For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (70 page)

Luke waited until the movie was over and resting in the garbage before he decided to ask the question that she’d prompted with her observation of Sky Masterson’s character. After removing their empty bottles and replacing them with cold new ones, he gathered his courage and asked.
“
So, do you think that that tendency has changed?
”

Aggie blinked.
“
What tendency? What are you talking about?
”

“
Sorry,
”
Luke felt like an idiot,
“
I was thinking about what you said about movie
s where the girl wants the bad b
oy but expects him to change. You’re right; they were popular in that era, but what about now?
”

“
I don’t know.
”
The young woman shook her head.
“
I’ve really never thought about it, but really, isn’t that what most teen movies are about?
”
She shook her head.
“
I never got that. I’d be afraid that changing someone like that would make you find out that you didn’t really know the person at all.
”

“
I can see that.
”

“
You know,
”
Aggie mused,
“
I think that’s part of my problem with William. I always feel like I didn’t give him a fair chance, but there’s just so much drama surrounding him. It’s exhausting. I think I like a guy more like my father. Dad spoiled me.
”

“
What is your father like? I mean, I’ve gotten to know him a little now, but I wonder what you see in him that appeals to
you
.
”

“
You can count on him. He’s always what you expect. He’s fun, and he’s able to be spontaneous at the right times, but most of the time he’s fairly predictable.
”

“
That’s not boring?
”
He knew he was pushing it a bit much, but Luke felt compelled to ask.

Aggie stared at him for several seconds until Luke squirmed inside.
“
Luke, is this about you?
”

“
Well…
”
He swallowed.
“
Ok, yeah. I was wondering…
”

“
Why not just ask? If you were someone I knew wasn’t right for me, don’t you think I’d have told you?
”

“
I wasn’t thinking of it like that per se…
”

She shook her head in amused disbelief.
“
For someone so confident, you sure do have an insecure side, don’t you?
”

“
When it comes to you, yeah. I do.
”

He could see his confession touched her, but he didn’t know if it was a good thing or not. He didn’t want affection returned based upon pity. His mother had warned him repeatedly that a young woman like Aggie, especially in the vulnerable position she was, could easily be manipulated into assuming feelings she didn’t truly have. The thought revolted him and contributed highly to the self-doubt he endured.

After one long swig of root beer, Aggie set the bottle on the coffee table, turned to face him, and reached awkwardly for his hand.
“
Look, Luke. You said you love me, right?
”

Nodding, Luke smiled.
“
That much is indisputable.
”

“
And you want us to come to a place where we both want marriage, right?
”

“
That’s a great way of putting it. That’s what I was trying to say the other night and couldn’t.
”

“
Well,
”
Aggie continued,
“
I guess my question for you is how do we do that?
”

“
I have no clue.
”
Luke felt as if he’d failed her.
“
I don’t know. I know how to interact with Aggie the friend only, and I think I know how to treat Aggie the beloved
--”

“
That sounds like a sappy Amish romance novel.
Aggie, My Beloved
.
”

“
Well,
”
he agreed laughing,
“
I do get your point, but it’s true. I don’t know what to do to try to get you to return my feelings. I don’t know how to do this.
”

“
Well, I don’t either! I should talk to your mom. It’s probably something I’m doing wrong. It usually is.
”

“
Mibs…
”

“
No, really. I’m not fishing for disagreement and compliments. I’m serious. I’m clueless in this department, and with all the new stuff I’ve had to learn over the past year, it’s no wonder I’m not catching on very quickly. I’m burned out in the learning center. Dead. Kaput.
”

“
And on that note, I think it’s time for me to go home.
”

“
I didn’t mean to run you off.
”
Her voice, disappointment in every word, did much to soothe his heart.

“
I know.
”
He took a risk that surprised even him, and reached out to brush his fingers across her cheek.
“
I’m glad you’re not eager to get rid of me
--
even this late.
”

“
I’ve never been in a hurry to see you go.
”
Clearly trying to bolster his spirits, she added with a teasing glint in her eye,
“
And I certainly can’t say the same about William.
”

She followed him onto the porch and watched as he dragged his feet down the steps and across the drive. At his truck, he glanced back at the steps and paused, watching the breeze flick at her hair and send cold shivers over her. For a moment, the impulse to run back and kiss her goodnight nearly overtook him. He reached for the door handle and made up his mind.

Her smile as he retraced his steps encouraged him.
“
I forgot something.
”

“
What’s that?
”

Indecision, as uncomfortable to him as indigestion sounded, sent a flush of heat over him before he gathered his courage and wrapped gentle arms around her, burying his face in her hair.
“
Goodnight, Mibs.
I love you
.
”

He was halfway to his truck before he heard her quiet reply.
“
Goodnight, Luke.
”

Aggie says:
Libby, are you there?

Aggie says:
Hmmm wonder if you’re off doing something or if you just didn’t turn off the messenger.

Aggie says:
Well, when you get a minute, if you’d ding or call me, I’d appreciate it. I was sorry not to get to thank you for helping out with the children so I could take Vannie. I know it meant a lot to her too.

Aggie says:
Hmm, you must be asleep. I hope you’re resting well.

Aggie says:
I really do need to talk to you about Luke, though. I’m so confused about some things.

Aggie says:
But, I guess that’s best saved for tomorrow.

Aggie says:
Goodnight, my involuntary mentor. You have no idea how blessed I feel to have you in my life.

Findin’ a Groove

Tuesday, October 14
^th

“
We’ve already made up one of the missed days of school by not taking Columbus Day off,
”
Aggie announced to no one in particular. She closed her notebook with the attendance sheets in it with a self-satisfied snap. One day down, fourteen to go. She’d find ways to make them up if it killed her.

A glance at the clock told her it was almost time to call the children in for a snack. Tina had the little girls and Ian outside playing with puppies and dirt
--
a mother’s nightmare and a child’s dream
--
but the rest of the children were scattered about the house doing their work. Tavish and Ellie had awakened at six-thirty, gotten dressed, finished most of their chores before breakfast, and completed what was left half an hour before they were expected to start their schoolwork so Aggie did expect them to finish a little early, but was stunned when they both arrived downstairs with their books and assignments, declaring them complete.

“
What did you do
--
pick a subject and fill in the answers for both of you?
”

Tavish’s eyes lit up.
“
That’s a great idea! We could get done in an hour or less if we did that!
”

“
That’s a terrible idea. You’d learn nothing.
”

“
Besides,
”
Ellie added,
“
you get lazy with your math problems and make silly mistakes. I’d rather do my own work.
”

“
Are you sure it’s all done?
”
Aggie couldn’t imagine that they’d gotten a whole day’s work done in just two hours.

“
Yep. Ellie and I realized that if we worked fast, we could have most of the day to do whatever we wanted!
”

Laird, stepping into the room with a question, heard the last part of Tavish’s sentence and frowned.
“
Why do they get the day off?
”

“
They don’t.
”

“
But he said they could have most of the day to do what they want.
”
The injustice of the idea clearly did not set well with Laird.