Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (45 page)

Tina says:
God
’
s server is big enough to handle it. You keep sending them and He
’
ll keep answering. How are the hymns?

Aggie says:
I think I sing
“
Angry Words
”
too much.

Tina says:
Why do you say that?

Aggie says:
I heard Kenzie singing it the other day. She sang all three verses AND imitated my exact tone when I grind out that
“
Love one another, THUS saith the SaviOR…
”
Ahem. It
’
s not pretty.

Tina says:
Can you do this Aggie?

Aggie says:
I have to, Tina. Mom and Dad can
’
t, and there just isn
’
t anyone else.

Tina says:
If there was someone else, would you want to keep going like this?

Aggie says:
I know it sounds crazy, but this is kind of my life now. I really can
’
t imagine doing anything else. I
’
d feel naked without someone pulling on my skirts.

Tina says:
LOL… um, that just came out wrong.

Aggie says:
You
’
re telling me. You know what I mean though. It
’
s not what I would have chosen, but it
’
s what I have and thinking about
“
what ifs
”
isn
’
t going to help.

Tina says:
You always wanted to get married, have a house down the street from your parents, and run the History department at the High School. How can you possibly
--

Aggie says:
I can because I have to. Remember when I asked God to give me a 180 and make me know, without a doubt, if my goals took me out of what God
’
s will for me? Well, I
’
d say this was a 180 if I
’
ve ever seen one. I have to trust that God knows what He
’
s doing.

Tina says:
I worry about you. It
’
s a lot of work and responsibility.

Aggie says:
Allie did it.

Tina says:
And she had years to prepare.

Aggie says:
Which makes me even more qualified to take over. I
’
m
younger and have more energy. I
’
m not worn out from having eight children.

Tina says:
Allie wasn
’
t worn out and you know it.

Aggie says:
Yeah, but I think sometimes she was. She had a lot to prove to people. I find myself doing the same thing. If you
’
re tired, you don
’
t want it to show. Someone is sure to make a comment on how hard it must be. Yeah, it
’
s hard, but it gets old being reminded of it
--
especially when you
’
ve made yourself vulnerable and admitted it.

Tina says:
Just take care of yourself. You won
’
t be any good to those kids if you
’
re worn out and in need of a padded room.

Aggie says:
I
’
ll remember.

Tina says:
My pizza is here. I
’
d better go. See you later and don
’
t stay up too late.

Aggie says:
Nighters.

Tina says:
Poofs.

9-1-1

Monday, June 17
^th

“
Morning.
”
Aggie jumped at the sound of his voice as Luke stepped around her, deposited a jar of grape juice in the
fridge,
and then climbed the stairs to Vannie
’
s room without another word.

She shrugged and went back to filling bowls of cold cereal and adding slices of leftover watermelon to their plates. The children carried their meal to the far corners of the downstairs and out onto the porches. She knew she shouldn
’
t allow it. If she wasn
’
t careful, the children were going to lose every dish and utensil they owned. However, she was tired, anxious to finish the rooms upstairs, and ready for her morning cup of coffee, so she let it slide.

Half an hour after his arrival, Aggie hollered for the kids to bring back their dishes, grabbed two hot mugs of coffee and a plate of bagels, and climbed the stairs to see the progress in Vannie
’
s room. Luke took the coffee gratefully, and a strange look crossed his face as he took his first sip.

“
Is something wrong with it?
”

“
I was expecting coffee, not one of those imports from Seattle. Whew!
”

Aggie chuckled and handed over a cream cheese- slathered onion bagel.
“
I
’
ll get some regular coffee next time I am in town. Meanwhile, have a bagel.
”
Aggie surveyed the room and tried to ignore the question in her mind.
“
Looks like if things go as planned we can put one more coat on this tonight, and it
’
s ready for moving in the day after tomorrow.
”

“
Actually, you need to wait until Friday at the earliest. We really want these floors to cure well.
”

She ran her hand along the floor, feeling the glossy finish under her fingertips.
“
I really hoped
--
”
Clamping her mouth shut, she stood abruptly.

“
Aggie,
”
Luke knew something was on her mind,
“
what
’
s up? You have something to say, I can tell. Just talk to me.
”
Luke had a sickening feeling that he was being fired. While the job wasn
’
t going to pay well, he was eager to keep working on the old house. The money was better than nothing, and the personal satisfaction in seeing the house restored was invaluable to him. He remembered the children. Luke loved being around the children. How often did a job include a houseful of children to enjoy?

“
I hate that!
”
Aggie
’
s frustration replaced the thoughtful, contemplative expression previously shown on her face.

“
What? What did I say?
”
Luke actually started putting the lids back on the paint and gathering his tools, but Aggie didn
’
t notice.

“
The way everyone always knows what I
’
m going to say before I say it. It
’
s so maddening!
”

Luke
’
s laughter was infectious. Gasping between giggles, Aggie asked why they were laughing. Luke couldn
’
t answer. Just as she regained some of her composure, Luke admitted he
’
d expected to be fired, sending her into fresh waves of giggles.
“
Who would have thought the proverbial pink slip could be so funny!
”

While Luke applied the final coat of urethane to the floor, Aggie went back downstairs to find the scattered dishes.
“
All right, guys, I see four bowls, five plates, and two spoons! I want every dish in the house, yard, van, and anywhere else I haven
’
t thought of, in five minutes. Spread the word and hustle!
”

Kenzie and Tavish looked at her with odd expressions and took tentative steps toward the door.
“
You heard me! Find dishes,
”
Aggie insisted.

She grabbed Ian from the playpen and carried him upstairs for a bath. The little boy hadn
’
t been cleaned up after dinner the previous evening, and dirt seemed caked onto his face, hands, and knees. It dawned on her that the careful routines she
’
d kept in place at the Stuart home had dissolved like Jell-o in water the moment they
’
d moved to the Shambles.

Thanks to half a dozen interruptions, the water overfilled the tub, soaking the carpeting as she undressed Ian, and, seconds later, her voice wavered in obvious distress as she mopped up the soggy mess.
“
Shall we gather at the riiiiveerrr…
”
a tearful giggle escaped,
“
where the bathtub overflooooo
wwws…
”

“
Aggie, have you considered that the bathroom up here might need to be the next thing you do?
”

“
I have,
”
she called, flinging tears away from her eyes as she knelt, her knees squishing into the soggy carpet,
“
but I really think we need to get the kids in their rooms first. If nothing else, it
’
ll quiet the GIL.
”

“
GIL?
”