For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (11 page)

Vannie’s apologies began before Tina could settle Ian in his aunt’s arms, but Aggie stopped her.
“
Vannie, it’s ok. You expect too much of yourself.
”
She gestured for the girl to come closer.
“
You do so much around here to help me. It’s not your fault that Ian is fast, and you didn’t anticipate his every move.
”

“
I just don’t want to see you hurt anymore. I try to help, but sometimes I think I make things worse.
”

Before Aggie could reply, Tina draped an arm around the girl’s shoulders and steered her toward the front door, calling for the children to pour juice, grab the grapes from the fridge, and the hard-boiled eggs on the counter.
“
You know what to do; get food on the table. We’ll be back in a few minutes.
”

From where she sat, Aggie couldn’t hear what Tina said to Vannie, but she watched the girl’s face change from troubled to nearly beaming. Squabbles started in the kitchen, but Aggie put an immediate stop to them.
“
Ok, Ellie, come get Ian and put him in his chair. Laird, peel the eggs, Tavish, rinse the grapes, Kenzie, put plates on the island, and Cari and Lorna, go sit down. When Vannie entered again, Aggie forced herself to send her to help.
“
I need you to go pour the juice and make plates for Cari and Lorna. Oh, and tell Laird to cut up grapes and feed them and bites of muffin to Ian.
”

Vannie agreed happily, entering the kitchen with that confidence and sense of purpose that only comes from knowing you’re appreciated
and
needed. Tina shook her head.
“
How do you do it? I would never have thought of asking her to do more after she was just taking on too much responsibility.
”

“
It’s something Libby said the other day. She said that we tend to overcompensate when children react poorly to a situation and
that
create
s
new problems.
”

“
Wasn’t she talking about kids manipulating you after getting in trouble?
”
Tina stood, hands on hips, and frowned.
“
I think that medication is affecting your thinking.
”

“
Well, I just thought it applied the other way too. We can make a kid feel unneeded just because they don’t
have
to take on responsibilities that aren’t theirs to assume.
”

“
Well, it was obviously the right thing to do, but I know I wouldn’t have done it
--”
Her eyes caught movement on the street, and she smiled.
“
The world’s steadiest handyman and his gem of a mother have arrived. Is he going to finish your closet today? I swear, he’s taking more time on that one room than it took him to do the rest of the bedrooms.
”

“
He’s building the taj-ma-closet in there.
”

“
You’ve got the room for it, and once this work is done, just think about how cool it’ll be shopping to fill it with new clothes.
”

Aggie shook her head.
“
You know I can’t afford to do that. I will start buying more, though. I can’t wait to wear something remotely attractive again.
”

Before she could continue, Luke knocked softly on the screen, and then opened the door for his mother.
“
Good morning. How’s the invalid?
”

As she stepped in the door, carrying a large pot of soup, Libby rolled her eyes and jerked her head toward Luke.
“
Ignore my Luke. He likes to tease.
”

“
I learned from the best, mother mine. Oh, I forgot the bread.
”
With that, he disappeared outside and away from the onslaught of joking sure to commence.

“
There are two casseroles in that box behind your seat. Don’t forget them!
”

It seemed that Libby’s spiritual gift of service was out in full force, making Aggie feel like a princess. When he returned from his third trip to the truck, he dumped a pillow and blanket on one of the chairs and helped Aggie to the other while he and Libby worked to make the couch as comfortable as possible. As they worked, he talked almost non-stop and without the usual pauses.
“
Mom always said that a couch is only as comfortable as the quilt that covers it when you’re sick.
”

“
But I’m not sick…
”
Aggie couldn’t resist reminding him.

“
Well, it’s the same thing. You need to be as comfortable as possible so you’ll stay put and let that ankle heal.
”

A protest erupted before she could stop and consider how ungracious it might sound.
“
I’m not that injured. It was just a little wrench. Look! The thing is hardly swollen. The doctor just wants to be a little cautious since I sprained it a few months ago.
”

Libby gestured for Luke to help Aggie back to the couch.
“
That’s well and good, but he still said to rest it, didn’t he?
”

“
He said I could probably handle crutches just fine
--”

“
In this house, with all the stairs getting inside, upstairs, up to your room, down to the basement, even down to the mudroom, you think crutches are going to help? Rest it.
”
Luke’s voice held a firmness she’d only heard him use with Cari.

