For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (46 page)

Luke says:
Hello, Aggie! Has William asked about your message yet?

Mibs says:
LOL. Nope. I think he’s going to chalk it up to awkwardness with a machine or something. I invited Luke to have dinner with Tina, William, and me, but he didn’t seem very enthusiastic.

Luke says:
Oh.

Libby says:
There. At least I don’t feel so masculine now. As for Luke, I think he considers William to be some serious competition.

Mibs says:
Competition for what?

Libby says:
You, of course. My Luke is very fond of you.

Mibs says:
Oh, I think you’re mistaken.

Libby says:
Well, I won’t argue with you or try to make you uncomfortable, but I also won’t pretend not to see what I see.

Mibs says:
Thanks. You’re a good woman, Libby. Have I told you that?

Libby says:
Frequently. I am in danger of growing a bobble head from all your flattery. Ahh, Luke is shooing me off to bed. He seems to think I’m yawning too muc
h. I’ll close out though, so he
doesn’t see our conversation.

Mibs says:
Thank you. I think it’d embarrass him. Thanks for everything. I always feel like I never show my appreciation.

Libby says:
Well, you do. So goodnight and don’t worry about it.

Mibs says:
Night.

Luke says:
Well, if you want to get rid of me…

Mibs says:
Your name isn’t Libby
--
the name I was typing to before you switched.

Luke says:
Mibs, you really need to sleep. You hardly rested at all today, and I know you’re exhausted.

Mibs says:
I know. I just can’t seem to settle.

Luke says:
Take some Benadryl to stave off the itches. It’ll knock you out in no time.

Mibs says:
You’re right! Itching is what woke me up too!

Luke says:
Goodnight, Mibs. I’ll be a couple of streets over tomorrow if you need me. Just send Tavish if I don’t answer my phone.

Mibs says:
Goodnight, Luke. Thanks.

Getting an Education

Sunday, September 14
^th

Dinner over, Tina and William sat on the porch
“
discussing
”
Aggie’s new educational adventure, rehabilitation of prisoners, and other equally benign topics of conversation. Luke and Aggie, having spent an entire meal struggling not to laugh at the constant debate over everything from politics and religion to best vacation spots and stereotypes of the wealthy, had kicked the couple out of the kitchen with promises of dessert after the dishes were done and the kitchen cleaned. Once the counters shone and the sink sparkled, Luke presented Aggie with the week’s tally of hours worked. The list included flooring, painting, and a line item at the bottom that read,
“
.02 for opinions on curriculum choices.
”

She batted him with the invoice on her way to her desk, pulled out her checkbook, and wrote a check for one hundred sixty-two dollars and two cents.
“
That was probably the first check that I’ve ever written for all this that didn’t make my heart sink. Thank you.
”

“
Mibs,
”
pain filled Luke’s eyes.
“
You know I’d do it without charge, right?
”

She passed him the check and sank into a barstool.
“
Luke, if you saw the bank statements I get every month, you’d demand that I treble your salary.
”

“
No, I wouldn’t.
”
He almost sounded hurt.

“
It was a joke.
”
Aggie covered her head with her hands while she struggled to regain her composure.
“
Luke, I could do it and I wouldn’t even notice it in my accounts. Allie and Doug were well insured, well invested, and the Stuarts paid a mint for that huge house they owned, and you know what I paid for this.
”

“
I don’t understand.
”

She stood, pulled a cheesecake from the fridge, and began slicing.
“
It’s a frozen one, but the gal at the store swears you can’t tell the difference, or so Tina says.
”
As she slid a piece on a plate, Aggie leaned against the counter, her knife sticking out at an awkward angle.
“
I keep picturing all the kids coming back for Thanksgiving some year after they’re grown, looking around the house and saying, ‘You spent our inheritance on this place just so you could have a nice house.’
”

“
Oh, Mibs, they wouldn’t. The house is for them. They’ll know that.
”

“
The rational part of me knows that, but…
”
She wiped the knife blade on a paper towel and made another cut.
“
I don’t know how to be frugal with the money and keep up the kind of lifestyle the kids had. I’ve never had private lessons for this and country club memberships and all that stuff that Allie had and hated.
”

“
That’s because you can’t, Aggie. You aren’t Allie Stuart, wife of Douglas and daughter-in-law to Douglas Sr. and Geraldine. You’re Aggie Milliken. You have to live as Aggie would. Your sister knew that when she chose you.
”

Aggie handed him two plates and grabbed a few napkins before she took the other two.
“
I suppose.
”
At the kitchen door, she turned.
“
Thanks, Luke. I know I get weird about this stuff. Mom says Allie wouldn’t recognize me. The only time I’ve ever been able to save money was when I worked those summers to buy my car
, and even then I had a few set
backs. A missionary came, we had a chance to go to Storyland in Rockland, and then I bought my senior ring. Dumb move that was too. I never wear it.
”

“
But,
”
he said, nudging her through the house,
“
that was your money. Right now you feel like you’re spending the children’s inheritance.
”

“
I am.
”

“
No, you’re spending the money left to you for their care. The money was left to you, not to them in trust with you. The money was left so that you wouldn’t have to worry about paying the bills or scrimping.
”
He pushed open the screen door.
“
The money was left for living now, not for giving later.
”

~*~*~*~

“
So, what do you think about general textbooks for Tavish, Ellie, and Laird for this year, and then seeing how you can involve them in whatever you do for Kenzie?
”

“
Charlotte Mason for Kenzie?
”
Aggie was drawn to how natural the learning process was designed to be, and Kenzie wouldn’t have
as many
preconceived ideas about how school should work like the other children.

“
Sure. When you do nature studies, bring the others along. Whatever you read aloud, they all listen to, even Vannie if she likes.
”

“
Use that website to start with?
”
Aggie couldn’t imagine anything else, but Tina had been a researching machine.

“
Yep.
”
Seeing Aggie yawn, Tina pulled the laptop from her.
“
Go to bed. I’ll figure out what you need to order first, and you can do it tomorrow.
”

Wednesday September 17
^th

A restless night, thanks to itchy spots, left Aggie tired and miserable. Ellie, the latest victim, woke up with dozens of spots all over her arms, neck, chest, and face on Monday, and spent all morning recoating herself with calamine lotion. Tavish sat with her, refusing to leave unless she wanted something. At times, Aggie was certain she sent him for a book or a glass of juice just to get some breathing room.

It was the third day without Tina, and Aggie already felt the weight of sick children on her hands again. With Libby at the dentist for the morning and Luke working on his new house, she found herself chasing after Ian, settling squabbles between the twins and Kenzie, and then chasing after Ian again. By the time Libby arrived, she almost sobbed with relief.

“
Would you mind if I went upstairs for just a few minutes? I haven’t sat down all morning. I feel like I’m going to drop.
”

“
Sure. Take a sandwich and your books up there, and don’t come down until you feel like it. I can handle things here.
”

“
Mrs. Dyke volunteered to come help if we need her, but try me first, ok? I really don’t want to take advantage of her generosity.
”
Hearing how thoughtless those words sounded, Aggie arranged her face into an exaggerated sheepish expression and added,
“
I’d rather take advantage of you.
”

“
Get up there, silly girl.
”

Vannie heard her aunt climbing the stairs from her bed and followed. Just as Aggie arranged the bed comfortably, she heard a gentle knock and sighed. Certain Libby needed her after all, she called,
“
Come in,
”
and began climbing from her bed. The sight of Vannie stopped her.
“
Are you ok?
”

“
I’m feeling a lot better, actually. I don’t think I have any new pox today.
”

“
Good! Maybe when your videos arrive, you’ll feel up to doing them.
”