For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (64 page)

“
No one could be like Daddy.
”
Vannie’s voice showed that she felt Kenzie had betrayed their father by even suggesting it.

“
I didn’t say he could
be
daddy, I said
like
a daddy. Mr. Markenson likes me.
”

“
Yes he does, Kenzie, but he doesn’t love me.
”

“
But Luke does, doesn’t he, Aunt Aggie?
”
Ellie’s voice was confident. Aggie often thought that little escaped the girl’s notice.

“
Yes, Luke loves me.
”

“
And he wants to marry you too?
”
It was evident from her tone that Kenzie considered Luke second best but acceptable.

“
Yes. Luke said he loves me and wants to spend more time with me. He wants to see if I can learn to love him too. How do you girls feel about that?
”

Silence hovered in the air for several seconds until Kenzie shrugged.
“
I like it. I’d like Mr. Markenson more, but I like it. Maybe he can marry Aunt Tina. That’d be almost as good.
”

Anxious to change the subject, Aggie reached for the book Vannie had unwrapped and read the title aloud.
“
Floriography: The Victorian Language of Flowers
. What a mouthful.
”
She grinned at the eager faces waiting to know what it all meant.
“
So, who wants to help me figure out what these flowers mean?
”

Ellie nodded, Kenzie squealed, and Vannie bounced just enough to remind Aggie that her eldest niece was still a little girl in many ways.
“
Ok, then. Ellie, you go grab me a pen and paper, Vannie, you find the flowers in the book.
”
She stared at the bouquet, her face a picture of confusion. It became readily apparent that her knowledge of horticulture was sorely lacking. The illustrations in the tiny book were not much help, but after a time, they had compiled a respectable list.

“
Well, I’ll have to ask Luke if we have this right, but so far we have a red carnation. What is that?
”

Vannie flipped to the R’s and found nothing. Under carnation, she found several colors including red.
“
Ok, it says ‘Alas for my poor heart.’ What does that mean?
”

“
I think it means he’s trying to garner sympathy. What about red chrysanthemum?
”

Pages shuffled as she flipped a few.
“
I love.
”
A group of collective sighs followed the pronouncement. Aggie couldn’t help but wonder what a house full of incurable romantics would do to the testosterone levels of the boys.

“
Ok, columbine. It’s purple if that matters.
”

“
They’re all in the C’s, aren’t they?
”
Vannie muttered as she flipped through the little book on the quest for columbines.
“
Here it is, ‘Resolved to win.’
”

A small smile played around Aggie’s lips. Luke had certainly been thorough. Tina stood in the door watching. After a nod and a smile, Aggie returned to their project.
“
Ok, daisies.
”

“
I found that one easily enough. ‘Innocence.’
”

“
Forget-me-not.
”
Aggie frowned.
“
At least, I think that’s what they are.
”

“
True love. Forget-me-not.
”
Vannie’s nose wrinkled.
“
I always thought that was such a silly name for a flower.
”

“
I suppose you prefer ranunculus?
”

The girls all giggled. Ellie shook her head as Vannie turned the pages, trying to find the flower.
“
It sounds like ridiculous.
”

“
I found it. Ranunculus. ‘You are radiant in charms.
”

“
Wow. Luke must really like you!
”
Kenzie’s voice sounded awe-struck.

“
How about honeysuckle?
”
Aggie pulled one of the blossoms from the flower and showed Kenzie and Ellie how to suck the nectar from it.

“
‘Generous and devoted affection.’
”

With each floral declaration, Aggie’s face grew redder. When Luke said he planned to romance her, he hadn’t understated things.
“
Ok, jonquil or daffodil.
”

“
Well, jonquil is ‘I desire a return of affection.’
”
The girl fanned the pages searching for the daffodil.
“
Here it is; daffodil, ‘uncertainty, chivalry, respect, or unrequited love.’
”
Vannie shook her head.
“
I think it’s supposed to be a jonquil.
”

“
Let’s hope so. The lilac is purple if that matters. I think most lilacs are, but I’ve heard of white ones.
”

“
Well, it says the purple lilac is ‘First emotions of love.’
”
Vannie had begun to sound embarrassed.

