Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (165 page)

Mrs.
Dyke
erupted
in
laughter
that
likely
carried
to
the
other
houses.
“Out
of
the
mouths
of
babes…”

~*~*~*~

“You’ve
got
to
do
something.
She’s
going
crazy.
She
made
Ian
bundle
up
and
go
with
her
,
so
she
could
escort
Kenzie
to
Mrs.
Dyke’s.
I
mean,
come
on!”

It
sounded
crazy
to
him
after
seeing
the
children
dash
back
and
forth
all
summer,
but
Aggie
wasn’t
given
to
unreasonable
behavior.
“I’ll
see
what
is
up,
but
if
Aggie
says
no
to
the
library
and
the
neighbor’s
house,
then
it’s
no.
It’s
that
simple.”

“But
she’s
being
ridiculous.
She’ll
listen
to
you.”

Luke’s
expression
seemed
to
temper
Vannie
a
little,
but
Laird
passed
without
seeing
the
look
on
his
face
and
said,
“She’s
paranoid
that
Grandmother
will
arrange
a
kidnapping
from
the
jail
or
mental
hospital
or
wherever
she
is.”

“Laird…”

The
boy
turned,
his
eyes
wide.
“What?
It’s
true!”

“You’re
not
going
to
do
this,
guys.
If
Aggie
says
you
have
to
stay
home,
you
stay
and
without
giving
her
grief
about
it.
If
she
says
you
can’t
go
across
the
street,
don’t
go.”

“But
you’re
going
to
be
her
husband.
Can’t
you
make
her—”

“I
don’t
care
what
I
can
‘make’
or
not
make
her
do.
I’m
not
doing
it.
If
Aggie
says
we
eat
oatmeal
for
breakfast,
lunch,
and
dinner
for
a
month,
then
I’m
behind
her.
Got
that?
You
guys
can’t
divide
us.”

“Do
you
think
this
makes
sense?”

The
change
in
Vannie’s
tone
was
evident.
She’d
gone
from
demanding
to
curious.
For
several
long
seconds
he
pondered
whether
he
should
admit
to
disagreement
or
not
and
finally
decided
that
honesty
combined
with
support
was
better
than
avoidance.
“Actually,
without
knowing
why,
I
can’t
be
sure
but
on
the
surface,
no.
I
don’t
see
the
point,
but
that
doesn’t
matter.
She
said
it
and
I’ll
back
her
up.
I
will
always
back
her
up
even
if
I
think
she’s
wrong
unless
I
know
it’s
going
to
cause
real
harm.
Even
then,
you’re
not
going
to
be
part
of
that
change.
Got
it?”

“Just
like
Mom
and
Dad,”
Laird
mumbled
as
he
continued
into
the
library.
Awkward
sounds
of
tentative
guitar
strums
reached
their
ears
moments
later.

“I
don’t
understand.
I
don’t
see
how
it’s
good
for
anyone
to
let
fear
take
over
her
common
sense.
I
understand
why
you
want
to
support
her,
but
I
don’t
understand
why
it
isn’t
unhealthy
for
her
to
do
it.
”

Aggie,
Kenzie,
and
Ian
stepped
into
the
house
and
began
shedding
their
jackets.
Seconds
later,
Lorna
marched
down
the
stairs
singing,
“I’ll
fly
away
oh,
gory
…”