Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (154 page)

The
ice
looked
like
a
safety
advertisement.
Nine
bodies
were
decked
out
in
helmets,
elbow
pads,
and
kneepads.
Luke
alone
risked
life
and
limb
without
protective
head
and
joint
gear.
The
girls
wore
snow
pants
under
their
skirts
and
looked
positively
ridiculous
in
Aggie’s
opinion,
but
they
all
insisted.
She,
on
the
other
hand,
wore
two
layers
of
thermals
covered
by
her
thickest
knit
tights
under
her
warmest
skirt.
“I
should
have
considered
all
ramifications
of
my
decision
to
stick
to
skirts
for
the
girls’
sake,”
she
complained
as
the
third
down
on
the
ice
managed
to
ensure
her
backside
was
officially
frozen.”

Luke
helped
her
up
again
and
waited
for
her
to
steady
herself
before
taking
her
hand
and
leading
her
around
the
rink.
“I
think
it
was
a
wise
thing
to
do.”

Aggie
pointed
to
the
walkers
the
twins
and
Kenzie
were
using
to
help
steady
them
as
they
skittered
across
the
ice
like
a
dog
on
a
slippery
floor.
“
That
was
a
wise
thing
to
do.
Brilliant.”

“Mom
suggested
I
stop
at
the
thrift
store
and
they
had
exactly
three.”

Tina
whizzed
by
with
Ian
in
the
stroller.
“Now
that’s
what
I
like
to
see!”

“What?”

“You
two
acting
like
two
people
in
love!”
she
screamed.
The
children
tittered.

“We
obviously
are
much
too
staid
for
her
tastes.”

A
wicked
gleam
filled
his
eye,
making
her
laugh.
“You
know
how
to
look
absolutely
diabolical
which,
considering
I
know
you’re
probably
thinking
of
something
like
calling
William
to
come
get
her
mind
on
her
own
romance,
is
pretty
funny.”

“Oh,
that’s
a
good
idea!
Think
I
should?”

“I
think
if
he
was
n’t
working,
he’d
be
here.
I
have
no
doubt
she
already
asked
him.”

“We
could
try…”

The
answer
that
formed
on
her
lips
never
had
a
chance
to
materialize.
Kenzie
whizzed
past
them,
going
faster
than
Aggie
had
thought
possible
while
pushing
a
walker
,
and
hit
a
rough
patch
on
the
ice.
The
walker
toppled.
Kenzie
screamed,
and
Aggie
joined
her
as
the
little
girl
flew
over
the
walker
and
landed
a
few
feet
away.

“Are
you
ok?”
Aggie
tried
to
help
the
child
to
her
feet,
but
Kenzie
jerked
her
arm
away,
holding
it
close
to
her
body,
tears
streaming
down
her
face.

“No!”

Luke
lifted
Kenzie
and
skated
to
the
other
side
of
the
ice.
The
child
screamed
with
every
bump
and
jostle.
“It’s
swelling,
Aggie.
I
don’t
know
if
it’s
just
bruised,
sprained,
or
if
it’s
broken.”

“Get
her
skates
off.
I’ll
take
her
to
the
clinic.
They
have
one
here,
right?”