For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (3 page)

“
Nope. By the way, I was thinking we should expand that closet to take up that whole corner. Then, you’d have a nice nook there for a little couch
--
what are they called?
”

“
I don’t know.
”
She frowned.
“
More closet space would probably be better for resale, wouldn’t it?
”

“
Are you planning on moving?
”

“
Not for a
while, but
--”

“
Don’t design your space how you think someone else wants it then. If you don’t want that much closet, I can just bump the one side a bit, or you can buy a dresser or two. Your current set up is just a logistical nightmare.
”

With fresh clothes in hand, she returned to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. As she pulled on a fresh and unstained t-shirt, Aggie called,
“
Just do what you think is best. I’ve always drooled over those closets that could hold enough for a small boutique, but they are a bit of overkill.
”

She re-emerged looking a little bohemian in her many-tiered skirt and shaking out her hair as she removed her ponytail.
“
Well, let’s just hope that Tina has decided on colors and that I know what she’s talking about.
”

“
Take her with you.
”

“
I can’t concentrate with all the kids, and with you up here…
”

“
You two go out. Since she’s been here, you’ve hardly had a few minutes just to enjoy ‘girl time.’ I’ll go cut down the grass in the back and measure off the grill area we discussed. This can wait. Maybe I’ll send Laird and Tavish up and see what they come up with.
”

“
You’re going to let them put up rock?
”
The incredulity left an expression on her face that was priceless.

“
No, but they can play with the layout. Who knows, maybe it’ll be perfect or nearly so, and I can come in and start laying stone.
”

Once down the steps and in the second floor hallway, Luke’s words finally registered.
“
Did he really say ‘girl time?’
”

“
I have four sisters. I know about girl time.
”

Her eyes rolled heavenward, and she was thankful he couldn’t see.
“
The way you sneak up on me like that is going to kill me someday. I should make a will and leave all the kids to you for scaring me like that.
”

“
You should also overcome your habit of rolling your eyes at me when I do it.
”

Her head whipped around and she stopped, stunned at his words.
“
How did you
--”

“
You always do that when you get sarcastic with someone. Vannie is starting to pick it up.
”
Before she could reply, he added,
“
And mentally beating yourself up about it isn’t going to fix anything.
”

“
It’s scary how well you know me. Scary.
”

Libby says:
I’ve been waiting for you!

Aggie says:
Well, I was just admiring my new fireplace.

Aggie says:
Tina was right. It does look better now.

Libby says:
Luke said she made the right call. He wasn’t sure why

paint wouldn’t have been good enough, but now he agrees that she chose the right solution.

Aggie says:
Is he still speaking to us?

Libby says:
I think so. He’s already talking about painting walls tomorrow.

Aggie says:
I was practicing my cutting in skills, but I’m still pretty pathetic. I do better with roller work.

Libby says:
That’ll save him a bunch of time. He said he got the fire pit and the patio all marked off today.

Aggie says:
Yep. It’s going to be perfect.

Libby says:
You don’t seem yourself tonight. Are you tired?

Aggie says:
Hard day. It started by putting the kids back to bed this morning and then early to bed tonight. I haven’t had this much trouble with them in a long time.

Libby says:
I remember those days. Oh, my. There were times that I wondered who was inhabiting my children’s bodies!
”

Aggie says:
Off topic. Why does Luke call me Mibs? Tina says she asked him today, I asked him today, and he told both of us that I should know.

Libby says:
If Luke won’t tell you; I’m not going to! I don’t relish the idea of having my head bitten off!

Aggie says:
*shrugs* I think he likes being all mysterious.

Libby says:
He’s a man. Of course he does.

Aggie says:
*giggles*

Aggie says:
Tina is going to take Vannie school shopping tomorrow. If I can manage, I think I’ll convince her to take the other kids one at a time. It’ll be good for them to have some focused attention. I haven’t figured out how to incorporate that yet.

Libby says:
That’s a lovely idea! I think you’ll find that having one child help you each day in the kitchen will be a nice way to have some one-on-one interaction. You’ll have to figure out what to do with Ian when he gets old enough for his turn, but with seven days a week, it gives you ample opportunity…

Aggie says:
Do I sound like a terrible person for confessing that the last thing I want to do is add work to an already distasteful task? I am already such a lousy cook. Why would I subject the kids to an even more unskilled culinary example?

Aggie says:
Never mind, you’re right. I’m just being selfish.

Libby says:
Children can chop vegetables, crush breadcrumbs, set tables, and all kinds of things. They don’t have to start with crème brûlée.

Libby says:
Oh, you beat me to it. I would say that you’re being a tired mommy. Being a mother is hard work, but having a helper in the kitchen isn’t the only way to do a one-on-one time. It’s just one that was easy for me.

Aggie says:
Well, I’m going to try it anyway. I need to do something.

Libby says:
Aggie, you are the most teachable young woman I think I’ve ever met.

Aggie says:
You mean desperate, don’t you?

Libby says:
Possibly. I’m at my most teachable when I’m desperate.

Aggie says:
Touché. Oh well, I need to do the whole face-washing, tooth-brushing bit. It’s my last night in my bedroom. Until it’s done, it’s back to the library for me.

Libby says
: Goodnight, Aggie. I can’t wait to see your room. Luke says it’s either going to be a work of genius or a work of Genie-ous.

Aggie says:
Night. And if he’s still there, tell him I said I’ll get him for that.

Libby says
: He’s pretending to quake in fear
--
or is that laughter?

Aggie says:
*shuffles downstairs to rig a bucket of water for Luke’s grand entrance in the morning*

Libby says:
LOL. Now he’s rubbing his palms together in a most fiendish fashion. I would be worried if I were you.

Aggie says:
You should be
--
for him.

Libby says
: The Sullivans bid you goodnight!

Aggie says:
Goodnight all… both… whatever.

Un-Fashionable

Tuesday, August 5
^th

Ian, ineffectively corralled in a playpen, greeted Luke when he arrived to work on Aggie’s room. Plopped in the middle of the room, Aggie worked around it, throwing frowns in the child’s direction every time he hiked one of his little knees toward the top. At the sight of Luke, the baby squealed and threw his hands up for Luke to rescue him from his prison. Luke dropped
his water bottle and tool belt
and pulled the little tyke into his arms.
“
Mornin’, squirt. Are you causing trouble already?
”

“
See those footprints?
”
Aggie’s disgust was nearly palpable.

“
Did you think a curious toddler would ignore a lovely chance to finger paint?
”

“
I put him on that blanket,
”
she jerked her roller in the direction of a blanket that now was bunched under the playpen and flung a stream of paint that splattered across Luke’s chest. Her look of horror faded into amusement before she erupted in a fit of giggles.

“
If you thought I needed a makeover, you could have just told me.
”
Luke punctuated his comment with a swipe at his nose where a drop of paint threatened to fall at any second.

“--
and told him to stay.
”

“
He didn’t.
”
Feeling like the master of stating the obvious, Luke couldn’t repress a smirk.

“
Well, I’ve heard of other mothers doing it…
”

“
And you think that moms just put a child on a blanket, tell them once not to get off, and that’s all it takes?
”

The moment he spoke, Aggie flushed with embarrassment.
“
I’ve become too dependent on Vannie as an extra pair of eyes.
”
Shoulders slumped, she continued.
“
I’ve made finishing more important than being the mother that he needs.
”