move, complete house renovation, trips to the clinic for head injury, a lost baby, the haircut fiasco, not to mention my two sprained ankles, nail poke, and tetanus shot. I really didn’t need this added to it.
”

“
Don’t forget that you’re on a regular 9-1-1 house check list thanks to the baby.
”

She shook her head.
“
I’m convinced it’s a glitch in the phone line or something. That child was sleeping the last two times it happened.
”

Aggie’s review of the family’s recent troubles seemed to overcome her. She sniffled about incubation times, exposure, and the futility of keeping isolated when she’d already spent the morning snuggling with her sick girlies before finding out what was wrong. For what seemed like the millionth time, Aggie said
looking
despondent
,
“
I still think my sister blew it when she named me guardian of these children.
”

A voice startled them from the doorway. So intent were they on their conversation, neither Aggie nor Luke noticed the quiet in the yard or the sound of Geraldine’s trademarked pumps on the porch steps.
“
That is the most intelligent and honest thing I’ve ever heard you say. You’re right; it was a mistake, and I fully intend to tell the judge I heard you say so.
”

In a move that seemed detached from herself, Aggie grabbed the phone on the coffee table and punched the speed dial for the sheriff’s office. Then, while waiting to request assistance, she walked to the library and pulled the pocket doors closed, trying to prevent the woman from waking the sleeping girls. An amused smile twisted the corner of her mouth. How ironic that the paragon of appearances would be caught eavesdropping!

When the dispatcher came on the line, Aggie stepped into the bathroom, and requested that a deputy come out to enforce a restraining order.
“
It’s going to be ugly.
I’m trying to be pleasant, but
it’s going to go south fast if you aren’t here to prevent it.
”

Knowing she’d never be able to forcibly eject the woman from her home, Aggie chose to take the higher road, and upon her return to the living room, offered Geraldine a glass of lemonade. Of course, the woman refused, pulling a pile of papers from a briefcase-like tote.
“
I have an order from the judge. I have thirty-six hours of unsupervised visitation every other weekend. I am here to pick up the children.
”

The woman passed the papers to a stunned Aggie and narrowed her eyes, raking them over Luke in disgust.
“
At least in my care, the children won’t be exposed to your philandering right in your
living room
!
”

The ludicrous idea of what the woman imagined sent Aggie into nervous hysterical laughter. The library door slid open and then shut again behind her as Libby stepped into the room. Concern was written in her features.
“
Is something wrong, Aggie? You sound a little overwrought.
”

“
I shouldn’t wonder. People tend to become hysterical when caught in compromising positions.
”

Libby turned to see who had maligned her son and friend. With a voice as gracious as she could muster, she nodded to the unwelcome guest and introduced herself.
“
Why, hello. I don’t believe we’ve met. I am Libby Sullivan, a friend of Aggie’s. Have you met my Luke?
”
She gestured toward the man who now poured over the papers Aggie handed him. With the grace shown to the unwanted intruder, no one suspected the instant and pronounced dislike Libby felt for the overbearing woman.

“
I am Geraldine Stuart.
”
A tone in her voice seemed to expect that name to explain all.
“
I am here to collect my grandchildren. I have received visitation rights, as is explained in those documents, and I mean to take them away from this horrible place now.
”

Turning to Aggie, she added,
“
Since I seriously doubt you could have them ready in a reasonable amount of time, we will provide them with everything they will need. Douglas is picking up the van we purchased and will be here shortly. Please take me to the children so I can have them ready before he returns.
”

Libby started to object, but Luke interrupted.
“
Aggie, may I see you in the kitchen?
”

Weary of the constant drama and almost ready to concede, Aggie followed him to the island where Luke spread out the paperwork Geraldine had given her. He leaned closely, making it look like an intimate conversation to anyone who could have seen, and whispered,
“
These don’t look like final court documents, Mibs. Look at the date. Doesn’t that mean she filed with the court just yesterday?
”