“
Lily of the valley?
”
Aggie ignored the snicker from Tina’s side of the room.

“
Um… ‘Return of happiness.’ What does that mean?
”

“
I have no idea,
”
Aggie confessed.
“
Well, this one is easy though. Violet.
”

“
Ok, hold on.
”
Vannie’s forehead furrowed as she concentrated on finding the right page.
“
‘Violet
--
faithfulness; sweet modesty.
”
The girl frowned as she realized that was all of the flowers.
“
There aren’t any roses! Shouldn’t there be roses? Even I know red rose means love and yellow means friendship.
”

“
Maybe after hearing Laird describe ‘imaginationally challenged’ bouquets, he decided not to risk it.
”
Tina’s joke sent the whole room into snickers.

Before she could catch herself, Aggie sighed contentedly. Ellie frowned.
“
Aren’t you happy, Aunt Aggie? I thought the bouquet and the flower messages were nice.
”

“
I am happy, Ellie. It was a wonderful thing to wake up to this morning.
”
Though she was embarrassed to admit it, Aggie forced herself to share the reason for her sigh. She wanted the girls to get a glimpse of what romance looked like when removed from the pink glow of Hollywood’s lights.
“
I just got that funny feeling in my stomach you hear about and got a little emotional, I guess.
”

Kenzie’s hand felt Aggie’s forehead.
“
Does Luke make your stomach feel funny?
”

“
I guess you can say that. I’ve felt that same lurch before, but I never really gave it a second thought.
”

“
You might be allergic to him. Maybe you need allergy medicine for when he comes over like Murphy takes because of the cat.
”

Amid giggles, Aggie tried to explain to Kenzie that sometimes a funny feeling in your stomach was a good thing, but the child was adamant that Aggie needed medication. At last, the young woman said,
“
Let’s just say that I think Luke will be happy to hear that I felt a little odd when I got his flowers, ok?
”

The young mother sent out a plea with her eyes for Tina to pull the girls away and give her a minute alone. As her friend led the trio of giggling girls down the steps, Aggie heard Kenzie say,
“
Aunt Aggie says she’s not allergic to Luke, but I still think she is if he makes her stomach feel bad.
”

Knowing Tina was downstairs keeping an eye on her charges, Aggie sank back against the pillow again, turning the pages of the
Floriography
and occasionally sniffing a flower from the bowl-like vase. The deep red vase would look beautiful on her island, making Aggie wonder if it was purchased for that purpose. So intent was she in her reading, that she didn’t notice one of her youngest nieces creep into the room until she felt a light tap on her arm.

“
Hello, Lorna,
”
she whispered.
“
Do you want to see my flowers?
”

The child’s wide eyes were solemn as Lorna shook her head.
“
Unh uh.
”
The little girl’s face was comical as differing expressions whizzed across the surface, but at last, in a conspiratorial whisper, she leaned close to Aggie and confessed,
“
I broke the picture of Mommy and Daddy that goes in our room.
”

As quietly as Aggie could muster, she replied,
“
Oh, you did?
”

Lorna nodded solemnly. Her face, the picture of seriousness looked pixieish and endearing as she added in the same quiet whisper,
“
I hid it under Vannie’s bed so you wouldn’t find it, ok?
”

Aggie snickered as she picked up the little girl.
“
Sweetie, I have a better idea for next time.
”

The child’s eyes grew wide.
“
Am I in trouble, Aunt Aggie?
”

Smiling at the girl’s earnestness, Aggie shook her head.
“
Not this time, Lorna. Next time something breaks, just come and tell me, and I’ll take care of it for you.
”

“
M’kay.
”