Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (24 page)

Laird
rolled
his
eyes
at
Vannie.
“Like
that
little
speech
wasn’t
a
waste.
Let’s
start
planning.
Got
your
sketchbook,
Ellie?”

Two
long
dark
braids
bobbed
as
she
flipped
the
pages
to
a
blank
sheet
between
two
sketches
of
snow
laden
trees.
“Got
it.
”

“Ok,
first
someone
has
to
think
of
everyone
who
should
come.
I
think
we
should
ask
Mrs.
Sullivan
to
write
down
everyone
she
knows.
Then
maybe
Aunt
Tina
would
help
us
with
the
other
list.”

Once
more,
Laird
interrupted.
“Why
can’t
we
just
ask
her
for
everything
and
leave
Aunt
Aggie
out
of
it?”

“Aunt
Aggie
would
find
out.
You
know
she
would.
It’s
better
if
she
thinks
she
knows
what
is
going
on.”

“She’s
right,
Laird,
and
you
know
it.”

“Yeah,
I
know.
Ok.
Hmm
,
do
adult
parties
have
games?
What
kind
of
games
could
you
play
at
something
like
this?
”

“Well,
we
can
have
games
and
if
the
adults
don’t
want
to
do
it,
then
at
least
it’d
still
keep
any
kids
busy—you
know,
some
of
the
others
from
church,
Luke’s
nieces
and
nephews,
the—”

“Stuart
kids…”

“Ok,
Laird.
You
don’t
have
to
be
rude.”
Vannie
sounded
peevish.
“I
was
just
trying
to
show
that
it’s
not
a
waste—”

Tavish’s
impatience
erupted.
“Can
we
stop
the
bickering?
We’ve
only
got
minutes
before
she’s
back
or
the
kids
wake
up!”

“Ok
then,
games,”
Vannie
said,
determined
to
get
back
on
topic.
“What
ideas
do
we
have?
Something
related
to
weddings?”

“Knot
tying?
Getting
out
of
a
ball
and
chain?”

“Laird!”
The
chorus
from
his
siblings
stifled
him
just
a
little.

“Wait,
he
gave
me
an
idea.”
Tavish
grinned.
“What
about
‘the
two
shall
become
one?’”

“Ok…
so
how
do
they
become—a
three
legged
race!
Great
idea!
”

The
would-be
birthday
boy
beamed.
“If
it’s
snowing,
it’ll
be
harder
too.”

“Adults
might
not
want
to
get
all
wet…”
Vannie
suggested
regretfully.

“Then
they
don’t
have
to
play.
If
you
don’t
like
my
idea,
just
say
so.”

“Oh,
I
like
it.
I
think
it’s
a
fun
twist
on
it.
I
just
wondered.”

The
front
door
opened
before
an
yone
could
find
fault
with
Vannie’s
latest
statement.

Aggie
jogged
down
the
steps
of
the
basement
on
her
way
upstairs
to
check
the
little
ones.
“Did
anyone
hear
anything
from
upstairs?”

The
room
froze
as
if
they were all
caught
stealing.
Eyes
shifted
one
to
another
and
then
back
to
Aggie.
It
was
only
a
couple
second
delay,
but
it
seemed
as
if
they’d
been
paralyzed
for
an
hour.
Laird
found
his
voice
first.