Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (205 page)

“That’s
not
likely.
Oh,
they’re
taking
out
the
couches!”
Vannie
cried excitedly
.
“It’s
going
to
be
beautiful
in
here.
Aunt
Tina
said
the
tulle
curtains
look
amazing.”

“How—”

“I
called
to
ask.”

Aggie
set
down
the
tongs
and
looked
at
her
niece.
“Oh,
Vannie.
Oh,
I—just
wait
there.
Get
your
jacket.
Get
in
Libby’s
car.”

“I
can’t
do—”

Aggie
ignored
the
girl’s
protests
and
ran
down
the
basement
steps.
“Libby,
I
need
you.
Laird,
watch
the
kids.”

“Okkk…”

Libby
turned to follow her back up the stairs.
“What’s
wrong?”

“Vannie.
We’ve
completely
left
her
out
of
the
fun.
She’s
a
bridesmaid,
so
she
should
be
there
helping
and
enjoying
this
thing.
I
just
spaced
it.”

“You’re
right.
I’ll
be
right
back.
Laird
can
handle
them
until
I
get
home.”

Before
Aggie
could
return
to
the
kitchen,
men
started
asking
questions.
“Yes,
everything
that
isn’t
built-in
goes.
Bye
bye.
Gone.
Kaput.
Outta
there!”

Hotdogs
were
getting
cold,
but
she
didn’t
care
anymore.
She
piled
them
on
one
big
platter,
added
the
pot
of
beans,
and
carried
it
all
downstairs,
terrified
she’d
trip
and
dump
it
on
whomever
was
at
the
bottom.
“I’ll
be
back
with
plates
and
utensils.
There
are
water
bottles
in
the
fridge.
Drink
that.”

“Did
you
see
all
the
candy
in
there?
It
was
huge!”
Cari
announced.
“Kenzie
did
it
,
too!
She’s
good.”

When
she
hurried
to
retrieve
paper
plates
and
plastic
spoons,
Aggie
saw
the
men
take
the
table
but
leave
the
chairs.
“Don’t
forget
the
chairs!”

“Won’t
we
need
them?”

Aggie
shook
her
head.
“We
rented
plenty.
If
we
have
room
for
more,
we’ll
have
Tina
bring
some
back
from
the
schoolhouse.”

While
the
men
moved
things,
Aggie
cleaned
the
kitchen.
They
were
all
going
to
a
Mexican
restaurant
around
eight
while
Murphy
and
Mrs.
Dyke
watched
the
children.
As
late
as
they
might
be
there,
she
didn’t
need
to
come
home
to
more
house
cleaning.
She’d
been
at
it
all
day!

An
hour
later,
Luke
stepped
into
the
kitchen.
“Ok,
what
can
I
do?”

“Did
you
set
up
the
chairs?”

“No,
that’s
next?”

“Yeah.
You
set
them
up
and
I’ll
start
decorating
as
soon
as
I
mop
this
floor.
”

“You
look
beat.”

Aggie
glanced
up
at
him.
“Not
really.
Just
trying
to
remember
everything
and
I
know
I’m
succeeding
in
forgetting
even
more.”
Her
eyes
widened.
“Where’s
my
phone?”
She
patted
her
pockets
and
then
dove
for
the
house
phone
’s handset
.
Ignoring
Luke’s
alarmed
face,
Aggie
dialed
Tina.
“Hey,
do
we
have
music?”
A
sigh
of
relief
escaped.
“I
suddenly
couldn’t
remember.
Cellist
and
keyboard
in
the
kitchen.
That’s
right.
I
remember
now.
Whose
kids
were
they?”