For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (84 page)

Martha says:
Remember, remember?

Aggie says:
I thought it’d be kind of a fun history lesson.

Martha says:
It will! And vocabulary. They’ll learn what effigy means.

Aggie says:
*giggles*

Martha says:
Is everything ok between you and William now?

Aggie says:
I think so. When I’m not in the middle of it, I can see that

he means well. He really does care about all of us. I just wish he could see things through Luke’s eyes.

Martha says:
If he did, you might be married to him already.

Aggie says:
I wouldn’t have married him, Mom. I think I was already a little attached to Luke, even back then. I just hadn’t had a moment
to realize it.

Martha says:
We love him already. William is a wonderful man, and we would have been happy for you, but Luke feels like family.

Aggie says:
Tina is happy. She’s finally made her presence known.

Martha says:
She’d be good for him. She’d keep him in his place without stripping him of his masculinity. That’s a delicate balance that most of us can’t achieve.

Aggie says:
That’s a great way of putting it! I’ll have to tell her.

Martha says:
So how are things going with Luke? Do you feel pressured, or are you enjoying yourself?

Aggie says:
I’m enjoying this so much, Mom. He really does love me. I don’t know how anyone could resist that.

Martha says:
Don’t let you convince yourself that you feel what you don’t. This is for life, Aggie. This is for the rest of your life. You have to trust him with the most intimate parts of your heart and soul. Don’t pressure yourself.

Aggie says:
I could marry him tomorrow and be truly happy for the rest of my life.

Martha says:
Because you think he’s a good man?

Aggie says:
Because I know he’s a good man, and I love him.

Martha says:
Does he know that?

Aggie says:
No. Every time I try to tell him, something messes it up.

Martha says:
Wait a few weeks, sweetheart. Wait. Let him
“
work
”
for you. A man like Luke will enjoy the challenge.

Aggie says:
I suppose. He’s really very sweet about it. Tonight he brought me a huge sunflower. His mom had tied the stem with a bunch of raffia. I stuck it in that graniteware coffee pot that I keep up on the shelf over the sink. My kitchen looks sunshiny.

Martha says:
He’s a wise man.

Aggie says:
Why do you say that?

Martha says
: He’s doing what he can continue with. He’s not taking you on elaborate dates or bringing you expensive gifts when it
doesn’t fit with the lifestyle you’ll have.

Aggie says:
You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that, but it makes sense.

Martha says:
I always prayed I’d live to see you married and with children. I just never expected it to happen on the same day.

Aggie says:
Oh, mom. You’ll get stronger, have the surgery, and live
long enough to see great grandchildren.

Martha says:
I don’t know, Aggie. The doctor said that if my numbers go any lower, I’ll have to go on portable oxygen.

Aggie says:
Well, then, we just HAVE to get you stronger.

Martha says:
You do that, and I’ll keep fighting. They didn’t think I’d live to see you go to kindergarten, then they said high school, and then they said I wouldn’t see you graduate from college. I’ve already beat the odds three times.

Aggie says:
I love you, Mom.

Martha says:
I love you. Your father is glaring at me
--
again.

Aggie says:
Goodnight, Mom.

Martha says:
Night.

For Keeps

Thursday, November 6
^th

Thursdays had become Aggie’s favorite day of the week. Any other day, she might be scheduled or forced to leave the house for some appointment, class, or other obligation, but Thursdays had become sacred. Nothing but an emergency would induce her to pick up the van keys for any reason.

The children, all but Kenzie having finished their week’s work the previous day, were busy with a game of hide and seek that rivaled any ever played in the history of the Stuart household. Ian slept in his crib, Tina relaxed on Vannie’s bed, posting her opinions in her online class discussion. Aggie, on the other hand, enjoyed watching the game in process from her favorite spot on the front porch.

Children ran past, snuck by, and screamed as they raced to the tree house as
“
home base.
”
The only thing missing was Luke. Even as she thought it, Aggie smiled. How much had changed in the past nine months!

