Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (148 page)

Without
another
word,
William
jumped
from
the
vehicle
and
pounded
the
door
before
thre
ading
his
way
through
the
c
rowd
and
back
to
the
house.
Aggie
stared
after
him.
“Well,
ok
then.”

“Are
you
taking
me
to
see
Grandfather?
”

“What
about
your
grandpa?”

“I
was
supposed
to
go
see
him,
but
he
wasn’t
feeling
well
yesterday
,
so
we
had
to
wait
until
today.
Grandmother
bought
me
new
clothes—”

“
I
just
came
from
his
home.
He’s
doing
well.”
As
she
spoke,
Aggie
crawled
into
the
driver’s
seat
and
started
the
car
.
The
reporters
stepped
aside
as
she
edged
her
way
into
the
street.
Several
vehicles
followed,
but
most
stayed
to
wait
for
an
announcement
by
the
police
.
And
of
course,
they
wanted
to
get
footage
of
the
kidnapper’s
trek
to
the
police
station.

“I
don’t
understand
why
you
couldn’t
just
take
me.
Why
did
I
have
to
come
with
Grandmother?”

“I
don’t
think
you
have
the
full
story
yet,
Ellie.”

Once
out
of
the
neighborhood
and
onto
th
e
city
streets,
Aggie
concentrated
on
not
plowing
through
the
cars
in
her
way
as
she
drove
to
the
loop.
Twice
Ellie
asked
a
question,
but
Aggie’s
non-committal,
“I’ll
explain
when
we
get
home,”
silenced
them
both.

Once
they
turned
off
the
loop
and
onto
the
highway
that
led
to
Fairbury
,
one
last
question
twisted
Aggie’s
heart.
“Is
Tavish
with
Grandfather
yet?
”

“With
Mr. Stuart
?
No,
he’s
at
home,
worried
about
you.”

“Why?
He’s
supposed
to
come
with
Josh
to
Grandfather’s
today.
”

Aggie says:
Did you make it home ok?

Milliken says:
Twenty minutes ago. Mom is sleeping already.

Aggie says:
Was it too much for her? Such a long trip for nothing.

Milliken says:
I wouldn’t say nothing.

Aggie says:
You know what I mean. Anyway, thanks for coming. I

wish I’d have known we’d find her.

Milliken says:
I think by that point, we needed to see that she was ok ourselves. Does Ellie understand yet what happened?

Aggie says:
She thinks it was a mix up in communication. She prayed tonight that Grandmother Stuart wouldn’t have the same memory problems as Grandfather Stuart.

Milliken says:
Ellie thinks Geraldine forgot to get the permission she said she got?

Aggie says:
Something like that. They’re still looking for Josh. Apparently Geraldine refuses to give any information about him.

Milliken says:
Well, the police will take care of it.

Aggie says:
I suppose. Anyway, I am tired and I know you are. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I think I’ll finally get real sleep tonight.

Milliken says
: Night, Aggie. We love you. Have fun planning wedding stuff tomorrow instead of child retrieval strategies.

Aggie says:
I have to go get a cashier’s check and take it to a sales associate at Willis & Foster.

Milliken says:
Now that will feel good.

Aggie says:
It sure will. I almost asked William to do it for me, but I think Ellie will feel most normal if I don’t hover. I want to hover.

Milliken says:
Will you try to explain what really happened?”

Aggie says:
I don’t think so. It seems like it’s best just to continue with life. She isn’t really bothered by the experience; she thought it was all pre-arranged, and insisting she understand the reality at this point isn’t going to help anything.

Milliken says:
I think that’s probably wise. She’ll figure it out soon

enough if it comes up.

Milliken says:
I’m tired. I think I’ll take your advice and go to bed.

Aggie says:
Night, Dad. Love you.


Milliken says:
Night girl-o-mine.

Can’t Catch a Break

Monday
,
January
2
6
^th

“She
is
not
evil!
She’s
our
grandmother!
What
is
your
problem?”

“She
kidnapped
you.
That’s
the
problem.
You
act
like
it’s
a
normal
thing
for
some
strange
man
to
pretend
to
be
someone
you
know
and
take
you
away
like
that.
I
was
scared,
Ellie!
Why
didn’t
you
come
in
and
at
least
say
something
like,
‘Luke
is
going
to
take
me
to
see
Grandmother?’
At
least
that
way,
I
could
have
stopped
it.”