For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (62 page)

Luke says:
I kicked myself all the way home for that one. I was sure I’d given myself away, and you’d be telling me to stay away from now on.

Mibs says:
I don’t think I would have. I might have been a little freaked out at first. You can thank William for your
“
confession
”
being a relief instead of a burden.

Luke says:
I thought I’d messed everything up. No worries, though. I’m sure to blow it eventually. Promise to love me anyway?

Mibs says:
Ha! You aren’t going to trip me up that easily.

Luke says:
Well, I had to try.

Mibs says:
I think I am going to like this.

Luke says:
This what?

Mibs says:
Oh boy. I’ve done it now. How’s the weather over there?

Luke says:
Mibs…

Mibs says:
Ok, ok. It’s not easy being transparent, but I have to
admit that I like knowing that someone so special to me cares so much about me. It’s a nice feeling.

Luke says:
And since we’re on a happy note, it’s late. I think I should let you go to bed. I didn’t realize how long we’ve been chatting.

Mibs says:
You gave me an out. That is really sweet of you.

Luke says:
Say goodnight, Gracie…

Mibs says:
Goodnight, Gracie.

Luke says:
LOL. I do love you, you know.

Mibs says:
Yeah, I think I do know.

Luke says:
Is it uncomfortable for you for me to keep telling you?

Mibs says:
No.

Mibs says:
Um, I want you to know, I won’t say it myself unless I mean it.

Luke says:
I’m glad to hear it. Goodnight, Mibs.

Mibs says
: Nighters, Lucas.

Language Lessons

Friday, October 3
^rd

No one would ever claim that the Milliken-Stuart home-school had an easy beginning. By Wednesday, Aggie realized that the children simply didn’t take it seriously. Even Vannie considered her lessons optional in relation to the rest of life. Kenzie fought every single direction that Aggie gave her. It didn’t matter if it was putting away a pencil or reading a story, every single directive was met with,
“
But Mrs. Tompkins said
”
or
“
But Mrs. Tompkins didn’t…
”
In desperation, Aggie began ending her instructions with,
“
And I don’t care what Mrs. Tompkins said. I am your teacher. You need to say ‘yes ma’am,’ and just do it.
”

She’d seen Luke smirk at those words, but she didn’t care. After Tuesday afternoon, he’d forbidden her to enter the basement. At night, when all the children were sleeping, she’d been tempted to tiptoe down there and see how it was coming, but the thought of his disappointment at her ruined surprise always kept her from doing it. Instead, she spent her nights into the wee hours of the morning chatting with Tina and Luke and correcting the children’s work.

The housework suffered. Spending all day keeping her students on track and the little ones out of trouble left little time for things like laundry, meals, dishes, and dusting. Each night she tucked Ian into his crib with grandiose ideas of going downstairs and tackling the work waiting for her, but she never did. The minute she set foot downstairs, the schoolwork called to her for correction. She’d open her laptop and chat with Tina, Libby, or Luke while correcting spelling tests and math problems.

Friday afternoon, after standing over each of the children with threats of more work on Saturday, each of the children were finally finished by two-thirty. Aggie collapsed on the couch, grateful that the three littlest were still asleep. Within seconds, she was snoozing herself.

The clock chimed at three o’clock, startling Aggie out of a sound sleep. The house was quiet
--
too quiet. She dragged herself up off the couch and climbed the stairs. A peek into Tavish and Ian’s room showed the baby still snoring, arms thrown back and one foot sticking out of the crib bars. Cari and Lorna were also still asleep cuddled together on Cari’s bed.

