For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (72 page)

“
Nuh, uh. You’re going to sit right here and relax for a minute.
”

“
Luke, I could sit here all night, but that’s not going to get that job finished and that mess cleaned up.
”

“
I’ll take care of that. Right now, you’re more important.
”
Her sniffles started up again.
“
Uh, oh. What did I say?
”
The concern in his voice was evident, even to him.

“
I just didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that I matter to someone.
”

“
Oh, Mibs. You matter so much to so many people. The children, your parents, your sister, my mother, Tina, William, me
--”

“
I know. Deep down in my heart, I know, Luke, but sometimes I need to hear it.
”
She started to push away to look at him and then relaxed again, allowing herself to cling to his shirt and rest comfortably with his arms around her.

“
Well, then, I’ll have to make a point of mentioning that a bit more often.
”

“
I had a feeling you’d be mushy given half a chance.
”

Luke’s laughter sent the puppies into a yap fest that lasted for several seconds until he called for them to hush.
“
I come from an extended family of very mushy people. You should know this before you risk letting me
--”
He stopped mid-sentence.
“
You should know that.
”

“
Before letting you what?
”

“
I just get ahead of myself sometimes. It’s nothing.
”

“
It is if you said it.
”
She looked up, her eyes shining with the remnants of tears in them.

“
I keep forgetting how pressured things must sound if I’m always telling you what’s on my heart.
”

“
You also forget,
”
she added with a slightly lighter tone to her voice,
“
that I might just like hearing it so there’d be no pressure at all then, would there?
”

“
Will you tell me?
”

“
Tell you what?
”
Aggie made herself comfortable again.

“
If it gets too awkward for you? It’d be a lot easier to try to do this if I wasn’t always second-guessing myself.
”

“
I can do that.
”
She sighed.
“
But as wonderful as your offer was, I really need to get that kitchen done. The kids will be up sooner than later.
”
Aggie glanced at her watch.
“
And, I think all hopes of talking to your mom are gone. By the time I’m done, she’ll be in bed.
”

Luke stood and took her hand, pulling her up beside him.
“
Come on. You go talk to Mom; I’ll take care of the kitchen.
”

“
I can’t let you do that!
”

“
You definitely can.
”
Luke bent close, so close the temptation to kiss her was almost overwhelming.
“
Let me do things for you, Mibs. Let me show you how much you mean to me. It’s the only way I know how to tell you.
”
Once inside, he winked and added,
“
And besides, I may not be done by the time you and Mom are finished with your chat. I’ll take all the help you want to give me then.
”

Her quick hug and grateful smile warmed his heart as he grabbed a dishcloth and filled a bowl with soapy water. As he worked, Luke unconsciously hummed the same hymn that Aggie had forced herself to sing when he arrived, but this time, the tune seemed joyful. Aggie heard him, and wondered how he could sound so happy singing something that had seemed so burdensome just a short while earlier.

Aggie says:
Libby? Are you on?

Aggie says:
Hmm… I wonder if Luke will believe me if I tell him you’re not on.

Aggie says:
He’s not letting me help him with MY mess in MY kitchen. A little high handed, isn’t he?

Aggie says:
I’m disappointed. I’ve missed you twice now. I hope you’re all right. I miss you.

Libby says:
I’ll be right back, Aggie.

Aggie says:
Libby! YAY!

Libby says:
Did you say my Luke was at your house?

Aggie says:
Yep. He arrived just in time to save me from myself. I wonder how he knew I was falling apart…

Libby says:
He’s intuitive, but not prescient. Perhaps Tina called him.

Aggie says:
Probably. Speaking of Luke…

Libby says:
Yes. I have a question for you.

Aggie says:
And I probably have an answer.

Libby says:
What are your feelings regarding William?

Aggie says:
I thought I told you. I’m not interested in changing our friendship in any way or at any time. Like I told Luke; he comes with too much drama.

Libby says:
And Luke? What are your thoughts concerning him?

Aggie says:
Well, that’s partly what I want to talk to you about. We were wondering how to go about growing closer. I mean, when you say it like that, it sounds forced. Luke deserves better than me convincing myself that I feel what I really don’t.

Libby says:
Yes, he does.

Aggie says:
I hate messenger sometimes.

Libby says:
Why is that?

Aggie says:
Because sometimes it seems like you’re reading into other people’s tone. It’s hard to tell if something is meant to be as it seems or if it’s just how the internet is sometimes.

Libby says:
For example?

Aggie says:
Well, when you said that Luke does deserve better than that, it sounded like it was a rebuke, but I know I haven’t said or done anything to imply that I’d ever do that, so…

Libby says:
Are you sure of that?

Aggie says:
Um…

Aggie says:
Libby, are you upset with me for something?

Libby says:
Actually, I am. I’ve been praying about it since Saturday.

Aggie says:
Would you mind telling me what I’ve done wrong?

Libby says:
I don’t know if you have now. I’m confused, to be frank.

Aggie says:
If you thought something was wrong between us, why didn’t you come to me?

Libby says:
Because, to be honest, I’ve been waiting until I thought I could control my temper.

Aggie says:
Wow.

Libby says:
Wow what?

Aggie says:
I had no idea. What on earth do you think I’ve done?

“
Luke?
”

“
Hmm?
”

Aggie swallowed hard.
“
Can you come here? I have upset your mother somehow.
”

“
I hardly think so. She thinks you’re as close to perfect as anyone who isn’t her daughter
--”
he entered the living room wiping his hands on a towel and winked,
“
yet
--
can be.
”

“
I like that yet, but I don’t know if she does. Look.
”

As Luke read the conversation, a frown growing more pronounced with each second, the screen informed them that
“
Libby is typing a message.
”

“
It’s taking her as long as it takes you sometimes.
”

Luke gave her a sidelong glance, curious.
“
Is that annoying?
”

“
Not usually.
”

He shrugged.
“
Well, this is.
”

“
Well, I suppose if I knew you were typing bad news, it might be annoying,
”
she confessed.
“
Oh, there it is. I’m afraid to read.
”
Despite her admission, Aggie read the message, her face flushing with both anger and embarrassment.

Libby says:
Saturday I went into the mudroom to take clothes out of the dryer and couldn’t help but overhear that my Luke was
“
out of luck.
”
I distinctly heard you say that and that William was
“
there first.
”
It was a kick to the stomach, Aggie. Now you’re telling me that William is not an option.

Libby says:
I have a hard time imagining you as disingenuous, but those conflicting statements do bother me.

Aggie says:
You should know, Luke is reading this. I have to admit; I’m hurt.

Libby says:
Then I am sure you can empathize with how I felt to hear something so opposite of what I thought I knew to be true.

Aggie says:
Mom, this is Luke. You know Aggie better than that.