For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (51 page)

“
Cari and Lorna?
”

“
Yep. Bye.
”
Aggie tossed the phone on the couch as she flew through the door.

~*~*~*~

Libby decided that a nice long drive would be a perfect way to give William and Aggie privacy for their
“
talk.
”
Luke, finishing work on his house nearby, was on call if Ellie couldn’t come, but even Ellie seemed well enough to take a nice drive to Fairbury, around Lake Danube, and back home again. Grateful for the opportunity to deal with the unpleasant task without an audience, Aggie spent the rest of the afternoon in prayer, begging the Lord for wisdom in showing a fine combination of firmness and gentleness.

Just as Aggie decided to go downstairs and throw together something for dinner, Libby knocked gently on the door. Stepping inside, she whispered,
“
Aggie? Zeke called. He was driving home from the feed and seed and saw William on his way here.
”
She crossed the room and laid a tender hand on Aggie’s cheek.
“
I’ll feed the children from that deli in Fairbury or something. We’ll be gone for quite a while. Zeke has a new foal he wanted to show them.
”

“
Thanks, Libby.
”
A rogue tear splashed on the woman’s hand.

“
Aggie? If you need him, Luke is only a call away, but…
”

The young woman looked up to her mother-like friend
,
questioning.
“
But what?
”

“
He told me how he spoke of his feelings.
”
Her thumb caressed Aggie’s cheek.
“
My Luke cares deeply for you. Please remember that when you decide what to share with him.
”

Aggie stood at the window and watched the van drive away before turning and seeking out fresh clothes from the closet. If she was going to tell William she wouldn’t marry him
--
the thought made her head shake with the ludicrousness of it
--
then she was going to look as decent as possible while she did it. One glance in the mirror at her face made Aggie’s heart sink. There was no way to look mature and serious with a polka-dotted face.

She made it to the bottom of the stairs just as William rapped on the screen door. Her heart bottomed out when his eyes lit up at the sight of her. Maybe he did care more than she’d thought. Luke could have been warning her not to hurt William, but hadn’t he as much as said that he was talking about himself when he mentioned that some men could be friends while they waited? Confusion swirled in her mind, but Aggie didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“
You’re looking better! I saw the van gone and thought maybe you weren’t home.
”

“
Libby took the children for a van picnic and a drive. Everyone’s feeling a bit cabin feverish.
”

“
But you didn’t go?
”

Without a word, Aggie walked to the kitchen, grabbed the aspirin bottle, pried open the cap, shook out two, and replaced it all. She downed the pills with a glass of water and returned to the living room, collapsing in her favorite spot without even attempting to be graceful.
“
So much for my maturity,
”
she thought to herself.

“
So…
”
William’s failed attempt to open the subject showed just enough vulnerability to buoy Aggie’s spirits. She needed to do this for both of them.

“
William
?
”

“
Yeah…
”

“
You know that this won’t work, right? I mean,
”
she hastened to add before he could get her off track,
“
it is so amazingly self-sacrificing of you, but it won’t work.
”

“
Marriage is always a little work, but we’ll
--”

“
No we won’t, William. I’ll admit; at first, I was pretty mad at you. I know you didn’t mean to be, but you were quite insulting in your assessment of my ‘job performance,’ and that hurt. However, once I had time to think about it, I realized just what a
beautiful thing you did. In on
e sense, it was a perfect picture of a husband. You were giving yourself and your own dreams of whatever you’ve always wanted family-wise up for me and my children. That’s a beautiful thing.
”
Aggie waited until his eyes were back on her before she continued.
“
But it’s flawed.
”

“
How?
”

“
You aren’t Jesus. It’s hard enough for a man who truly loves his wife and children to be so self-sacrificing. To start things off that way
--
you’d resent us. Eventually, you’d resent us.
”

“
Aggie, no…
”

“
Yeah, you would, and no one could blame you. Really!
”
She leaned forward and beckoned him to come sit by her. Taking his hand, she squeezed it gently.
“
You have a need to fix things, William, but we’re not something you can fix.
”

The man’s face was unreadable. He sat, expressionless, staring at her as the seconds ticked by into minutes.
“
I think you’re scared of the idea, and I don’t blame you. But, Aggie
--”

“
Don’t, William. Don’t.
”

“
But
--”

“
Look, can you honestly say that you love me as most men love the women they ask to marry them?
”

“
No, but
--”

“
That’s a lot of buts, William. Do you realize that?
”
She sighed and removed her hand from his, pulling her legs up against her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
“
I told Tina that I was afraid I’d lose a dear friend today. Please prove to me that I’m wrong.
”

William shook his head with evident disgust.
“
I thought you were more mature than this, Aggie. I can’t believe that you’re going to let silly ideals
--”

“
If I thought your heart was hurting; I wouldn’t say this, but you’re being a jerk. Your pride is hurt that you got turned down, but you only want to marry me as a solution to the so-called problems in my life. It’s no solution, and I won’t do it. If your solution is more important to you than our friendship, well, I guess I didn’t know you like I thought I did.
”

“
That’s an unjust accusation. I’ve often thought you were mature beyond your years, but right now, you’re acting like a junior high girl who got asked out by the wrong guy.
”

She forced herself up from the couch, walked to the desk in the library, rifled th
r
ough a drawer for paper and pencil, and scribbled something on it. Returning to the living room, she passed it to William.
“
Tina would like you to call her.
”
Something in his expression told her his thoughts.
“
Oh, and if you toss that, she’ll just call you without it.
”

“
You can’t go around giving my phone number to whomever you like. That’s wrong, Aggie.
”

“
I wouldn’t need to. She’d never ask. She’d just call the station and leave messages until someone forced you to do something about it. Tina is very persistent.
”
She paused for effect before continuing.
“
Oh, and don’t hang up too soon. You’ll make it worse. She has a few things she wants to say so you might as well just
get it over
with while you can.
”

She didn’t wait for a response. Instead, Aggie started up the stairs. On the third step, she turned and added,
“
I really hope I don’t have to wait a long time before I get my friend back. I value friendships; I need them. Until then, I’ll miss you. Goodnight.
”

Upstairs, she waited until William’s car tore out of the driveway before she allowed herself to give way to a few frustrated tears. When she realized how brief her little cry was, she smiled to herself. After months of feeling like she cried at the drop of a hat, it seemed that she was returning to her old self.
“
At least some things are going right,
”
she murmured.

It was quite dark when Aggie stumbled down stairs an hour later. Still groggy from her impromptu nap, Aggie blinked at the darkening sky, the strains of one of her mother’s favorite songs drifting through her mind.
“
Out of the mist your voice is calling…mmmm… twilight time…
”

She never could remember all the words, but Aggie could never forget the tune. Luke found her on the porch, so lost in her reverie that she didn’t notice him drive up or walk across the crunchy gravel.
“
Mibs? You ok?
”

Aggie jumped.
“
Oh! How did I not hear you drive up?
”

“
I don’t know… I drove right past your line of vision. Mom called twice wondering if I’d seen you yet. She won’t come home until she knows you’re ready for them.
”

“
Oh, she could have come back.
”
An awkward feeling washed over her as he hesitated to sit.
“
Sit, Luke. I’m not going to freak out on you.
”

“
I never thought you would.
”
He sat in his favorite chair, running his hands over the arms, remembering heart to heart conversations he’d had with his grandmother in those very chairs.
“
Did William come?
”

“
Yeah.
”
She knew the tears
choking
her voice confused him
--
possibly hurt.

“
Well, I’m sorry you’re hurting.
”
His words were genuine if a bit… safe.