Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (175 page)

“Go
change.
People
will
be
arriving
soon.”

“I
don’t
need—”
She
stopped
mid-sentence.
Her
cold
wet
legs
told
her
she
did
need
to
change,
and
soon.
“I’ll
be
down
in
a
few.”

The
excited
chatter
of
the
children
warmed
her
heart
as
Aggie
hurried
past
their
floor
and
up
to
her
room.
Not
for
the
first
time
that
day,
much
less
ever,
Aggie
thanked
the
Lord
for
her
little
sanctuary
at
the
top
of
the
house.
A
fire
in
the
grate
warmed
more
than
her
room.
“Lord,
he’s
too
good
to
me.”

She
stepped
into
the
bathroom
and
stared
into
the
mirror,
looking
for
something
but
unsure
of
what.
The
face
looking
back
at
her
didn’t
seem
familiar
at
all.
It
was
harsh,
empty,
cold.
The
hair
tie
was
the
first
to
go.
With
her
hair
down
and
less
severe
looking,
she
felt
more
normal.
How
strange
when
just
months
earlier
it
was
her
usual
style.
How
had
Luke
ever
seen
her
as
anything
but
a
snippy
looking…
something?
Aggie
couldn’t
even
think
of
the
word.

Several
handfuls
of
water
later,
Aggie’s
eyes
seemed
less
red
and
puffy.
Her
closet,
thanks
to
Tina’s
obsession
with
shopping
lately,
was
full
of
options
she’d
never
had
a
chance
to
wear.
“She’s
buying
for
my
honeymoon!”

“Of
course
I
am!
You
can’t
go
wearing
the
stuff
you’ve
worn
for
over
a
year!”

“Happy
birthday!”

“Luke
is
worried.”

Aggie
pointed
to
the
clothes.
“I’m
overwhelmed.
Pick.”
Without
hesitation,
Tina
pulled
an
outfit
from
the
rod
and
shooed
her
into
the
bathroom.

“I
really
should
run
down
and
tell
him
you’re
ok.”

“Wait!”
Aggie
stared
at
the
clothes
in
her
hands.
“How
do
we
know
these
clothes
will
work
for
the
honeymoon?
I
don’t
know
where
we’re
going!”

“What?”

“I
don’t
know
where
we’re
going.
This
could
be
all
wrong.
Maybe
I
shouldn’t—”

“Put
‘em
on.
No
matter
where
you’re
going,
that
outfit
screams
Aggie.
Meanwhile,
I’m
going
to
go
find
out
where
you’re
going.”

“What
if—
aaaand
she’s
gone
,
isn’t
she?”
Aggie
waited
a
few
seconds
and
peeked
out
the
door.
“Yep,
sure
is.”

The
outfit
was
perfect
and
her
hair
definitely
looked
better,
but
still
she
seemed
a
little
pale.
A
bag
of
cosmetics,
reserved
to
ensure
wedding
pictures
looked
top-notch,
taunted
her
from
her
vanity
drawer,
but
she
shut
it
quickly.
She’d
just
end
up
with
streaky
mascara
and
blotchy
cheeks
if
she
did.

Tina
burst
through
the
door.
“Oh,
this
is
exciting.
Most
of
your
clothes
will
work,
but
we’re
going
to
have
to
get
you
some
jeans
or
something.”