Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (193 page)

“Well—”
It
took
more
inner
strength
to
shut
her
mouth
and
not
say
the
things
she
wanted
to
say
than
Aggie
realized
she
had
left.
It
felt
as
if
Luke
were
mocking
her—showing
his
superior
opinion
by
being
sarcastic.
She
didn’t
like
it.

“If
you
think
it’ll
be
ok…
With
her
being
new
in
the
family,
I
wouldn’t
want
her
to
feel
slighted
or
overwhelmed.”

“I
think
overwhelmed
is
more
likely
than
slighted.”

It
took
almost
no
time
at
all
to
purchase
the
stand.
The
moment
they
stepped
in
the
door,
Aggie
saw
exactly
what
she
wanted
and
felt
settled
immediately.
“There.
That.
Isn’t
it
gorgeous?
Will
it
match?”

“It’ll
compliment
the
dulcimer
perfectly.”
Luke
grinned
at
the
man
coming
to
greet
them.
“This
might
be
your
easiest
sale
of
the
day.”
He
pointed
to
the
stand.
“We’ll
take
it.
Do
you
have
a
box?”

Two
gifts
down
left
them
with
one
for
Iris
and
one
for
Chad.
Luke’s
mind
flew
in
a
dozen
directions,
but
nothing
for
either
person
fit.
“What
about…”

“What?”

Aggie
picked
at
her
skirt.
“Well,
what
if
we
did
kind
of
a
family
gift
for
Iris’
family.
Something
they’d
really
enjoy
for
a
long
time
like
a
membership
to
the
zoo
or
the
aquarium,
or
Storyland
or
something.”

“That’s
a
great
idea!”
Luke
grinned.
“What’s
it
gonna
be?”

“Hey,
I
came
up
with
the
idea!”

“Well,
I
wouldn’t
want
Storyland
myself,
but
that’s
because
it’d
be
a
nightmare
with
our
age
ranges.
It’d
work
perfect
for
them
unless
Iris
hated
it
or
something.”

“There’s
that
train
to
Chicago…
I
wonder
how
expensive
tickets
are
for
that.”

“Definitely
more
than
Mom’s
mixer…”

Somewhere
deep
in
the
most
rational
part
of
her
heart,
Aggie
knew
it
was
just
a
joke,
but
it
felt
like
a
dig.
She
wanted
to
confront
him,
but
it
seemed
silly
and
petty.
This
was
Luke.
He
wouldn’t
rub
salt
into
a
wound.
Then
again,
he
didn’t
know
there
was
one.
Somehow,
knowing
that
she
was
the
one
with
the
issue
and
that
he
was
oblivious
just
made
everything
seem
that
much
worse.

“Well
then
,
what’ll
it
be?
I
came
up
with
the
idea.”

“Yes,
and
it’s
a
perfect
one,”
he
reassured
her.

It
felt
patronizing.
With
every
passing
second,
the
panic
of
expense,
the
stress
of
last
minute
preparations,
the
uncertainty
of
etiquette,
and
the
teasing
seemed
to
culminate
into
a
whirlwind
of
emotions
she
didn’t
want
to
address.
“Storyland.”
Oh,
how
she
hoped
he
wouldn’t
ask
why
she
chose
it.
Aggie
suspected
that
it
had
something
to
do
with
knowing
he
wouldn’t
want
it
for
them.