Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (16 page)

He
produced
the
ring
box
once
more
.
Dropping
to
one
knee
again,
he
sighed.
“I
really
blew
it,
didn’t
I?”

“You’re
developing
a
terrible
habit
of
knee
l
ing.
Get
up!”

“Thank
you.
I
admit,
I
don’t
really
know
why
men
do
that.
It’s
terribly
uncomfortable
and
puts
them
at
an
awkward
angle.”

Luke
watched,
seemingly
engrossed,
while
she
opened
the
box
and
pulled
something
from
inside
.
There,
nestled
in
her
palm,
was
a
ring,
one
perfectly
suited
to
Aggie’s
tastes.
“It’s
beautiful!
Where—”

“
Mom
found
it
and
thought
of
you
.
She
showed
it
to
me
months
ago—just
after
your
birthday
party
I
think.
I
didn
’t
know
if
you’d
want
to
pick
out
your
own
or
not,
but
I
really
wanted
to
have
a
ring
for
you
today.
The
jeweler
said
we
can
exchange
it.
”

“
How
did
your
mother
know
just
the
right
thing?
”

“
Mom
knows
people.
Even
if
you
want
to
exchange
it
later,
I’d
like
it
if
you
wore
it
today
for
my
sake—and
mom’s.
She’ll
love
seeing
the
picture
of
it
.”

That
was
all
it
took.
She’d
managed
to
keep
her
composure
through
dramatic
flourishes,
eyes
that
promised
a
lifetime
of
love
and
cherishing,
but
Luke’s
fingers
slipping
the
ring
over
her
finger
prompted
a
flood
of
emotions
that
spilled
into
tears.
“I
wouldn’t
want
any
other
ring,
Luke.
It’s
perfect
for
many
reasons
.”

As
predicted,
they
were
mobbed
before
they
got
in
the
door.
Cari
promptly
promised
to
love
and
obey
Luke,
which
brought
forth
a
burst
of
laughter
from
everyone
but
Lorna.
“It’s
not
funny!
She
means
it!
Cari
tries
so
hard!”

“I
do!
I
do
twy!”
Her
conscience
must
have
been
especially
sensitive
that
day
because
seconds
later
she
added,
“Most
of
the
time.”

Within
minutes,
wedding
dates
we
re
tossed
around
by
the
family,
until
Aggie
stood
on
a
chair
and
called,
“Time!!”
Once
the
room
quieted,
she
added,
“Can
I
please
enjoy
the
first
hour
of
engagement
without
being
expected
to
make
wedding
decisions?”

A
few
“awwwws”
escaped,
but
the
peppering
with
questions
ceased.
Her
aunts
sent
her
a
telepathic
message
that
clearly
said,
“Introduce
us,
young
woman!”

“Luke,
come
her
e
.
Did
you
meet
my
aunts?
”

“Only
briefly—just
a
nod
really—I
got
delayed
and
you
were
right
on
my
tail.
Your
mom
kept
me
abreast
of
your
position
the
whole
way
up
here.”

Aggie
shot
a
glance
at
her
mother.
“Is
that
why
you
kept
asking
where
we
were?
I
was
wondering
if
there
was
something
wrong
with
the
speedometer
or
something.
You
seemed
so
impatient!”