For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (41 page)

Her eyes rolled before she could order them to behave in a mature fashion. Tim Rouse’s attempts to control his amusement were strangled at best.
“
Hey, Wes. I’m out at the Stuart household in Brant’s Corners. I’m speaking with…
”
his eyes begged for her name again.

“
Aggie Milliken.
”

“--
Aggie Milliken who says you told her to keep the children out of school while they recovered from the chicken pox, but she’s on my list, obviously.
”

Tim’s eyes mimicked Aggie’s roll perfectly.
“
Wes, you gotta start giving Sara the memo on these things. She can’t do her job if you don’t do yours. All right. Bye.
”

“
Sorry ‘bout that. All the principals tend to get busy and forget to let their office managers in on little things like attendance excuses and such, but Wes is the worst. He said to tell you that if it’ll be another week, you need a doctor’s excuse.
”

“
I have to take the kids to the doctor to prove they have chicken pox?
”

The man shrugged, signed a paper, and stuffed it in his leather folder.
“
That’s what he said.
”

“
I have to take
sick kids into a clinic and
expose them to all kinds of other kids,
just
because some principal thinks he needs a signature from a guy with a boatload of student loans?
”
Aggie’s voice rose with each word.

“
If you’d rather decline, I suggest calling the office, but I’ll probably end up back out here to tell you that you’re going to have to tell it to a judge if you don’t.
”
He smiled.
“
Sorry. I agree it’s ridiculous, but the principal is just doing his job. Two full weeks of unexcused absences really do need to be substantiated or parents could just keep their kids home whenever they didn’t feel like getting up on time in the morning.
”

His words swam in her head as she escorted him to the door, shut it behind her, and sank to the floor, her back to it.
“
I can’t believe they can do that.
”

“
Well, they can’t. Not once you turn in your ‘notice of intent.’ Then their involvement is gone.
”
Tina stood, hands on hips, and shook her head at Aggie.
“
You know, that Tim was a nice enough guy, but this whole thing just bothers me.
”

“
It’s the kind of thing the GIL would use against me too.
”

Luke came up the stairs wiping his hands on a rag.
“
Did I hear William?
”

“
Nope. I just had my first run-in with a truancy officer.
”

“
I think they’re called ‘attendance officers’ now, Aggie,
”
Tina added helpfully.

“
Whatever.
”

“
Well, I’ve got to scoot. Libby has a grocery list a mile long.
”

“
Where is she?
”
Aggie struggled to her feet, accepting Luke’s proffered hand gratefully.

“
She has them all lounging in the kiddie pool. Tavish, Laird, and Ellie are forbidden to go near it now.
”
Tina grabbed her purse, tugged at her hair, and dashed out the door.

“
What’s gotten into her?
”

“
Um, Mibs?
”
Luke hardly met her eyes.

“
More spots?
”

“
Um no, but I think Tina was hinting that your hair is a bit
--
unconventional.
”

At the sight of matted hair, Aggie groaned.
“
I know better than to go to bed with it wet.
”
She sighed.
“
I’m too tired to brush it out. Would it be a ridiculous waste of water to take another shower?
”
Her eyes grew wide.
“
No wonder Mr. Rouse kept staring at me oddly! AAAK.
”

Luke grinned.
“
Well, you gave him a great story to tell tonight around the dinner table.
”

Aggie says:
Luke? You there?

Luke says:
Yep. I thought you were sleeping.

Mibs says:
I couldn’t sleep.

Luke says:
I’m sorry.

Mibs says:
Were you going to bed?

Luke says:
Not for a while yet. I have some things to do.

Mibs says:
Oh, I shouldn’t bother you then.

Luke says:
Bother away. I can multitask just fine.

Mibs says:
Ok, if you’re sure. Just tell me to go away if you need to.

Luke says:
Got it. Make Mibs go away if you need her to. Note written to self.

Mibs says:
*giggles*

Luke says:
What did you do tonight?

Mibs says:
Tina and I narrowed some of the curriculum choices down.

Luke says:
What did you pick?

Mibs says:
I found a video course for Vannie that covers everything she was going to take except band. I’ll have to find a private teacher for that, I guess.

Luke says:
Is band a requirement?

Mibs says:
Well, no…

Luke says:
Why not wait until after Christmas then. Not so many changes at once.

Mibs says:
That’s what Tina said, but I thought since I am keeping her out of school, I should try to replicate whatever I can.

Luke says:
Look, if you go into this with that kind of mindset, the kids will think you are a pushover, and they’ll push. You have to decide what is best for your school semester.

Mibs says:
What makes you say that? I don’t know…

Luke says:
What did they teach you about lesson plans? Did they tell you to plan based upon what the kids wanted or what you and the general guidelines thought best with your materials?

Mibs says:
Well. Just throw that up to me.

Luke says:
I’ll send my bill.

Mibs says:
You do every week…

Luke says:
Well, this week’s bill will have an extra line item.

Mibs says:
LOL.

Luke says:
Is everything ok? You’re usually not so quiet.

Mibs says:
Are you saying I’m too talkative?

Luke says:
No, I’m saying that you are being extra quiet. It’s not like you.

Mibs says:
Sorry. I think I’ll go. Night, Luke.

Luke says:
Aw, Mibs. What is wrong?

Mibs is offline.
Any messages you send will not be delivered until she is online.

Aggie snapped the laptop shut. She knew she was being oversensitive and ridiculous, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. From the first eruption of pox, through the visit with the attendance officer, and then the conversation with Luke, she felt agitated and unlike herself. Tears, of the frustrated variety, pricked her eyes, making her throat swell. For a moment she was tempted to open her laptop and try to catch Luke to apologize, but the effort seemed wasted. Either Luke would understand or he wouldn’t. After her misunderstanding with William, Aggie had no desire to make an uncomfortable situation worse.

She grabbed her pillow and went out onto the front porch, felt the night breeze, and hurried to retrieve a throw blanket before she curled up on the wicker settee to
“
be still
”
before the Lord. Weary, she was too muddleheaded to pray, so she concentrated long enough to ask the Holy Spirit to make sense of the disquiet in her soul, and rested. Though she fully expected to fall asleep instantly, she didn’t. Instead, she listened to the sounds of the frogs serenading the night creatures and the crickets chirping warnings to their friends of the location of their frog foes. As calm began to settle over her spirit, Aggie inhaled the comforting scent of damp earth and freshly cut grass. How had she not noticed that Luke had done that? She’d let it get
extra-long
knowing that she could do it while the children were at school and the little ones were sleeping, but that hadn’t happened.

After a time, headlights turned onto Last Street, and then pulled into her driveway. At first, it was difficult to see the vehicle for the lights, but abruptly, before the vehicle even came to a stop, they disappeared.
“
Luke?
”
she whispered.

He didn’t leave his truck for several seconds. Their eyes met through the windows, but still they sat. Eventually, Luke opened the door and gently pushed it shut behind him. Hands in pockets, he strolled up the steps and paused near her.
“
You ok, Mibs?
”

“
I’m sorry, Luke. I know that was rude
--”

“
I didn’t ask for an apology. I just wanted to see if you were ok.
”

“
But I am sorry
--”

“
Ok, apology accepted.
”
He lowered himself into the seat next to her.
“
Now, are you all right?
”

Her smile, the first genuine one she’d had all day, flashed at him and was reflected in his eyes.
“
Frankly, no. Well, not until you arrived. I know leaving abruptly like that was an immature and snotty thing to do, but now I’m glad I did. Knowing someone cared enough to come see is exactly what the Doctor,
”
she glanced heavenward with exaggerated dramatic effect,
“
ordered.
”