Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (72 page)

“She’s
not,
but
I
am.
The
law
won’t
let
her
send
them,
but
that
doesn’t
mean
there
aren’t
going
to
be
any
presents.”
Aggie
led
them
to
the
school
room
where
Kenzie
wept
over
her
math
problems.
“You
guys
sit
there—what’s
wrong
with
Kenzie?”

“Her
brain
is
fried.
I
think
that’s
why
teachers
usually
have
parties
the
last
day
of
school.
It’s
hard
for
kids
to
concentrate
with
all
the
coming
excitement.”
He
hardly
gave
Aggie
a
glance
as
he
turned
back
to
the
math
book
and
t
ried
reminding
her
how
to
carry.

Aggie
began
to
reply,
but
her
phone
rang,
distracting
her.
“Just
finish
your
assignments.
I’ll
be
back.”
Seconds
later
she
burst
through
the
doors.
“Put
your
books
away,
Grandma
and
Grandpa
are
almost
here!
They
came
early!”

“Praise
God
for
salvation.”

Her
head
spun
sharply.
“What?”

“Isn’t
that
how
the
song
goes?
‘Praise
God
for
salvation
for
whosoever
will..’”

“No,
it’s
‘praise
God
for
full
salvation
for
whosoever
will
,
’
why?”

“Just
seemed
like
a
good
song
for
Grandma’s
arrival.
I’ll
go
make
sure
their
room
is
ready.”

Aggie
was
just
out
of
earshot
when
Laird
muttered,
“If
it’s
relaxing,
maybe
they’ll
stay
a
while
this
time.”

“What
,
Laird?”

He
turned
and
shrugged,
pushing
past
Vannie
with
unnecessary
force.
“Laird!”

“Laird!”
he
echoed,
mocking
her
as
he
entered
the
room.
It
was
cold.
He
checked
the
vents
and
pushed
them
open.
Aunt
Tina
had
only
been
gone
for
less
than
two
weeks
and
already
her
room
was
closed
off
as
if
she’d
been
banished
from
the
house.

“What’s
wrong
with
you?”

He
ignored
Vannie’s
accusatory
tone
and
shook
his
head.
“Just
trying
to
get
the
room
warm
for
Grandma.
Is
Kenzie
ok?”

“Sure.
She
was
just
trying
to
work
too
fast
to
get
done.”

“Most
kids
don’t
do
schoolwork
two
days
before
Christmas.”

“Most
kids,”
Vannie
countered
with
hands
on
her
hips,
“d
on’t
start
school
a
month
late.
What’s
gotten
into
you?”

“Did
you
know
she
has
the
vents
shut
off
to
this
room?
Are
we
so
broke
that
heating
one
little
room
is
going
to
make
a
difference?
Why
is
she
buying
all
those
gifts
if
we
can’t
afford
to
heat
a
room?”

Vannie
backed
from
the
room,
her
head
shaking.
“
That’s
ridiculous.”

“That’s
me.
Ridiculous
Laird.
Go
away,
Vannie.
I’ve
got
to
make
sure
the
sheets
are
clean.”

“Since
when
do
you
care
about
clean
sheets?”

He
threw
her
a
nasty
look
and
then
stormed
to
the
door,
slamming
it
in
her
face.
“Since
now,”
he
muttered
between
clenched
teeth.