For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (8 page)

“
Mom said that Grandma Stuart seemed to think people weren’t very intelligent, but it was because she always assumed they’d defer to her wishes rather than because she ever actually considered their intelligence.
”

With a shrug, Aggie agreed.
“
That’s possible, I suppose. I’d better call Mr. Moss.
”
As she suspected, her lawyer assured her there should be no papers necessary for her to sign. He promised to come to the house as soon as possible, but was sure it’d be at least two hours.
“
Keep a copy of everything, but sign nothing. If the lawyer brings only one copy, take them and lock them up. I’ll look them over when I get there.
”

“
Can I do that? Is it legal?
”

“
I think it’s imperative. We’ll deal with any accusations or trumped-up charges if they come. I know Mrs. Stuart’s lawyer. He’s an excellent attorney, working on a very large retainer, but he won’t risk being disbarred even for Geraldine Stuart.
”

The filing cabinet had a lock, but Aggie had no idea where to find the key. After several minutes of searching, Luke stopped her.
“
Just take them upstairs to Vannie’s room and put them on the shelf over her door. I’ll block the lawyer’s access to the stairs. He can’t go up without physically assaulting me, and he knows it.
”

With the plan in place, everyone went back to work, but Aggie was jittery. She tried to pay attention to the instructions Libby gave Vannie, but it was hopeless. Instead, she swept the porch, vacuumed the living room, made sure the little girls’ hair was all brushed, and put the remaining breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. Yes, the library was a mess, but anyone could see they were in the middle of a project.

“
I can close the doors if you like, Aggie.
”
Libby’s face showed concern.

“
I’m just being ridiculous. Don’t worry about me.
”

Ian began to protest as she tried to corral him and his toys into one very small part of the living room. Frustrated, she gave up and carried him upstairs. Luke was rolling paint onto her walls, and the result was exactly what she’d hoped it’d be. The tan paint was so creamy; it almost had a golden glow to it. Aggie inhaled the scent of fresh paint and announced,
“
It’s going to be beautiful.
”

Startled, Luke jumped and rolled the paint at an awkward angle.
“
You enjoyed that much too much.
”

“
I did,
”
she agreed.

“
So, is he here?
”

“
No, that’s what I came to talk to you about. I was wondering if you can take Ian when you come downstairs. I try to keep the toys from ending up all over the place, but you know how he is. Everything will be everywhere if I give the kid half a chance. Keeping him in arms with that man here is probably best, but I don’t want to risk the papers near the baby either.
”
Aggie squeezed the baby and held him close, as if it’d ward off evil lawyers with their mountains of paperwork.

“
I’d be happy to.
”

Luke put the roller back in the pan and wiped his hands carefully on a rag. Once certain he was free of paint, he began showing her his plans for her room. It took her until the end of his demonstration to realize what he’d done.
“
Thanks, Luke.
”

“
What for?
”

“
I appreciate the distraction.
”

With a cheeky grin, he picked up the roller once more and loaded it with paint.
“
Hey, it’s not every day a guy finds out he’s a distraction.
”

Aggie watched him pick up where he’d stopped, checked the window a couple of times, and then ambled out of the room and toward the stairs. Just as she reached the second floor, she heard Luke calling for her. Once inside the room again, she giggled.
“
Oh, you are so silly.
”

“
I got a smile out of you. It’s worth it for that.
”

She started to make a retort, but tires crunched on the gravel.
“
Oh, no! I forgot to call the little ones in!
”
Without another word, she dashed down the stairs calling for Cari, Kenzie, and Lorna.

