Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (149 page)

“But
I
wouldn’t
want
you
to
stop
it.
Don’t
you
want
to
see
Grandfather
before
he
dies
too?”

“She
wasn’t
going
to
take
you
there,
Ellie.
Don’t
you
see?
It
was
just
a
lie
to
get
you
to
come
with
her
without
fussing.
”
Vannie’s
disgust
showed
in
every
piercing
word.

“She
was
too!
I
even
saw
the
letter
that
Aunt
Aggie
sent
saying
it
was
ok
and
the
letter
from
Grandfather
saying
that
he
wanted
to
see
each
of
his
grandchildren
before
he
died.”

The
argument
raged
as
the
two
girls
played
with
the
dogs,
throwing
sticks
across
the
yard.
In
the
house,
oblivious
to
the
war
outside,
Aggie
assembled
enchiladas,
humming
and
singing
occasionally
as
she
worked.
“
…of
the
soul,
blessed
kingdom
of
light.
Free,
from
all
care,
and
where
fall…mmmmm
.
”

“It’s
good
to
be
home
where
Aggie
sings
and
hymns
fill
the
house.”

Nothing
thrilled
Aggie
more than
to
feel
as
though
life
was
normal
again.
She
smiled
at
Tina
as
she
spooned
another
bit
of
enchilada
sauce
over
the
next
one.
“It’s
just
amazing
how
a
couple
of
weeks
ago
I
felt
like
a
big
failure
and
today
I
feel
like
I
can
conquer
the
world.”

“How
about
conquering
a
wedding
instead?”

“What’s
next?”

“Reception.
Oh,
and
your
dad
informed
me
that
they’re
paying
for
at least
the
reception
hall
and
the
caterer.
Apparently
they’ve
been
saving
for
it
for
years.”

“Yeah…
I
forgot
about
that
,
but
they
have.”

Luke
burst
into
the
house,
stomping
snow
off
his
feet
and
shaking
his
jacket
out
over
the
laundry
sink.
The
two
women
listened
to
every
movement
and
knew,
even
without
seeing,
when
he
started
down
the
hall
for
the
kitchen.
“Have
I
got
good
news
all
around!”

“Have
you?”

“Yes!
Thank
you
for
asking,
Tina.
First,
the
house
is
officially
in
escrow
and
it’s
going
to
be
a
short
one.
I’ll
be
putting
a
couple
of
offers
in
this
week.
It’s
a
cash
offer,
so
no
waiting
on
financing
etc.”

“That’s
cool,”
Aggie
said
while
hiding
a
smile.

“Sure
is.
I’m
going
to
love
it.”

“And
second—wait,
what?”
He
stared
at
Tina,
confused.

“The
house.
I’m
going
to
love
it.
Can
I
start
putting
things
in
now?
”

“You—”
He
stared
at
Aggie
for
some
kind
of
confirmation,
“She—”

“Bought
the
house.
Yes.”

“You
knew
this?”
Luke
seemed
stuck
in
stunned
mode
and
incapable
of
moving
forward.

“I
found out the day
I
bought
my
dress.
Tina
told
me
then.”

“Why
didn’t
you
tell
me
you
wanted
it?
I
could
have
given
you
a
good
deal
and
still
made
a
nice
profit.”