For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (34 page)

Tear stains on her cheeks told William that things had been as bad as Luke described. He sat next to her, put an arm around her shoulder, and gave her a gentle squeeze.
“
We’ll take care of it, Aggie. Where’s the restraining order?
”

His calm direct manner helped her regain control.
“
Ok, in the kitchen, there’s that little desk over by the mudroom door? The bottom right drawer has files in it. It’s in the file marked GIL.
”
She blushed.
“
It’s the only file that is marked
--
getting paperwork organized hasn’t been a priority, but I thought that one was.
”

“
You were right. We’ll be back in a bit. Stay put.
”

“
Everyone keeps telling me to stay out of the way. I can’t decide whether to be relieved or insulted.
”

William took her chin and turned it toward him.
“
Ags, we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t care. Just think about your favorite coffee and the relief that comes next Tuesday.
”

“
Tuesday?
”

William grinned.
“
School! Every mother’s favorite day of the year, isn’t it?
”

Without waiting for an answer, William opened the mudroom door, went to the desk in the kitchen, and found the restraining order exactly where Aggie had said it would be. Carrying it to the living room, he looked through the window, signaled for Megan to step inside, and then stood before the intruder.
“
Mrs. Stuart, I regret to inform you that you are in violation of this restraining order. The laws of this state require that I arrest you and take you in. You have a right to remain silent…
”
William droned on in his professional monotone as he read Geraldine her Miranda rights as the woman screamed threats to everyone present.

“
You are in breach of a court order! You can’t do this! I have the right to come! Look at the court papers!
”
the woman screeched as she tried to avoid being handcuffed. She fought, kicked, and eventually landed a solid kick to William’s shin.

Turning to Luke with derision dripping from every word, he said,
“
Looks like she wants to add assault on an officer to the charges.
”

Megan, with his help, led the irate woman to her cruiser, shut the door behind her, and gave William a thumbs-up as a thank you. He walked around the side of the house to tell Aggie the coast was clear, and found Luke with her. Something in the scene before him seemed too personal to intrude, so he retraced his steps, knocked on the front door, reminded Libby to have Aggie come down to the station and sign a statement, and shuffled out to his car. Aggie saw the brake lights of his car at the edge of the driveway when she came into the living room, but didn’t ask why he’d left.

“
Where are the other children?
”
Dismay washed over her as she realized she hadn’t seen them since the whole fracas began.

“
I
--”
Libby shrugged.
“
I just don’t know. They all went out after we said chicken pox…
”

“
Tina has Ian, but where is Tina?
”

“
Last I saw,
”
Luke began,
“
She took him and Kenzie upstairs. Maybe…
”

Aggie was already on her way up to see. Seconds later, she jogged back down the steps and went outside, calling for Vannie, Tavish, and the others. No answer came. Murphy peeked her head out the door and asked who was missing this time, and Aggie lost it.
“
How should I know? I’m incompetent, remember?
”

“
Mibs,
”
Luke warned.
“
Don’t get ugly. It’s not her fault.
”

“
It’s not my fault either! Where did they go?
”

Libby’s voice called from the kitchen.
“
They’re here. They’re fine.
”

She rushed inside and found Vannie, Tavish, Laird, and Ellie all huddled around Libby.
“
Where were you?
”

“
We snuck in and hid in the basement when we saw Grandmother come. We didn’t want her to see us. We thought
--”

Whatever Vannie and the others had thought was muffled in Aggie’s bear hug.
“
I’m just glad you’re safe. Why don’t you go wash up for lunch, and I’ll find something to scrounge up.
”

“
Aggie?
”
Libby’s face was a study of repressed hilarity.
“
Breathe.
”

“
Huh?
”

“
Now, sniff.
”

Aggie made an exaggerated sniff and rolled her eyes.
“
When did you put a casserole in?
”

“
While Luke was reading stories. Go tell Tina it’s safe to come out, and let’s eat!
”

Mibs says:
Luke? You there?

Luke says:
I’m here. How are the girls?

Mibs says:
Grouchy.

Luke says:
Not much changed then, eh?

Mibs says:
Nope. Your mom has them as comfortable as possible. She’s sleeping in Lorna’s bed and the girls are sharing Cari’s.

Mibs says:
Oh, and Tina loves what you did with the guest room. She says the bed is much more comfortable than the air mattress. I think she likes the chair too.

Luke says:
Well, good. With all the help she’s been, she should get a good night’s rest.

Mibs says:
Yep. I’m going to miss her when she goes back to the university.

Luke says:
I bet. Hey, did you get your statement signed?

Mibs says:
Yep. Oh, and Douglas Stuart never showed up here. Isn’t that weird?

Luke says:
I thought he’d show up long before I left. She talked like he was coming right then.

Mibs says:
I have wondered if all her drama wasn’t because she’s going a little senile or something. You know, one of those dementia diseases making her unreasonable. If he didn’t know he was supposed to pick her up…

Luke says:
Did she come get her car?

Mibs says:
Yep. When she posted bail, Megan drove her back and escorted her off the property. I think they kept her as long as possible.

Luke says:
I don’t blame them. That was brutal.

Mibs says:
That’s why I dinged. I wanted to thank you for being there for me. I really needed the support.

Luke says:
Always, Mibs. Always.

Mibs says:
Did I tell you that Mom knows what Mibs is?

Luke says :

She does, eh? So did she tell you?

Mibs says:
Nope. She thinks I should figure it out for myself.

Luke says:
I like your mom.

Mibs says:
Well, that’s convenient. She likes you too. Anyway, I shouldn’t keep you. I just wanted to say thanks.

Luke says:
Hey, before you go…

Mibs says:
Shoot.

Luke says:
Nah, never mind. I’ll talk to you about it some other time.

Mibs says:
What? I’m not going to bed any time soon.

Luke says:
No, I’m sorry. I need to think and pray a bit.

Luke says:
It’s just something that needs to wait. Sorry.

Mibs says:
Ok, whatever. I did want to say that I hope you don’t feel obligated to come while everyone’s sick. You have things to do, and I understand that. You’re getting paid so little for all you do as it is. Do it when you don’t have other things to do. The important rooms are finished anyway.

Mibs says:
Oh well, goodnight, Luke.

Luke says:
Night. Sleep well, and leave your cares with Jesus. He can take it.

A Pox Upon You

Sunday, August 31
^st

Lost in denial, Aggie spent Saturday jubilant that no mor
e children broke out in the now-
familiar rash. Libby tried to remind her that it took a few days for things to incubate and then an extra couple of days before the rash appeared, but it seemed as if Aggie needed to hold onto the hope of just Cari and Lorna having the disease. When not a single spot appeared by nightfall, Aggie slept soundly in the confidence that as soon as the little girls scabbed over, this addition to the family’s experiences would be nothing more than a crazy memories.

Sunday morning shattered those dreams. When Aggie went to pull Ian from his crib, his little belly and shoulders were covered in more pox than both twins combined. Without Libby there, Aggie called for Tina and begged her to take Ian downstairs.
“
It’s probably a waste of time, but I feel like I have to try to avoid getting it.
”

Tina shooed Aggie downstairs to make breakfast, and the moment she was gone, picked up the phone.
“
Libby, Ian has pox now. What are the odds that there won’t be anymore?
”

“
Oh, n
o.
”
The woman’s sigh came through the phone clearly.
“
And the odds of Aggie avoiding them are also pretty slim. Tell her that Luke and I will be there to help right after church. She should try to stay away from the children as much as possible, but at this point, she’s been exposed, and there’s no getting around that.
”