For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (54 page)

“
Not yet, but given half a chance, I think she will.
”

“
Thank you, Tina. I’d better go.
”

“
William?
”

“
Hmm?
”

“
Don’t hesitate to call to talk
--
about anything.
”
She swallowed audibly.
“
I’d like to be a friend, William.
”

“
I just might. Thanks again. Goodnight.
”
He slid his phone shut and stared at the fish tank, unseeing. Aggie and Luke. If he were honest with himself, he’d have to admit it was perfect, but a small part of him still rejected the idea. He just didn’t know why. No matter how hard he tried to fabricate deep feelings for Aggie, they never materialized. She was a fun friend, but nothing more. Slowly, relief stole over him. He didn’t have to do it. Luke would give Aggie and the children the stability they needed, and his life would remain relatively unchanged.

“
Lord, it really is pride, isn’t it?
”
he whispered raggedly.
“
I think I need some help with that.
”

~*~*~*~

Tina stared at the phone, unsure if she’d left the conversation on a good note or not. Her roommate’s laptop lay unused on the desk while the girl slept. Thus far, she’d rejected offers to use it, but this seemed like a good time to chat with Aggie. She flipped open the lid, found the messenger program, and signed in with her user name. Her contacts list popped up, but Aggie was offline. Seeing Luke’s name gave her an idea.

Tina says:
Luke, are you there?

Luke says:
Hey, did you get your laptop fixed? Aggie said it was broken, so she wasn’t getting on tonight.

Tina says:
I’m using my roommate’s.

Luke says:
She’ll be disappointed that she missed you.

Tina says:
I’ll just have to call. I want to tell her about my conversation with William.

Luke says:
I hope it went well.

Tina says:
I think he understands now, but I did have to tell him what I’ve observed about you before he could see the situation clearly.

Luke says:
Observed about me?

Tina says:
Aggie is too busy with her family to see what is a little obvious to the rest of us, Luke.

Luke says:
I see.

Tina says:
I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said anything.

Luke says:
No, that’s fine. I didn’t realize I was so obvious. I was trying to give Aggie plenty of time to adapt to her new role before I let myself be transparent.

Tina says:
I think that’s why William hasn’t seen it. I lived there for all those weeks. It’s easier to see when you’re there all the time.

Luke says:
Aggie didn’t. It might have worked if things hadn’t gotten complicated.

Tina says:
So the Lord had different timing plans. Who cares?

Luke says:
I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right.

Tina says:
You’re good for her, Luke. She respects you. She likes William, but while she respects his position as a deputy, she doesn’t actually respect him
--
and this latest thing hasn’t helped.

Luke says:
Respect is a good place to start.

Tina says:
So is this number. 555-3255

Luke says:
How did you know I was looking for it? Their number is unlisted.

Tina says:
Luke, it’s who you are.

Tina says:
Man, now I know what Aggie was talking about. You really do start typing and backspace or think a lot, don’t you?

Luke says:
I never noticed, but I guess I do.

Tina says:
Oh, man. It’s late. I need to call Aggie before she goes to bed. She’ll sleep better knowing that William will be back to normal soon enough.

Luke says:
Are you sure he’s not more important to her than she thinks?

Tina says:
Absolutely certain. You have no competition there.

Luke says:
So where IS my competition?

Tina says:
You have eight people to compete with. Somehow, you’ll have to convince her that you want to join the team rather than compete with it. Until she knows that, she won’t even consider it..

Luke says:
Thanks, Tina.

Tina says:
Anytime. Night, Luke. Poofs.

Luke says:
Poofs?

Tina says:
Ask Aggie. Nighters.

Luke says:
Night.

Visits & Cheesecake

Wednesday, September 24
^th

Luke’s truck sped along the highways out of the Rockland area and north to Yorktown. He’d called Aggie’s parents the first thing Tuesday morning and received permission to visit the next day. Though he had no doubt they guessed his reason for his trip, he appreciated that they hadn’t made an issue of it over the phone. Some things needed to be said in person.

By the time he pulled up in front of the craftsman-style bungalow, Luke was beginning to feel nervous. He gripped the steering wheel and rested his head on the backs of his hands.
“
Lord, I hope You know what I’m doing, because I sure don’t,
”
he murmured. He had hopes and some very important dreams riding on his visit with Aggie’s parents, but now that he was there, he wasn’t as confident of their approval as he had been while on the phone with them in Brant’s Corners.

Martha met him at the door with a hug.
“
Come in, Luke. I convinced Ron to let me make an apple pie. Are you hungry?
”

Luke
nodded, smiling awkwardly
.
“
That sounds wonderful. Thank you.
”

She led him to the kitchen table and pulled out plates.
“
Ron will be here in just a minute. He’s working on something in his shop and you know how that goes. He just can’t stop in the middle of his projects. Varnish isn’t very forgiving, from what I’ve heard.
”

“
This is very true.
”

Ron entered the kitchen wiping his hands on a paper towel.
“
Hey, Luke. I’ll shake your hand once I’ve washed mine. I’m covered with all kinds of garbage.
”

“
Oh, Ron. Go change. You smell like solvents of some horrible kind.
”
As her husband left the room, Martha set a plate of pie in front of Luke.
“
Coffee or milk?
”

“
Coffee, please. Thank you. This smells wonderful.
”

“
Thank you.
”
Martha’s slippers squeaked on the linoleum as she returned to the coffee pot to pour him a cup.

Ron returned before the silence in the room could grow awkward.
“
So, Luke. How are Aggie and the children?
”

“
They’re doing better. Tavish still hasn’t broken out, but everyone else seems to be on the mend.
”
Luke set his fork back on his plate, half the pie uneaten, and clasped his hands together with boy-like earnestness.
“
Mr. and Mrs. Milliken
--”

“
Luke, please call us Ron and Martha. I have a feeling we are going to be too close for formal names.
”

“
Certainly, Mr
--
I mean Ron.
”
He swallowed and tried to reformulate his thoughts.
“
I can’t imagine you don’t know why I’m here. I…
”

Ron and Martha made the terrible mistake of glancing at each other. The moment their eyes met, they both dissolved into laughter. It took a few moments, but at last, Martha regained some composure and apologized.
“
I’m so sorry, Luke. Aggie’s descriptions of you are… well…
”

“
Aaah. I see she has exposed my deep secret to the world. I cannot formulate and articulate my thoughts very quickly, it is true.
”

Luke’s words, spoken so bluntly, sent Martha apologizing profusely.
“
Oh, Luke, we
--”

“
Oh, no apologies are necessary. It’s sort of a family joke. My mother always says that I used to take three times longer during bedtime prayers than the other kids
--
combined. I could never just
say
what I wanted to say.
”

Ron covered his mouth with his hand for a moment and then took a swig of coffee.
“
Well, I know Aggie found it frustrating at first, but she said recently that when you do finally say what you want to say, it’s usually very wise. Coming from Aggie, that’s huge.
”

He felt his ears go red at the compliment, but Luke forced himself not to be distracted. His hands twisted together for a moment, and then he rubbed his palms on the fronts of his jeans.
“
This isn’t easy for me.
”
A wry smile twisted his lips at the irony of what he was trying to say.
“
I’ve never been good at talking about myself, but I’m here because of how I feel about Aggie.
”
Luke sipped his coffee, unconsciously wincing at the lukewarm drink. Ron grabbed the cup and filled it with hot coffee for him.
“
Thanks.
”