Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (188 page)

“Well,
they
could
have
before.
The
chances
of
him
coming
back
after
her
getting
caught
were
pretty
much
non-existent.
He’s
not
going
to
bother
if
he
didn’t
get
paid
and
he
can’t
get
paid
with
her
in
jail—so
to
speak.”

“Oh.”

“Oh,
and
just
so
you
know;
it
looks
like
he
might
have
been
blackmailed
into
doing
it.
We’re
not
sure
about
that,
but
he
has
no
reason
to
say
so
,
and
he
might
have
supporting
evidence.”

“This
is
really
over.”
Aggie
gripped
the
counter.
“Over.”

“You
ok?
Is
Luke
there?”

“No,
he’s
working
on
that
new
house
of
his.
They’re
trying
to
get
the
roof
on
before
we
leave.”

“Want
me
to
come
over?
Send
Ellene?”

“I’m
good.
I
think
I’m
going
to
make
cookies.
Feel
free
to
stop
by
for
some.”

“Snickerdoodles?”

She
grinned.
William
loved
his
snickerdoodles.
“If
you
are
coming,
definitely.”

“I’ll
be
there
sometime
after
four.”

“I’ll
save
a
few
to
bake
then
so
you
can
have
‘em
hot.
I
am
grateful that
Luke
talked
me
into
that
double
oven
thing.”

Aggie
pulled
out
mixing
bowls,
measuring
spoons
and
cups,
and
the
ingredients
she
could
remember.
As
she
worked,
she
prayed.
Resolved,
she
left
her
work
and
hurried
downstairs.

“Who
is
aching
to
go
for
a
ride?
I
could
use
some
things
from
the
store.”

Laird
stared
at
her.
“What?”

“Do
you
want
to
run
an
errand?
Vannie?
Tavish?
Ellie?
Anyone?”

“But
we’re
not
done
with
school
yet.”

“How
much
do
you
have
left?”

“Not
much,
but—”
Laird
stopped
abruptly.
“Are
you
feeling
ok?
Should
I
call
Luke?”

Vannie
spoke
up
before
Aggie
could
answer.
“Something
happened,
didn’t
it?”
Her
eyes
widened.
“They
caught
him!”

“Yep!
You
guys
are
free
to
be
kids
again.
Your
wacky
over-protective
aunt
is
appeased.
Now,
get
out
of
here
and
go
buy
stuff.”

“What!
You
didn’t
tell
us
what
to
buy.”

“I
don’t
care.
I
just
need
a
few
things.
I’ll
know
what
they
are
when
you
get
home
with
them.”

She
turned
and
hurried
up
the
stairs,
grinning
as
she
overheard
Tavish
say,
“I
think
she’s
losing
it.
Some
people
become
Bridezillas;
she
becomes
sugarbride
or
something.”

~*~*~*~

Luke
was
gone.
He’d
only
had
a
few
minutes
to
spend
with
her,
not
arriving
until
well
after
the
children
were
in
bed.
Aggie
reflected
on
how
he
laughed
at
William
making
her
promise
to
teach
Tina
how
to
make
perfect
snickerdoodles
and
over
Tavish’s
decision
that
a
wife
might
not
be
the
end
of
the
world
as
she
dragged
herself
upstairs
to
go
to
bed.
It
was
a
good
night.