For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (27 page)

“
That thing is ingenious. Corinne has put in an order for one as soon as she can find a chest big enough for me to convert.
”

Aggie frowned and began pulling leftover hot dogs from the fridge.
“
With your woodworking skills, why not just build it?
”

“
I am. She just doesn’t know that. It didn’t occur to her to have me do that, so I get the fun of surprising her.
”

“
Laird is so funny. Half the time he’s oblivious to the world around him, lost in whatever it is he does when he’s not goofing off with the kids, and the other times, he really gets into a project and does a great job.
”

“
He thrives on praise. It doesn’t take much either. Just a few words telling him that he thought something out well or did a good thorough job, and he’ll happily work for hours.
”

“
I think working with you has been good for him.
”
Aggie popped the plate of grilled dogs in the microwave and dragged out a bag of buns.
“
He seems more mature. I thought maybe it was too much, but your mom says he’ll balance himself.
”
Another glance out the window brought a fresh smile to her face.
“
I hope she’s right. I like this side of him, but I’d miss the goofy kid that dusts ceiling fans with socks if he disappeared.
”

“
Mom’s probably right.
”
Luke scrounged through the pantry.
“
Do you have a can of pork and beans?
”

“
A can. That’s funny. Yes, there are a few cans in there. It’ll take at least two, maybe three. I like to start with two though. Fewer leftovers is a plus. I’m no good at using up leftovers.
”

Luke grew quiet. He found the beans, opened them, dumped them in a pan, and set it on the stove. While she assembled hot dogs with condiments, he chopped a few stalks of celery into sticks and slathered most of them with cream cheese. Aggie noticed the plate with plain sticks and smiled. He knew how her children liked their food. There was something comforting in that.

“
Mibs?
”

“
Hmm?
”

“
I have a confession.
”

A glance at his face told her he was upset by something.
“
Well, I hear it’s good for the soul.
”
Her joke fell flat, and she knew it.

“
I just hope it’s good for the friendship.
”
He glanced at her before continuing.
“
I overheard your conversation with Vannie this morning.
”

At first, his words meant nothing to her. He watched her face as she tried to remember what conversation and what they’d discussed. At last, she shrugged.
“
Ok, enlighten me. I don’t remember.
”

“
She’s very concerned with getting you paired off with someone, isn’t she?
”

Understanding sent a flush of embarrassment to her face.
“
I hope I didn’t offend you. I wasn’t trying to imply there’s anything wrong with you. I was just trying to get her to see that men around didn’t have to mean romance.
”

“
I understood that, Aggie.
”
The familiar working of his jaw, the silence, and the deliberate movements he made stirring the beans and replacing the celery in the fridge brought a new smile to her face. She could almost anticipate his conversational delays these days.
“
I just felt bad that I’d listened to a private conversation, and I think you told her something that may not be accurate.
”

“
No worries on the conversation. If I’d wanted it truly private, I would have shut the door.
”

“
That won’t do much good in there without a door knob.
”

“
Yeah, I need to put that back on. She’s earned it, I think.
”

“
I’ll do it after lunch.
”
He leaned his palms on the island and waited for Aggie to meet his gaze.
“
I want you to know, Mibs, not every man can only be either a friend or something more. Some men are willing to maintain a good friendship until the time is right for something more.
”

Mibs says:
Mom?

Martha says:
Mibs? What is Mibs?

Aggie says:
Sorry, I change it to that for Luke.

Martha says:
And why
--
oh! Cute. That’s clever.

Aggie says:
Well tell me, because I’m totally lost on it. I mean, seriously!

Martha says:
You don’t know why he calls you Mibs?

Aggie says:
No, and he won’t tell me.

Martha says:
It’s a perfect nickname.

Aggie says:
Aggie is a nickname for Pete’s sake!

Martha says:
Well, Pete must not have told Luke that. Besides, I think it’s charming that he nicknamed you at all. I’d gotten the impression he wasn’t one of your local admirers yet.

Aggie says:
Well, yesterday I would have agreed, but now I’m not so sure.

Martha says:
What do you mean?

Aggie says:
Well, he’s always been friendly
--
like a big brother, you know?

Martha says:
Yes, that’s how he seemed to me. I respected him for it. He didn’t ask you out did he? That’d ruin everything.

Aggie says:
No, he didn’t. I don’t think he will either, but…

Martha says:
Come on, Aggie. What’s wrong?

Aggie says:
Well, Vannie was on one of her,
“
How will you ever get married with all these kids,
”
kicks. Honestly, that girl seems to think that marriage is the end-all of life or something.

Martha says:
Well, it is a very important part of most women’s lives. You always were a little more pragmatic about it than Allie or Tina.

Most girls want to grow up, get married, and be a mommy at some part of their childhood at least. You always were happy at the thought
--
or not. Didn’t matter to you.

Aggie says:
I don’t think that’s totally accurate. I’ve been thinking about it, and I’m afraid that I never wanted to be disappointed, so I chose to think in terms of maybe rather than hopefully.

Martha says:
That sounds like you. Even when you were a toddler, you’d rather I said no than maybe.
“
No maybe. Yes or no, mommy!
”

Aggie says:
*Groans* That sounds so much like Cari it isn’t even funny.

Martha says:
I’ve always seen a great deal of you in that child.

Aggie says:
Oh, Mom. We both know I was the quiet and retiring Ellie!

Martha says:
I did not laugh. I did NOT laugh! I am also a liar.

Aggie says:
*giggles*

Martha says:
So what happened to make you think Luke might have changed his focus on your friendship.

Aggie says:
Well, it’s not that exactly. I don’t think he’ll be any different tomorrow than he was today, yesterday, or last month but…

Martha says:
I don’t get it then.

Aggie says:
Well, I tried to explain to Vannie that friendships with men don’t have to be romantic, and she used Luke as an example of a man who was my friend but didn’t want to go out with me.

Martha says:
I would have made the same comparison.

Aggie says:
I know, right? So, then she asked if I’d go out with Luke if he asked, and I said no. I told her that going out with guys who were friends seemed to mess up the friendship and he wouldn’t want to anyway so it was good. Or something like that.

Martha says:
So what’s the problem?

Aggie says:
Luke overheard us.

Martha says:
Oh, no. He didn’t come in and ask you out. Tell me he did not ask you out. I thought that boy had more sense.

Aggie says:
He didn’t. He just told me that I was wrong. He said that maybe some men could only be either a friend or a boyfriend, but not all men. He said some men can be just a friend while waiting for something more.

Martha says:
So you think he was saying he’s waiting?

Aggie says:
Well at first, no. At first, I thought he was pointing out that William was willing to be a friend for now until I was ready to move into a different direction. That William was just giving me space until the right time.

Martha says:
That makes sense. He seems to have a good pulse on what’s going on around there. I’ve been tempted to add him to the messenger just to get his take on things sometimes.

Aggie says:
Go ahead. He’d probably love it. Well, it may be that. I’m probably being overly sensitive to things right now, but after he left today, I was thinking about some of the things he’s said and done, and I wondered if maybe I misread them at the time.

Martha says:
Like what?

Aggie says:
Well, mostly compliments and such. There was that time he caught me goofing off and

Aggie says:
Oh, I’m being stupid.

Martha says:
Just tell me, and I’ll decide that.

Aggie says:
I was singing that old Pippi Longstocking song, but I changed it to
“
Aggie-Millie-Mommy.
”
Yeah, it was stupid, but I was happy and it was fun. He saw me, and looking back, some people might think he flirted with me.