Downstairs, she ignored the mess in the kitchen and went outside to see what the other children might be doing. As she rounded the corner, she overheard Luke talking earnestly with the children.
“--
thought I could trust you to do your work. Your aunt has enough on her plate without standing over you like she has been. You wouldn’t have done that last year at school.
”

“
But this isn’t school. This is just
--”

“
No buts. If you got up on time, ate your breakfast, did the few jobs that Aggie asks of you, and then got to work on your schoolwork without dawdling, you’d be done before two o’clock every day. If you actually concentrated on that work, you might be done even earlier. My sister says that aside from some high school students, most home-schoolers she knows get their work done in less than three hours a day. That’s nine to noon, guys.
”
Vannie started to speak, but Luke interrupted her.
“
I see her up until two o’clock sometimes. She can’t keep doing that. She’ll wear out.
”

“
Did she ask you to talk to us?
”
Laird sounded defensive.

“
No, but if you don’t make some changes, I’ll be talking to her about raising her expectations. You can do it on your own because it’s right, or you can do it because she makes you. Those are your options.
”

“
Aunt Aggie doesn’t like it when people tell her what to do. She won’t like that you are trying to take over.
”

Aggie was stunned at the defiant tone in Vannie’s voice and decided it was time to step in and back up Luke.
“
Aunt Aggie does like it when her children are respectful to the adults in their lives. You owe Luke an apology, Vannie.
”

“
Sorry.
”

“
No you’re not. You might be sorry you got caught, but that’s no apology. Try again.
”

Resigned, Vannie rephrased in nearly a monotone.
“
I was disrespectful. Please forgive me.
”

“
You’re forgiven, Vannie.
”

“
Ok, everyone has work to do. If it’s downstairs work, it gets done now. Go, go, go!
”

Once everyone scattered to do the small chores they were responsible for, Aggie smiled at Luke.
“
Thanks for trying.
”

“
They’re walking all over you. I gave them four days, but it’s just getting worse every day. You’re right. They don’t take this seriously.
”

“
Should I put them back in school?
”
Defeat nearly overwhelmed her.

“
No. That would teach them that you can be manipulated. You need to expect them to do what they should do and hold them to those expectations.
”
He slipped his hand into hers and tugged her toward the house.
“
Come on. I have something to show you.
”
At the top of the basement stairs, Luke flipped on the light and said,
“
Close your eyes.
”

She followed him, step by very slow step, down the stairs and waited for the ok to look.
“
This is torture!
”

“
Ok, open them.
”

The room was amazing. Much brighter than she’d expected, the space was everything she could have hoped for and more. They’d have a great place to work and play without anyone getting lost in the shuffle.
“
Luke…
”
She swallowed, a lump growing in her throat. Her first impulse was to hug him, but an unfamiliar shyness stole over her. Seconds passed as she tried to articulate just how wonderful she thought the space was. At last, she shrugged and wrapped grateful arms around him.
“
Thank you.
”

For a moment, he stood, unmoving, as if uncomfortable by her actions, but then he grinned and squeezed her until she lost her breath.
“
Is it really ok? The swings work there for you? The counters are ok?
”

“
It’s perfect. How did you find one of those big couches so quickly?
”

“
Mom has been searching all over Rockland. One of those scratch and dent places was putting this on the floor as she walked in. She asked the price and told them to load it back up and deliver it to my place.
”

Aggie’s hand trailed along the countertops he’d put at desk height as he spoke.
“
Do you really think they can do all their school work in so little time?
”

“
Corinne and Olivia both say it’s common for elementary kids to get their work done in two to two and a half hours. I’m not saying you can’t do more, but I think they should at least try to work faster.
”

“
Well, maybe next week will be better. Meanwhile, what do we want for dinner? I’ve already called for pizza twice this week.
”

~*~*~*~

Tina arrived just after eleven while Aggie chatted on the messenger with Libby. Within minutes, the young women sat on opposite ends of the couch, a huge bowl of ice cream in their hands, and talking over the recent changes in Aggie’s life.
“
So, what’s the worst part of home-schooling?
”

“
Kids who don’t want to do the work.
”

“
I thought Allie’s kids liked school!
”

Aggie shrugged.
“
They seemed to last year, but this year it’s like pulling teeth. I think they have a lousy teacher or something.
”

“
That’s ridiculous, and you know it.
”