For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (80 page)

Luke stopped mid-stride and wrapped his arms around her.
“
And those women have husbands and years of experience behind them. Give yourself a break.
”

Her sniffle cancelled her intentions of arguing. She couldn’t do it. Fresh tears, ones that this time had nothing to do with the loss of her sister, overflowed as Aggie sobbed out her frustrations.
“
I don’t have time for a break, Luke. Ian is already one. Christmas is coming, and I have no idea how to make a special holiday for these kids
. T
hey
need
it this year. They grow up too fast to just coast along while I get my mom legs under me. I
--”

“
I think it’s a pretty good thing you made that vow, Mibs.
”

“
Why?
”
She sounded like Cari when the child didn’t get her way
--
right down to the pathetic little sob that punctuated the question.

“
Because I’d be tempted to try one of those movie tricks and kiss you silent. Since I can’t, you need to be quiet and listen.
”

“
Bossy.
”

“
When it’s for your own good, sure.
”
His hands brushed her hair from her face and then settled around her waist again.
“
Your family isn’t going to look like anyone else’s. It’s going to change when it becomes my family too. It’ll change when Vannie goes off to college or Laird gets an afternoon job. You can’t be all things to all these kids all at once. You can’t. Your sister didn’t do that.
”

“
Yes
--”

“
Hush, woman!
”
His voice growled, but Aggie heard the chuckle under it all.
“
She did not. Your sister had many hours a day with only a few little ones at home. For all you know, she hired out some of the housekeeping. She had a husband who was obviously a big help, and I bet she did not drag her children all over town for different activities.
”

“
I don’t know. I never asked.
”

“
You have a lot of misplaced guilt, Mibs. You keep trying to make up for what you think those kids are missing, but they have everything they want or need. They have a ‘mother’ that loves them, a strong church behind them, and they have each other. That’s more than a lot of people can say.
”

“
Like who? Name someone who doesn’t have that. That’s just basic life, Luke.
”
Aggie’s frustration prompted her to try to push away, but Luke didn’t let her.

“
Nuh uh. You stay here and listen. William. There’s one. He never had any of that. His mother showed him cruelty, he had no church at that time, and his siblings were stripped from him.
”
He shook his head as she opened her mouth.
“
And, he’s not a lone case. When those kids are fifty, they’re going to remember those things. Sure, they’ll have fond memories of other things, but the ones that matter most will be those.
”

“
Wanna know something pathetic?
”

“
Sure.
”
Reluctantly, Luke stepped back, turned, took her hand again, and started back towards her house.

“
I keep waiting for Tavish to break out and start the infirmary all over again.
”

“
I don’t think he’s going to. I think he got some kind of immunity somehow without getting them. Either that, or he’ll get it some other year when he’s exposed to someone else.
”

“
That’s encouraging… and not.
”
Aggie’s feet dragged.

“
You getting sleepy finally?
”

“
Nope.
”

“
You sure? You’re slowing down.
”

She ducked her head and tried to pick up the pace.
“
I just didn’t want to go back yet.
”

Luke pulled her back to him.
“
I’m good with that.
”

Their pace slowed to a lazy crawl as they made their way back to the house
--
neither speaking, both saying much. Luke stopped at his truck and pulled the door open.
“
I’d better go.
”

“
You said something I really liked earlier.
”

His eyes smiled down at her.
“
And what was that?
”

“
You said, ‘When it becomes my family too.’ I liked that.
”

“
I look forward to it, Mibs. It’s the first and last prayer on my lips every day.
”

“
Mine too.
”

“
And you wondered why…
”
Luke’s voice took on that tone that had an unsettling effect on her heart.

“
Why what?
”

“
Why I love you.
”

Aggie’s eyes widened.
“
How did you know that!
”

“
Your face, Mibs. It tells me everything.
”

“
Not everything.
”

His chuckle morphed into full blown laughter.
“
Yes, Mibs. Everything.
”

As she digested the ramifications of Luke’s words, he drove off toward home. It occurred to Aggie, as she climbed the stairs, that Luke would probably know the state of her heart before she was fully aware of it. That thought sent her rushing up the last few steps to see in her mirror what Luke might have seen in her face.

An envelope on her pillow diverted her. She kicked off her shoes, pulled the note from the envelope, and curled up on her bed to read it. A smile played around her lips as she read.

Aggie (A.K.A. Mibs),

Today as I listened to the inspector tell me what a good job I’d done on the house on Cygnet Street, I realized how rarely I remember to tell you how well you’re doing. The children are healthy, happy, and growing spiritually and intellectually. I am sure your sister is very proud.

I also wanted to remind you that you are loved. Your parents, the children, Tina, my mother, and of course, I love you more than I know how to express. I think you need to hear it more than you do, so I’m telling you. I love you.

Yours,

Luke

Aggie reread the note, and then read it once more. Smiling to herself with a prayer of thanksgiving on her lips, she tucked it into her Bible, amused that the chapter heading was for Song of Solomon, and reached for her laptop. It wasn’t there. Her feet pattered down the stairs and into the library. She retrieved her late night communication friend, and hurried back up to her room. While it booted, she changed into pajamas, brushed her teeth and hair, and washed her face.

The messenger showed Luke offline, but Aggie clicked on his name anyway.

Mibs says:
Luke, I got your note. Thank you. I have a feeling I’ll reread it so much that I wear it out.

Mibs says:
Funny aside, I stuck it in my Bible and you’ll never guess what book it landed in. Or maybe you will…

Mibs says:
G’night, Lucas. You do not know how badly I want to be able to add
“
I love you
”
to that.

The messenger warning that Luke
would receive her message once
he got online made her smile. Before she could sign off, Tina’s messenger box flashed on her screen with a message.

Tina says:
Are you awake? Are you ok? I almost didn’t go in case you were coming down with something, but Luke promised he’d call his mom if you needed help.

Mibs says:
I’m fine. Just a very long day.

Aggie says:
Week, actually.

Tina says:
Was Luke still there when you woke up?

Aggie says:
Yep. I ate cake, he cleaned the kitchen, and we went for a walk. For the record, he knows what I’m thinking.

Tina says:
This is a surprise to you?

Aggie says:
Not a surprise
--
just a terrifying reminder that I can’t keep my thoughts and feelings to myself.

Tina says:
I don’t think he wants you to keep them to yourself.

Aggie says:
But I want to know them and be comfortable with them before I broadcast it to everyone!

Tina says:
Then keep him away from the house?

Aggie says:
Cruel. You are cruel.

Tina says:
And you’re half in love.

Aggie says:
We’ve moved from if to when.

Tina says:
If to when what?

Aggie says:
We get married. At first, it was a definite,
“
if you ever care for me, this will happen.
”
Now we both treat it as if it’s a foregone conclusion.

Tina says:
Well, duh. We all knew that.

Aggie says:
I hoped, but I didn’t know.

Tina says:
You’re always over thinking this stuff. Remember when Amy said that you liked Roger Cather? You spent a month analyzing every aspect of it while you tried to decide if she was right or not.

Aggie says:
I decided I didn’t.

Tina says:
Well, it’s possible that you did when you started, but man, you didn’t once it was over.