For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (28 page)

Martha says:
What did he say, Aggie?

Aggie says:
Well, I was disgusted with my appearance at first, and I think he must have seen that because he said something like,
“
You look nice but then you always do.
”
I was kind of taken aback.

Martha says:
Doesn’t sound too flirty to me. It sounds like something he’d say to anyone.

Aggie says:
Well, that’s not what got me. I walked away and said

something like,
“
What got into him?
”
kind of under my breath, you know?

Martha says:
Yeah, I can see that.

Aggie says:
And then he was right there behind me. I tell you, that guy can sneak up on you even when you know he could! Anyway, he said,
“
I can’t imagine.
”

Martha says
: And that seems flirtatious to you?

Aggie says:
Not alone, but considering who it is and similar things…

Martha says:
Like what?

Aggie says:
Ok, remember that movie, Funny Face with Fred Astaire? Now, I feel stupid. I bet you’re right. It’s probably nothing.

Martha says:
Yeah, go on.

Aggie says:
Well, we were watching it one night, and you know how much I love that scene where Fred Astaire knows she’s at the chapel.

Martha says:
Right.

Aggie says
: Well, I must have sighed or made some sappy-eyed movement, because he asked if I was a romantic. I told him I thought the whole thing of knowing where she’d be was enchanting.

Martha says:
Yes, it is, isn’t it? Hollywood used to be good at that.

Aggie says:
I wish they’d regain it. Anyway, we were talking about what enchanting really is, and Luke said that if my definition of enchanting was right, then I was enchanting because I know what people like and do it for them.

Martha says:
Well, that’s a little more personal. I can see maybe…

Aggie says:
Then he said what made me wonder. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but now…

Martha says
: Is it too personal, Aggie? You seem awfully reluctant to tell me about this. I thought maybe you were just feeling foolish, but if you just don’t want to share…

Aggie says:
Oh, no. You’re right; I do feel foolish. And, I’m a little scared that maybe I’ll mess things up.

Martha says:
Well then, do tell. What’d he say?

Aggie says:
I’ll never forget it. I was lying on the couch, and he was in his chair. So, I just rolled my head back to see what he was trying to say, you know how he does that. Anyway, he just looked down at me and said,
“
Then again, you’ve enchanted me for a long time.
”

Martha says:
But at the time, you didn’t think anything of it?

Aggie says:
No, not really. It just seemed like Luke’s way. I hadn’t really added his little comments together until today, but after him telling me that some men wait, I wondered.

Martha says:
Well, I don’t know. He’s probably giving you a gentle hint to be careful of William’s feelings. You know, don’t lead him on and stuff, but that’s a pretty personal comment. The only reason I don’t assume that he meant more is that you didn’t think anything of it at the time. I know you don’t see a potential boyfriend behind every face, but you’re not obtuse either.

Aggie says:
What do I do?

Martha says:
Why do you have to do anything?

Aggie says:
I guess.

Martha says:
Look, Aggie, if he wanted to turn this into something more, he’d have said so. As it was, he gave you a bigger picture of what you’d told Vannie. I just think if you think about this too much and get too worked up, you’re going to make things miserable when he comes back to finish my room and the basement.

Aggie says:
Your room, huh?

Martha says:
That’s right. My room. I intend to use it a lot.

Aggie says:
I miss you, Mom.

Martha says:
Isn’t this technology stuff wonderful? We’d never get to converse this much a hundred years ago.

Aggie says:
Uh oh, I think Kenzie is having another nightmare. I better go.

Martha says:
Well, you sleep well, and don’t worry about the Luke thing. If he wanted you to know he had feelings for you, he’d have told you. Luke doesn’t seem like the kind of man who would be evasive about stuff like that.

Aggie says:
No, you’re right. He wouldn’t. If he wants me to know something, he’ll tell me. I think what he wanted me to know was that I only saw half the picture. Thanks, Mom.

Martha says:
Night, Aggie.

Aggie says:
Night.

Wardrobe Workshop

Tuesday, August 26
^th

It felt like a sweatshop was in full production in the Milliken-Stuart household. While Aggie ran interference between the younger children, kept Ian from destroying half the house, and tried to catch up on laundry, Luke worked on the guest room. Libby and Vannie, with occasional stints by Aggie during naptime, cranked out skirt after dress after nightgown. Libby made shorts for Kenzie to wear under her dresses from the same fabric as the skirt of the dress, and Aggie questioned her.

“
Why matching shorts? Why not just a couple of generic colors?
”

“
Well, two reasons. One, if you get behind on laundry, she’ll be without them. Two, if you have shorts out of the same fabric as the skirt, then when the skirt comes up, you still see ‘skirt’ so to speak.
”

“
Well, that’s something I’d never have thought of!
”

“
You didn’t raise three daughters!
”

Vannie’s eyes twinkled.
“
Well, she’ll have raised at least five by the time we’re all grown!
”

The stunned look on Aggie
’
s face sent Vannie and Libby into titters.
“
Oh, Aggie,
”
Libby gasped.
“
Your face!
”

“
I j
ust never thought about the fact
that I have five daughters. Five! That’s five weddings!
”

“
And five grad
uations, and five sweet sixteen parties
, and
then
five proms
--”

“
Oh, will I get to go to prom, Aunt Aggie?
”
Vannie’s eyes were wide with amazement.

“
I don’t know. What would your mother have said?
”

“
Mommy thought that they’d disintegrated into very inappropriate dancing and immodest clothes.
”

“
Well, I’d say that was true at mine. We left early.
”

“
Who did you go with?
”
Once again, Vannie latched onto anything that smelled like romance.

“
Tina.
”

“
As in Aunt Tina?
”
The girl’s face couldn’t have been more disappointed.

“
Yep. We got dresses, corsages, had our hair done, went out to dinner, and then went to the prom. We lasted about an hour before we decided it was the dumbest thing we’d ever done.
”

“
Why?
”
Libby and Vannie grinned as they spoke in unison.

“
Well,
”
Aggie almost felt cheapened knowing that her sister had probably disapproved of her evening.
“
I guess because the room was full of people dancing in ways we wouldn’t, talking in ways we wouldn’t, and behaving in ways they’d never behave if their parent
s
could see them. It was revolting. Not everyone, mind you,
”
she hastened to add.
“
Just so many that it ruined the atmosphere. We had more fun getting ready, taking pictures, and eating ice cream and watching a movie when we got home, than we did there.
”

“
So, probably no prom.
”
It was hard to tell if Vannie was disappointed or relieved.

“
I can probably promise to go check out the prom the year before your turn and see what I think of it. If it looks like the clean fun it should be, you can probably go. After all, you’ll be going to Brunswick High, not Rockland or Yorktown. It’s a smaller town and those places tend to be a little more conservative.
”

“
No one will probably ask me anyway.
”
The dejection was unmistakable.

“
Vannie?
”

The girl glanced up at her aunt.
“
Hmm?
”

“
First, that’s not true. I think it’s unlikely that you won’t get an invitation. Second, you’re too concerned with what will happen years from now. You have at least four years. Don’t worry about it yet.
”
She grinned,
“
And last, even if you don’t like the guys that ask you, you’ll probably have friends to go with. It’s more common for girls to go in groups now.
”

“
I guess.
”
The girl held up her finished skirt.
“
I’m going to go try it on with that shirt
Aunt
Tina found.
”