For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (61 page)

Mibs says:
Firing you? When did I say that?

Luke says:
You didn’t. You got frustrated because you thought I could read your expression, but I couldn’t. I thought you were going to fire me.

Mibs says:
Oh right.

Luke says:
And then there was the day we moved Vannie in. She said something like,
“
Aunt Aggie is one of a kind, isn’t she?
”
and I agreed.

Mibs says:
I think it’s good that you’re there and I’m here.

Luke says:
Pink cheeks?

Mibs says:
Brick red.

Luke says:
Well, then maybe I shouldn’t tell you that I just figured out when I knew I loved you.

Mibs says:
That’s cruel.

Luke says:
You really want to hear it?

Mibs says:
Who knew you were into torture?

Luke says:
LOL. Mibs, I think I knew that I loved you when I heard you sigh at Fred Astaire searching the churchyard for Audrey Hepburn.

Mibs says:
I think you asked me if I was a romantic at heart, but look who is the romantic!

Luke says
: Guilty.

Mibs says:
If William hadn’t been such a twit, when do you think

you’d have said something?

Luke says:
I don’t know. Probably not until next March or something. I’d have wanted to give you a full year to get used to
your new life and know if you wanted to shake it up again. I’m really sorry, Mibs. Sometimes I think I was really selfish in saying anything.

Mibs says:
Well, I’m glad you did. It’s what I needed to hear at the time. You have no idea how cheap and useless I felt.

Luke says:
I’m sure William didn’t mean to make you feel like that.

Mibs says:
Well, he did.

Luke says:
Mind if I change the subject and put you on the spot?

Mibs says:
Please do.

Mibs says:
Well, change the subject. I’m not so sure about the spot thing.

Luke says:
LOL. I was wondering if you think you CAN learn to love me. I’m a patient man, but if you really think it’s not possible, I’d rather know now so I have time to prepare myself if the day comes when you say you don’t want me to try anymore.

Mibs says:
Wow. That’s a hard one.

Luke says:
Then leave it for another day or not at all. I don’t want you to feel pressured.

Mibs says:
No, it’s not that. It’s just that some things are hard to say. I do think I could learn to love you. What I don’t know is if I will.

Luke says:
Well, that is encouraging.

Mibs says:
Sounds DIScouraging to me. Do you know how much I want to be able to say that I already do care?

Luke says:
You haven’t had time to think about your own life much less your heart these past months. You’ve had one single focus
--
the children.

Luke says:
Speaking of children…

Mibs says:
What? Who did what now and when?

Luke says:
No one. I just wondered if you wanted to have children.

Mibs says:
What do you call the many inhabitants of my house?

Luke says:
LOL. I meant
“
your own
”
children.

Aggie says:
You mean as in doctor visits, growing belly, food cravings, swollen feet, stretch marks, labor, delivery, morning sickness, nursing and late night feedings? Those kinds of children?

Luke says:
So, that’s a
“
Not on your life?
”

Mibs says
: A year ago, if you had told me about my life right now and asked that question, I would have been adamant that eight children was more than enough. Having been through part of that
with Ian, I feel like I missed out with the others. I hardly held them as infants. I tended to admire from Allie’s side and play with whoever came up to me. I was the aunt who showed up, brought bubbles, told stories, and then went home.

Mibs says:
Is that bad?

Luke says:
Is what bad?

Mibs says:
That I want the whole experience too? God gave me eight wonderful children in varying ages, and I still want more.

Mibs says:
I want to feel a baby kick from inside, the smell of a baby’s head, the little chubby cheeks, the baby powder scent that follows them even if you don’t use it, slobbery kisses, and most of all, that adoring look in a baby’s eyes when it’s nursing. I want it all. Boy that sounds greedy and selfish.

Luke says:
I think it sounds quite normal.

Mibs says:
What about you? How do you feel about children?

Luke says:
I love them. Always have. Mom says I used to try to convince mothers in the store to let me take home their babies.

Mibs says:
I believe it. Your love of children shows. Do you think it is irresponsible to consider having children when I’m already responsible for my sister’s? People already think I’m overloaded.

Luke says:
I think if you can provide their basic needs, food, shelter,

and love, no one has any business putting in their unsolicited opinions.

Mibs says:
So, what made you ask that question?

Luke says:
I’ve been wondering if all the work had soured you on the idea of having children. It’s something I’ve looked forward to for years.

Mibs says:
You want your
“
own.
”

Luke says:
I’ll always love your children, Mibs. They already have their own special corners of my heart, but I also want to share pregnancy with my wife.

Mibs says:
May I ask a very personal question?

Luke says:
You can ask anything you like. I can’t think of a thing I
wouldn’t answer, but I can’t promise you’ll like all my answers.

Mibs says
: Well, this is awkward. I’m glad I’m asking here instead of in person. Does your business adequately provide for you?

Luke says:
Yes. I’m quite financially stable. I can take risks now that I
don’t think I would with a family, but my father left us all a small inheritance, and I’ve used it well flipping houses.

Mibs says:
That was a wonderful thing to do. He left plenty for your mother, didn’t he? She doesn’t have to work, so I just assumed…

Luke says:
Between life insurance and Social Security, she’s modestly provided for for the rest of her life. Dad was a great provider that way.

Mibs says:
That sounds like Allie. She made sure that everything was in my name, they had a huge life insurance policy, the kids all receive Social Security benefits, and, of course the house was worth quite a bit.

Mibs says:
So how did you get started flipping houses?

Luke says:
Mom doesn’t watch much TV, but she likes one of those shows on home renovations. She and Dad watched it every week, so I got in the habit of watching it too. I started trying some of the ideas around our house while working for a landscaping company. Then a house went on the market in an upcoming area of town. It was right after I deposited my money, so I talked to Mom, the girls, and our minister, Joe. They all recommended that I try it.

Mibs says:
And did you make a profit? I’ve heard that first houses often don’t.

Luke says:
I did make a small profit on the first one. I could have done better if I hadn’t been so chintzy with the fixtures. I kept trying to cut corners, but I cut them off too much sometimes. The
second house though, I tripled my money. By the third one, I realized that I had to choose between going to college and doing what I loved. I chose houses.

Mibs says:
Well, you did a great job with mine. I’m still amazed at how fast it got done.

Luke says:
I was really slow with that first house. I didn’t know what I was doing, so every step took forever while I read about it, tried it, redid it, etc. However, I’ve learned where to take shortcuts, where not to, and you and the kids did so much of the tedious work like peeling off wallpaper and scrubbing walls. I was able to work
consistently without having to shift gears as often.

Mibs says:
Ok, another topic change.

Luke says:
Shoot.

Mibs says:
What does this relationship thing mean? What’s going to change?

Luke says:
I don’t know. I don’t know how to do this. Why do you ask?

Mibs says:
Well, I just wondered because everything seems the same as it’s always been.

Luke says:
Is that a problem?

Mibs says:
No, it’s good, actually. I just didn’t know what to expect.

Luke says:
I plan to find a way to romance you, Mibs. I just don’t quite know how to do it. I’m new at this too. But, I think the biggest change is that you’re aware of the possibilities now. That’s the difference.

Mibs says:
I can see that. There were things you said at times that I know made me do a double take, but life was so busy, I forgot about them immediately.

Luke says:
Like what?

Mibs says:
I enchant you. I always look nice to you. You can’t imagine what has gotten into you. The last one was when you told me that some men can be just friends while waiting for something more. I was sure you were hinting that I should be careful not to lead William on, but a part of me wondered for a bit. Mom and I decided that it was definitely a warning about William.