Pat Jenson strolled up the drive, waving as she saw Aggie sitting on the porch.
“
Got a package for you from some library place. More curriculum?
”

“
Oh, those are probably the science videos I ordered. Great.
”
Aggie accepted the small box and the stack of envelopes. Pointing to a plate on the little wicker table, she added,
“
Want a cookie?
”

“
No thanks.. Still working to lose those last five pounds. I’ll probably gain it all back the first week from all the celebrating I plan to do, but hey.
”

“
Keep walkin’!
”

“
You know it. I figure I’m helping to keep postal prices lower by walkin’ it too.
”
Pat waved and strolled back down the driveway.

Aggie tossed the box next to her and flipped through the usual stack of first of the month statements, bills, and junk mail, pausing at a large envelope from the Law Offices of Moss & Younger. Dread filled her heart as she unfastened the metal clasp on the back of the envelope. Surely, Geraldine Stuart was too busy dealing with Douglas’ illness to start a new round of custody or visitation hassles.

Her eyes closed as she leaned against the back of the chair, willing herself to relax, trust, and pray. Just as a few quick p-mails left her mental inbox, she heard Luke’s truck crunching on the driveway. As irrelevant as it seemed at the time, Aggie couldn’t help but realize that she could recognize the sounds of several cars on the driveway without seeing who it was first.

Luke’s face lit up when he saw her, making her heart swell. She’d never imagined how wonderful it felt to mean so much to someone. Yes, she’d seen a similar look in little Ian’s eyes often, and several of the children made her feel
indispensable
to their happiness, but Luke’s admiration and affection was different
--
more.

“
Let me guess. Hide and seek?
”

“
Did Tavish reading on the other side of the fence give it away or what?
”

Laughing, Luke lowered himself into the chair opposite her.
“
How was today?
”

“
Well, Tina explained how phones work to Tavish, and now he and Elspeth are trying to create some kind of working model. Tavish has read so much on telegraphs and telephones that I expect we’ll have one rigged from upstairs to downstairs sometime next week.
”

She saw the concern in Luke’s eyes, but Aggie couldn’t help herself. The envelope in her hands sent such a fierce sense of foreboding over her, that Aggie couldn’t shake it.
“
Come on,
”
Luke urged, taking the pile of mail from her and setting it in the chair.
“
Let’s go for a drive or something. I’ve hardly seen you all week.
”

“
What are you talking about? You’ve been here nearly every day!
”

With a boyish grin, Luke pulled her up and grabbed the mail to take inside.
“
But, you’ve been surrounded by children and friends. I want to have you to myself for a bit.
”

Aggie shrugged and grabbed the large envelope from his hands.
“
Well, I’m warning you. I don’t feel very companionable. I just got this from Mr. Moss, and I suspect bad news.
”
She tried to smile and show him some kind of encouragement.
“
But, I’ll let you take me to get a French Crème at Espresso. Maybe it’ll help me wash down whatever is in this thing.
”

~*~*~*~

Seated alone on the corner loveseat at Espresso Yourself, Aggie opened the manila envelope that she felt sure would destroy her happiness. Luke watched her, concern written in his expression, as he waited for their order. Inside the envelope was another, smaller, manila envelope and a business letter sized one. The larger one was addressed to her in Allie’s handwriting, while the other was labeled with a computer generated label with Mr. Moss as the sender. A hand written admonition to open it first caused Aggie to shake down the contents and tear one end from the envelope.

Aggie sat in thoughtful contemplation as she read the letter enclosed and waited for Luke to return with their drinks. As he sat beside her, she passed him the letter.
“
Will you read this and tell me if I want to open the other envelope or not?
”
She passed the unopened manila envelope as well.

“
From Allie?
”

“
Yeah.
”
Aggie choked out the answer as Luke unfolded the lawyer’s letter.

Dear Aggie,

According to the terms of your sister’s will, I am instructed to forward the enclosed letter nine months after her death. While I have not read the contents of the letter, I am aware of what it entails and am prepared to take whatever course of action you choose as soon as you have made your decision.