For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (2 page)

“
Ok, did anyone else here manage to avoid doing anything wrong before…
”
Aggie peeked at the clock.
“
Seven twenty-five?
”

Laird shrugged.
“
Probably Vannie. She’s always doing the right thing
--
even if it is obnoxiously bossy.
”

“
Obnoxiously bossy isn’t the right thing. Ok, so for the rest of you, I want you to go upstairs, put on your pajamas, and brush your teeth. Go!
”

“
But I’m hungwy!
”
Cari’s wail from the corner prompted a few echoes, but Aggie silenced them with another order to
“
stop.
”

“
If you want to eat at all today, I’d suggest you obey
without
arguing.
”

Fifteen minutes later, the only sounds in the Stuart-Milliken abode were those of Ellie rinsing her bowl and storing it in the dishwasher, and Ian giggling as Tina fed him his breakfast. Ellie danced upstairs for her sketchbook and pencil before racing outside. Aggie hardly noticed. Instead, she turned the page and finished her Proverb-du-jour, before closing the Bible.
“
’Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on, ’
”
she whispered.
“
Now, how do I get that through their heads?
”

~*~*~*~

Armed with a roll of metal screen-looking stuff, a tool belt, and bucket, Luke knocked and entered, glancing around to see where all of the children were hiding.
As he saw
Tina playing with Ian in the study, he raised his eyebrows and got a grin in response.
“
You should have seen it. She was
--”

She glanced at the stairs, and his eyes followed as Aggie’s familiar voice interrupted them.
“
Awake! awake! and let your song of praise arise…
”

“
They aren’t up yet?
”

“
They were. She woke up to a display of temper and ugliness that would give the GIL a run for her money.
”
Tina rolled her eyes, remembering.
“
Honestly, Luke, I don’t know how she does it. I’m going crazy, and there’s an end in sight for me.
”
She frowned and ducked her head.
“
I’m ashamed to admit it, but it’s true. How is she going to survive eighteen more years of this?
”

“
One day at a time, I suppose. Don’t tell her
--”

“
I don’t,
”
Tina assured him.
“
When we talk, I remind her that she can do all things through Christ. I assure her it’s going to get easier every day.
”

“
But you don’t believe it.
”
A frown accompanied his words.

“
I’ve been here long enough to tell you it hasn’t gotten any easier for me, and I don’t bear the brunt of it like she does.
”

“
Well, all I know is that if anyone can do it, Mibs can.
”

“
Why do you call her that?
”
Tina had wanted to know since the first time she heard it.

“
You’ll have to ask her.
”

“
I did. She said she didn’t have the foggiest.
”

Smiling, more to himself than at her, Luke took another step forward and said,
“
She should know. She just has to think about it.
”

Luke passed Aggie in the hall as a group of subdued children slowly filed from their bedrooms, sending curious glances at their aunt. He smiled his encouragement and climbed the stairs to her little third floor retreat. It took several trips to carry up all the stones, mortar, trowel, and other tools into the room. With most jobs, he worked quickly. Aggie had once confessed that his prep work time drove her crazy, but she’d confessed that how swiftly he finished after that prep was impressive.

The fireplace wouldn’t be one of those swift projects. She was bound to come upstairs in an hour and expect to find it almost complete, but he wouldn’t have the stones planned out in that time. Tina’s fireplace
“
makeover
”
was a time-consuming and difficult project for him. He didn’t particularly like working with mortar. It wasn’t as bad as yard work, but…

The house slowly filled with familiar sounds. The backdoor latched shut half a dozen times, the trash bag hit the dumpster with a satisfying clank of glass against metal, and then faint strains of Aggie’s hymn occasionally drifted through the window.
“
… would be my prayer, dear Lord, each day…
”
He smiled. Her choice of hymns never ceased to amaze and amuse him
.
“
…hold my hand. I need Thee
ev’ry
hour. Through this pilgrim land, protect me by Thy
saving
pow’r!
”

Her emphasis on every and saving wasn’t lost on him, nor was the realization that her voice grew clearer and stronger with each passing second. She wouldn’t finish before she entered her room, which made him smile. He loved it when Aggie sang.

Though her voice grew quieter when she entered the room, she ended the song naturally as she watched his progress. Luke waited several seconds before he said,
“
You know, Mibs, you set the tone of this house with your hymns. I think that’s why your children are so joyful most of the time.
”

“
You missed our morning lack of joy, mister.
”

“
Were you singing when whatever happened, happened?
”

“
I was sleeping.
”

His slight smile broke into a huge grin.
“
I rest my case.
”

“
What’s all that metal?
”
Aggie asked, deliberately trying to change the subject.

“
Lath. You have to use it to hold the mortar.
”

“
You don’t sound thrilled.
”
This was a first. Luke usually seemed invigorated by their projects.

“
It’s not my strong point. I’m just concentrating. I didn’t mean to be short.
”

“
You weren’t.
”
Aggie glanced around her.
“
This floor seems different than the other floors.
”

“
It’s newer. This room was once part of the attic. I bet it was remodeled in the sixties or seventies.
”

“
So, the other side of that wall…
”
Aggie pointed to the wall behind her bed,
“
is the attic?
”
Somehow, she’d missed that connection.

“
Yep. I think the infamous nail is right on the other side of it.
”

Luke nearly exploded with laughter at the treacherous look she gave the wall.
“
Well, if any nails poke me now, I should be good on the tetanus front.
”

She wandered into her bathroom and ran her fingers along the marble-topped cabinet.
“
I’m glad you talked me into this marble. It’s just so pretty.
”

“
It wasn’t much more than the solid surface stuff, and it just seems to fit the room and the house better. I think you may have spent an extra hundred dollars at most.
”
She jumped at his voice in the doorway.

“
I even found a few green towels that match those leaves!
”

She pointed to a few towels that did match well, but even to his inexperienced decorating eye, looked well-loved.
“
So, those are the colors you’re going to buy?
”

“
No, I just thought I’d use these.
”

His arms crossed across his chest. A familiar stubborn look etched itself into Luke’s features, while his eyebrows furrowed. She’d seen that look when she wanted to try to cut corners that he called
“
saving a dollar so you can spend five more to do it right later.
”
Aggie hated that look, because it usually meant that he was right, and of course, she was wrong.

“
What about window curtains?
”

Aggie gulped.
“
I thought maybe I’d skip them since I’m so high. It’s not like anyone could see in here…
”

“
And that’s the look you want in here?
”

The temptation to lie was nearly overpowering. Oh, how she wanted to spew a line of drivel about simple lines and uncluttered walls and surfaces in the bathroom to have a nice clean look to it. If she confessed that she was trying to avoid any more expenditures, she’d be on her way to buy bathroom décor and accessories inside an hour. It was how things worked when Luke got that look on his face. Truth triumphed over self, and Aggie shook her head. She couldn’t bring herself to admit it aloud, but she had to be truthful.

“
So, what are you going to do about that?
”

“
Change clothes?
”

“
Atta girl, Mibs.
”

At her closet, she paused.
“
Luke, why do you call me Mibs?
”

“
You know. You might not realize that you do, but you do.
”

“
And you’re not going to tell me?
”
As she spoke, a pile of t-shirts tumbled into her arms. Luke’s forehead furrowed.