After stuffing the paint roller in a zip lock bag and zipping the top as far closed as it would go, Luke scrubbed his hands in the bathroom sink, and then went to do his part in
“
Operation Thwart Geraldine… Again.
”
The walls he left behind still sported their unusual paint job. Instead of solid blocks of creamy tan, it looked like a graffiti artist with a preference for minimalist modern art had attacked the walls. In huge block letters, they read,
“
MIBS’ ROOM. KEEP OUT!
”

Gordon Steiner was a very distinguished-looking man. Still unsettled by the nature of his visit, Aggie was unable to think coherently. She welcomed the man into the living room, offered him a chair and a glass of water, and then blurted out, much to her mortification,
“
You’re too handsome to be a lawyer.
”

Before she could recover her wits, Luke snickered, Vannie gasped, and Libby closed the pocket doors, shutting off the library entirely.
“
Why, thank you, I think.
”
Mr. Steiner folded his hands and glanced around him.
“
You have a lovely home.
”
What he didn’t say spoke volumes. It was evident, just from his reaction to everything, that he’d heard only the worst of her.

“
Before I look at your papers, would you like me to give you a tour? We’ve worked almost non-stop to make this place into a home. How we accomplished so much, I’ll never know.
”

“
I’d like that.
”

The slicing motions Luke made across his throat were never seen by Aggie. Instead, he followed her into the kitchen, listened with evident pride as she raved about his handiwork, apologized for the mess in the library, and then room by room, explained what they’d done and how it had been accomplished.
“
The wiring was really the worst. Well, that and the cabinets, I imagine. He got those done in a week! How
--”

“
Um, Aggie?
”

She turned to Luke expectantly.
“
Hmm?
”

“
I worked on those from the day we talked about what you wanted in your kitchen. I just finished them up that week.
”
To the lawyer, he added,
“
I didn’t want to leave a false impression. I don’t think anyone could pull that off in a week
--
even with help.
”

Aggie filed that information away for later discussion, and led the man outside to see how the yard and house had progressed.
“
There’s still a lot to do out here, but we’re getting there.
”

“
It’s truly amazing. I’m very impressed.
”
There was a hint of disbelief in the man’s voice.
“
I assume most of the rooms just needed a fresh coat of paint?
”

“
Well, that and the floors needed to be refinished. That’s what took the longest. After we did the first and knew what to do, we worked on several rooms at once almost assembly line style.
”
Aggie went on to explain how she painted the trim, Luke painted the walls, then sanded floors , and how they went in a circle, room by room adding coats of urethane to finish the wood.
“
The floors would have needed more work if we wanted to make them perfect
--
without scratches or anything, but I decided to let the house keep its character. We sanded and then what was left, as long as it wouldn’t splinter, we left alone.
”

The confused expression on Gordon Steiner’s face was priceless. She thought about letting him remain lost and confused, but Aggie couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“
It was truly horrible when we moved in. Broken lattice out front, paint peeling everywhere, this room and the dining room were both loaded with beds, and no matter how hard I tried, it was always a mess. Oh, man, and the kitchen…
”

As suspected, the bewildered look dissolved as she spoke.
“
Well, with so much to do, it’s a wonder that you manage to keep it as nice as it is right now.
”

“
I have a lot of helpers, Mr. Steiner.
”

“
And a lot of mess makers. Some would say
--”
He stopped
mid-sentence
and shook his head.
“
I have another appointment
--
much sooner than I’d like so if we c
ould take care of the paperwork…
”
As the man dug them from his briefcase, he looked up at Aggie curiously.
“
Are you sure
--”
Again, his head wagged reminding her of a puppy with wet ears.

“
Is this my copy or yours?
”
The question was delivered sounding much calmer than her quaking insides felt.

“
I thought
--”
Once more, the man closed his mouth abruptly, and this time leveled steady eyes on her.
“
No. This is the only copy, as requested.
”

It took every ounce of her self-control not to fling the papers at him and demand he leave her property. She was furious
--
livid. How dare he come into her home, make pleasant small talk, inspect it like a judge and jury, and then act like she was some kind of lunatic for asking questions that anyone with a lick of common sense should!

Papers in hand, she rose from her chair and walked to the stairs.
“
I’ll be back in a minute.
”

“
I
--”
Mr. Steiner, once more, shook his head as Aggie’s legs disappeared upstairs. He glanced at Luke who stood in front of the bottom step, baby Ian struggling in his arms.
“
She isn’t bringing the papers back down, is she?
”

“
No.
”