Aggie looked closer.
“
It doesn’t have any other date on them. Just yesterday’s.
”

“
There’s no judge’s signature anywhere, and wouldn’t you have been notified or something?
”
He glanced around the corner, through the dining room, and into the living room.
“
She’s looking more agitated. When will William be here?
”

“
I’m not sure. It’s his day off, but they usually call him in since he’s dealt with her.
”
She covered her face with her hands.
“
How can
she
do this? I almost fell for it too.
”
With fresh tears of frustration hovering in the corners of her eyes, Aggie looked up at Luke.
“
We’re going to end up in court, aren’t we?
”

As if her words solidified her fears, Aggie began weeping in earnest. Luke leaned into the dining room to request his mother’s help when he overheard Gera
ldine Stuart begin a rant about
“
emotional, incompetent, overgrown teenagers
”
that nearly caused him to lose his temper and eject her from the home. Before he could take a step toward them, Libby pursed her lips, shook her head, and then mouthed,
“
Comfort her.
”

Using every ounce of his inner strength, Luke turned away from the woman he wanted to throttle, returned to Aggie’s side, gathered her into his arms, and held her as she sobbed out her anxieties and frustrations.
“
It’s ok, Mibs. We’ve got this. No one is going to hurt you or those kids while Mom and I are here to stop it. It’s going to be ok.
”

For the next minute or two, he awkwardly patted her back, stroked her hair, and murmured words of encouragement as Aggie sobbed out all the pent up angst of the morning. The sight of Geraldine frowning in the kitchen doorway irritated him, but when she let loose another slew of lewd accusations against Aggie, the limits of his patience snapped. With a glance at his mother that said,
“
Don’t let her follow,
”
he led Aggie to the swing in the backyard with instructions not to move until someone came to get her.

Luke intended to try to intimidate Geraldine into leaving the house, but when he returned to the living room where Libby and Geraldine sat in a silent duel
of wills, he watched William’s Corvette
pull into the driveway and
that
diverted him.
“
I’ll be right back, Mom.
”

As William exited his car, Megan arrived in her vehicle, in uniform and ready to take on the nightmare of arresting Geraldine Stuart. Luke jogged up to them and shook his head.
“
This is going to get ugly. She has ‘papers’ that she thinks gives her access to the children, but I think they’ve just been filed, not approved. The date on them is yesterday. I don’t know if she just wants to see the kids so badly that she is willing to try to use them to gain access, if she really believes filing is all she needs to do, or if this is a way to do worse.
”

“
We’ll take care of her, Luke. Why don’t you go get the papers you have?
”
William’s face was grim.

Luke started back toward the house and then turned.
“
Lorna and Cari are sleeping. They woke up with the chicken pox today. They need their rest.
”
He kicked a rock from the drive.
“
I have this horrible feeling. There is nothing to base it on aside from past history, but I think if Geraldine gets those kids in the van her husband is supposed to be bringing, we’ll never see
them
again.
”

William’s expression registered shock as he led Megan to the porch. Luke took his expression to mean that he’d been over-imaginative, but then the off-duty deputy said,
“
Man, Sullivan, I don’t think I’ve heard you speak that many words voluntarily at once.
”
The lighthearted joke brought a smile to Luke’s face before William added,
“
She has a restraining order, right?
”

“
I thought so, but she didn’t mention it…
”

“
Where’s Aggie?
”

“
Out back. I told her not to come in again. The vile things that woman said
--”
Luke choked back the words.
“
Let’s just say I restrained myself, but barely.
”

William did an about face and jogged back down the steps.
“
Wait there, Megan. I’ll get the order, and then you can arrest her.
”

Aggie sat in the swing on the back corner of the house, tense, rigid, fuming. Her earlier despair had given way to anger. At the sight of William, she unleashed her wrath.
“
Who does that woman think she is! Did you hear what she said? Did Luke tell you what she did? I almost bought it! I want her off my property immediately.
”