For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (82 page)

Cookies littered the floor around his feet
--
two crushed by footsteps. He took a deep breath as he picked up the first, still wounded by Mrs. Dyke’s words.
You’re no better than your mother.
The accusation echoed in his mind until he thought he’d go crazy. Had Aggie said it, he would have gone through the roof, but how could he unleash the wrath building in him on the only person who had ever shown him a mother’s love and care?

With each cookie replaced on the plate, William’s self-righteous indignation returned
--
this time, directed toward Aggie. She’d done this. Once again, she’d played the helpless victim card rather than facing the fact that sometimes people need help. The irony of that thought contorted his face into further disgust until he was ready to storm up the stairs and unleash all the pent up fury on the one person who needed to hear it most. Yes, Aggie definitely needed to hear a little
“
faithful wounding
”
of her own.

By the time all cookies were nestled on the plate once more, William had, once again, resolved that Aggie needed to hear the hard truth
--
she couldn’t handle the job alone. For the briefest of seconds, he was tempted to take his concerns to Ellene. She had the ability to make Aggie see sense.
No, that wouldn’t work.
If Ellene wanted to, she could have the children removed for neglect, endangerment, and educational neglect. The clinic records
--

His thoughts were arrested by Luke whistling up the steps and into the house.
“
Aggie? You here?
”

“
She’s upstairs.
”
Before William could say anymore, Aggie flew down the stairs, sobbing into Luke’s arms.

An awkwardness filled the room as William tried not to watch Luke comfort Aggie. The tender way he had with the young woman was something William couldn’t have imitated had he tried, and he knew it. Something akin to remorse pricked his heart as he saw how distraught she truly was. Had he been that unkind? He hadn’t meant to be. He’d tried to show her that she needed to leave things to professionals and not expect so much of herself. Was that so wrong?

He couldn’t leave. Luke and Aggie blocked his way. It’d be even more awkward to try to scoot past them. He waited for the
comforting to morph into a make-
out session, but thankfully it didn’t. Luke managed to quiet Aggie and convince her to go back upstairs. William didn’t know what she’d told him, but it looked like Luke intended to have words. Well, he could throw a few well chosen ones out himself.

“
William
--”

“
Do you see how overwrought she is? You’ve got to protect her from herself.
”
He expected Luke to interrupt or argue with him, but Luke Sullivan stood waiting for him to finish.
“
Well?
”

“
Are you through?
”

“
I
--
Well
--
For now.
”

“
Then I have a few things to say.
”
Luke’s expression grew serious
--
almost stern.
“
Actually, I have a question. Can Aggie do anything right in your eyes?
”

“
Of course! She’s a wonderful ‘mother’ to those kids. She obviously loves them and protects them as best she can. They’re well fed, clothed… why?
”

“
Have you ever told her those things?
”

William frowned.
“
You know I have.
”

“
Let me rephrase. Do you leave her with the impression that you think well of her or that you think her incompetent?
”

“
She’s not incompetent. She’s just overworked. She’s always asking for help, Luke. You’ve heard her when she’s tired or frustrated. She’ll admit she can’t do it.
”

Luke shook his head as if unable to believe what he heard.
“
Anyone will say anything when weary. Sometimes Aggie just wants someone to acknowledge she’s struggling without trying to teach her some great lesson or prove that the job is beyond her. She just needs to know that someone cares. She did this for months before she ever came here and without the help she has now. We offer this help because we love her and want to care for her, not because she’s doomed to failure without us.
”

Unaccustomed to Luke speaking more than half a dozen words at a time, William actually listened. With Mrs. Dyke’s reproof echoing in his mind, he nodded.
“
Can I go up?
”

“
Go for it. Just don’t
--”

“
I won’t.
”

William took the stairs slowly. For the first time that he could remember, he felt the impulse to pray outside his carefully scheduled prayer time. That impulse slammed into his chest making his heart feel burdened beyond anything he’d ever imagined. Step by step, he poured out his confusion, his concerns, and his desire to help rather than hurt. By the time he reached Aggie’s room, he felt a peace steal over him so gently that he felt almost caressed by it.

“
Aggie?
”

“
William, please
--”

“
Can I come in?
”
He didn’t try to explain yet.

“
I
--”
She took a deep breath.
“
Ok. Come in.
”
Resignation was chiseled into every corner of her face.

With a tentativeness that he’d never felt before, much less displayed, William crossed the room to the loveseat near the window and sat next to her, taking one of her hands in his.
“
I am so sorry. I think I understand now
--
somewhat anyway. I see how I hurt you. That much I know for sure, and I am so sorry.
”

Without a word, Aggie curled against him, much as his little sister had so many years ago, and gripped his shirt in her hands.
“
I forgive you.
”

All his life, William James Markenson had been told that the most powerful words in the world were
“
I love you,
”
but one fall afternoon he decided that equally powerful were their companions.
“
I forgive you.
”

~*~*~*~

Four pounds, three jabs to the doorbell, and finally a
“
Open this door, William Markenson,
”
finally woke William from his impromptu nap. He stumbled from his chair, almost tripping over the ottoman, and unlocked the deadbolt, one hand on the holster he’d forgotten to remove.
“
Tina
--”

“
You have some nerve, buddy.
”

“
I told her I was sorry. I didn’t want or mean to hurt her.
”

Tina’s clear blue eyes swam with unshed angry tears. Something, he couldn’t identify what, swept over him as he watched her accuse him of cruelty, arrogance, and ignorance. By the time she sputtered her last accusation and turned to leave, he’d identified that feeling. Attraction. Oh, she’d kill him if he said anything now, but he had to try.

“
Tina?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
I was wrong. Aggie forgave me. Can you forgive me?
”

“
I don’t know.
”

Her choked back sob confused him. Why should she be so upset? Before he thought through the idea, William found himself sharing the
“
conversation
”
he’d had with Mrs. Dyke.
“
Mama Dyke said something today that scared me, Tina.
”

Instinctively, he knew
that if he ha
d used any other word but scared, she might not have listened, but the word wasn’t chosen to manipulate. She turned, her eyes slowly raising to meet his, allowing him a breath of relief.
“
What?
”

“
She said that I’d become like my mother. She said I used untrue and cruel words to emotionally beat Aggie.
”

“
You did.
”

“
I didn’t mean to. I really was trying to help, but I think I understand now. Luke said something that really struck home.
”

“
You don’t know how close you came to being decked.
”
A sob caught on her last word.

“
Tina?
”
His hand reached to brush the tears that finally fell from her lashes.

“
I have to go.
”

“
Why did you come?
”
As dense as William had been, he was starting to understand several things.

“
Bye.
”

In a calculated risk, William reached out for her as she turned and pulled Tina into his arms.
“
I wish you’d forgive me.
”

“
I’m afraid to.
”

His hands looked as though they could crush her as he wrapped them around her waist. Tina was so petite!
“
Afraid for Aggie or afraid for you?
”

“
Both?
”

“
Is that a question?
”
William fought the temptation to laugh. The last thing he wanted to do was add to the rift between them.

“
You tell me.
”
She refused to look at him as she whispered,
“
I like you, William. I think you have a lot of first-rate qualities, but this is the second time you have belittled and deeply hurt my friend. I’m afraid to let myself be vulnerable to you.
”