“
But I’ve got so much to do
--”

He fluffed an enormous pillow and helped her sink back against it. Settling her ankle ever so gently on another pillow, Luke waited for her to meet his eyes before he said in that same firm tone,
“
Aggie, lay down. You can fight doctors and friends, but you cannot fight my mother. She’s going to help you plan a million charming little wardrobes right here.
”
His jaw worked as he took his time formulating what he wanted to say next.
“
It needs to be done, and you can do that reclining on the couch just as well as you could standing at the table.
”

Aggie hesitated.
“
I
--”

Leaning over her, his eyes locked on hers and with a voice so soft and earnest that the others could only hear the tone instead of the words, he added,
“
Please, Mibs. Rest.
”

Libby, returning from the kitchen with water and a bowl of grapes, stopped in the doorway of the living room, eyes wide. Tina stifled a giggle, and Vannie, watching everyone from the stairs, furrowed her brow, clearly lost as to what was so interesting to the other two women. Luke, unaware that he was the object of much speculation, didn’t move until he heard her agreement.

~*~*~*~

All throughout the morning and into the afternoon, Luke, Libby, Tina, and the children worked to keep Aggie sitting. When Mr. Moss called about the paperwork he’d retrieved the previous day, Aggie tried to get up to grab her clipboard and found it thrust into her hands by Laird who looked very severe for the usually happy-go-lucky boy. When her glass was empty, before she could move her good leg off the couch, Ellie whisked it away and returned with a fresh glass of water. Luke brought snacks every time he went through the kitchen, which amused her greatly. It was impossible to eat all the food he brought, but thanks to the help of ravenous twins, a steady grazer like Ian, and the kitten who managed to snatch bites of anything left unattended, nothing went to waste.

Libby and Tina, sensing Aggie’s growing irritability with immobility and the constant noise, called for the children to don their swimsuits and get in the van. Libby set up the pack ‘n’ play in the mudroom and put Ian down for a nap in there, leaving strict instructions for Aggie to get Luke’s help instead of trying to lift the boy.
“
We’ll be back by six.
”
Libby stuck her head up the stairs and called,
“
Luke!
”
She waited for him to jog down the stairs before she continued,
“
Please put the casserole in the oven at five o’clock.
”

“
Yes, ma’am. Can Aggie come supervise construction?
”
Luke’s
wheedle
some
voice sounded like a little boy who brought home a dog that
“
followed
”
him and begged to keep it.

“
How do you plan for her to get up two flights of stairs?
”
Libby’s tone made Aggie’s heart sink. The woman would say no; she was sure of it. Even as she thought it, Aggie realized how ridiculous she was. If she wanted to go upstairs, she didn’t have to get Libby’s permission. The whole thing was ridiculous, yet, she felt obligated to follow Libby’s advice.

“
I thought I’d throw her over my shoulder like a continental soldier.
”

“
But her ears don’t hang low. She’s a girl, not a basset hound.
”
Libby threw Aggie a look that clearly said,
“
t
hat boy,
”
and sighed loud enough for him to hear two floors above her.
“
If you can get her up there without whacking her foot on something or letting her put pressure on it, more power to both of you. Take Tina’s air mattress up there so she’s comfortable
,
though.
”

“
Yes’m.
”
Luke’s feet thundered down the steps.

While Tina and crew drove away from the house and toward the pool in Brunswick, Luke tried to find a way to safely carry Aggie upstairs.
“
I’d throw you over my back and use your arms, but I think I’d pull them out of their sockets.
”

“
You don’t need to carry me. Just help me to the steps and I’ll go up backwards on my bum.
”

“
What if you bang your foot? Mom’d thrash what’s left of me when I got done beating myself to a pulp.
”

Laughter rang out through the house, echoing against empty walls. It sounded strange to her
--
lonely.
“
I’ll be careful. I’ve done it before, you know.
”

With him hovering like a mother hen, Aggie scooted up each step. It took her longer than she’d expected, and by the time she limped to the air mattress, she was drenched in sweat and completely drained.
“
Wow. That second floor is a killer.
”