For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (79 page)

“
What did your daddy do? Are your feelings hurt?
”

“
I just missed him, I guess. Then, when I was about Tavish’s age, I liked to explore the fields, catch gophers
--
the farmer, Mr. Watson, used to pay me a dollar a piece for every gopher I caught
--
and I loved going to Mrs. Dyke’s house.
”

“
Mrs. Dyke? Really? She lived there then too?
”

“
Sure did.
”

Awestruck, Kenzie shook her head.
“
Wow. She’s lived there
forever
!
”

“
Mrs. Dyke used to keep snickerdoodles in a big cookie jar on the kitchen counter. I’d walk to the street, look both ways and then look both ways again, just so I knew I’d really done it, and then run as fast as I could across and into the yard. Mr. Dyke liked to sit on the porch swing and whittle. I’d go into the house, get some cookies for us, and he’d tell me stories of when their boys were little or when he was away at war and things like that.
”

“
War? What war?
”
Kenzie’s forehead furrowed.
“
The War for Independence? Tavish is learning about that one.
”

Tina and William stifled snickers.
“
No, a later one
--
the Korean War.
Their sons were all in the Vietnam war. They weren’t drafted. All four of them signed up to go.
”
He hugged the little girl, covering the child’s ears as he did.
“
Only three came home,
”
he whispered.

“
What else did you do?
”

“
I learned how to fish and how to ride a bike, and they played games with me on Friday nights until I went off to boot camp.
”

“
What’s boot camp?
”

Tina interjected before William could answer,
“
A place where they make you miserable in order to keep our country safe.
”

“
They should have fun if they’re going to make our country safe! I think we should write a letter to the President and tell him so.
”

Night fell, and still Kenzie plied William with questions about which room had been his, where he’d gone to school, and who had been his best friend. Tina got up a few times to help Luke and Libby with something, but returned quickly to hear the story and watch the tender way William had with Kenzie. Once the little girl fell asleep in her hero’s arms, Tina smiled and nodded at him.

“
You’re good with her. You had a little sister, right?
”

“
Yes.
”
William brushed hair out of Kenzie’s face and shifted her to a more comfortable position for both of them.
“
I love this little girl. The first time I came here after they all moved in, she asked me if I was going to ‘rest Aggie. I think I lost my heart to her that day.
”

“
Not everyone sees this side of you, William. I noticed that right off
--
that and what a good conversationalist you are.
”

“
Me?
”
He tried not to laugh, but failed.
“
I don’t understand you sometimes, Tina.
”

“
I think,
”
she said quietly,
“
you underestimate yourself. Sometimes your need to control things takes over your common sense, but when you’re relaxed and not in ‘cop mode’ you’re a cool guy.
”

“
Cop mode, huh… hmm.
”

Tina giggled.
“
Have you ever taped yourself when you’re trying to convince someone how right you are? You lose all sense of proportion.
”
William shifted uncomfortably, but Tina continued,
“
She’s probably getting heavy. Do you think you could carry her to bed?
”
Even as she spoke, he realized she’d changed the subject for his benefit.

“
She’s filthy…
”

“
We’ll give her a bath and change her sheets tomorrow. It’s cruel to wake her up now. She’s probably dreaming of bicycles, snickerdoodles, and writing letters to the president.
”

Gazing down at the child in his arms, William nodded.
“
You’re right, of course. Let’s get her to bed.
”

She followed him through the house and upstairs. In Kenzie’s room, Tina turned down the bed, removed the child’s shoes, and once William laid Kenzie down, tucked the blankets in around her. She tiptoed from the room, glancing back to see if William followed and saw him bend low and kiss the child’s forehead before he backed away from the bed and turned to leave.

“
As I said,
”
she whispered,
“
you’re a good man, William Markenson.
”

~*~*~*~

The sound of clanking dishes woke Aggie from a deep sleep. She glanced around her, confused as to why she was stretched out on the living room couch. The room was dark, the house seemingly empty, and only the occasional rush of water from the kitchen faucet or clink of silverware in the dishwasher marred the quiet stillness. A glance at the clock showed the time well after ten o’clock. Out front, her parents’ car showed that they’d stayed as planned and that Luke was still there. Tina’s car was gone. She’d already left for Yorktown. That left Luke as her kitchen elf.

Only the light over the sink illuminated his workspace as he loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the sink, and moved to the counters. Grateful, Aggie watched him for a minute before she crossed the room and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“
Thank you.
”

Luke glanced over his shoulder, smiling.
“
You better be careful. I could get used to that.
”

“
Me too.
”

“
What, the hug or the dishes done?
”

An impish grin surfaced before she could prevent it.
“
Both.
”

“
Deal.
”
Luke twisted to be able to see her face and let his hands rest on her shoulders.

“
Did I really just fall asleep in the middle of the party? I don’t even remember being on the couch.
”

“
You weren’t. You were on the swing in the back yard with your mom. I brought you in when the kids went to bed.
”
Luke stepped away, obviously disappointed to do it, and grabbed a piece of cake from the fridge.
“
We saved you some.
”

“
Thanks.
”

“
Mibs, go up to bed. I can finish this. You are obviously tired.
”

“
I am, but I’m not sleepy anymore.
”
Aggie grabbed a fork from the drawer and perched on one of the barstools with her cake. A glass of milk seemed to appear out of nowhere.
“
Thanks.
”

“
You said that already.
”

“
Well, thanks again then.
”
She knew she’d snapped, but Aggie popped a forkful of cake in her mouth and concentrated on her plate.

Luke said nothing. He finished his cleanup, took her empty plate, glass, and fork, added them to the dishwasher, and with her hand in his, tugged her through the dining room to the coat closet in the living room.
“
Toss on a jacket. Let’s walk.
”

“
I say I’m worn out, and he wants to walk,
”
Aggie remarked to the empty room.

“
That’s right.
”

Outdoors, the crisp autumn air filled her lungs. It was almost instantaneous invigoration.
“
Wow. This feels great.
”

Luke led her down the drive and up the street past Murphy’s house onto a dirt road that separated the houses from the fields.
“
What’s wrong, Mibs? You haven’t been yourself all week.
”

“
I’m just tired.
”

“
Cold?
”

“
Nope, I’m good. This jacket is almost too warm.
”

“
I m
eant,
”
he clarified,
“
are you
coming down with a cold?
”

“
No. It’s just been such a busy week. We had classes every other day, shopping for the party, two field trips, and that interview with the Social Security people.
”

“
Well, next week should be better, right?
”

“
Yep. No party and no Social Security thing. There’s another field trip though. I’m hoping Tina is back in time to keep the three littlest home. That’d help a lot.
”

“
Call Mom. She’ll be happy to help if she can.
”

“
I can’t keep taking advantage of your mom, Luke. This is supposed to be my responsibility, but as it is, Tina is living here since she obviously thinks I can’t handle things, you’re not getting done what you need to get done because you’re always here helping, and your mom practically lives here sometimes.
”

“
You have a lot on your plate,
”
Luke began.

“
Yeah, and so do other moms. No, most don’t have as many kids, but some do. There’s a woman in the co-op with ten!
”