Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (157 page)

“Twenty-three,
and
yes
I
am
too
young
for
all
this
responsibility,
but
no
I
won’t
resent
them
for
it
later.”

“I
wasn’t
going
to—”

Aggie
sighed,
pinching
her
nose
to
help
clear
her
mind.
“I’m
sorry.
If
you
only
knew
how
often
someone
says
something
about my situation..
.”
A
woman
wheeling
a
large
cart
neared.
“Is
that
the
machine?”

Dr.
Singh
nodded.
“Yes.
I’ll
get
that
paperwork
from
you
and
see
if
I
can
forestall
a
few
more
questions.”

The
other
nurse,
Rose,
appeared
again.
“I
think
her
family
is
in
the
waiting
room.
There’s
um—a
lot
of
them.
We
don’t
have
room…”

“I’ll
send
them
home.
Tina
or
Luke
can
come
back
to
get
us,”
she
said
as
she
waved
at
Kenzie.
“Be
right
back.”

Aggie says:
Mom?

Milliken says:
Hello! Isn’t today the ice skating day? How’d it go?

Aggie says:
Great. Wonderful. Perfect. Kenzie even got a new wardrobe accessory.

Milliken says:
I sense a touch of sarcasm.

Aggie says:
A cast.

Milliken says:
No! Really?

Aggie says:
Yep. They called it a “greenstick.” It’s kind of like the bone is bent but not fully broken off.

Milliken says:
How long?

Aggie says:
As long as everything heals normally, she’ll get it off the week of the wedding.

Milliken says:
Like you’ll have time for that. Oh, ugh. I’m sorry. At least it’s winter!

Aggie says:
What does that have to do with anything?

Milliken says:
No bugs to crawl in it. That’s the worst part about casts.

Aggie says:
I think I’m going to be sick.

Milliken says:
Well, it’s true. How did she do? Did she get pink? Does she like it?

Aggie says:
No, she got green because it is Dr. Singh’s favorite color. She did horribly at first—threw a terrible tantrum—but she came around when push came to shove or some other equally hackneyed cliché that I can’t think of at the moment.

Aggie says:
Oh, but never fear. Ian has taken up the tantrum baton. Out of the blue, our little almost sixteen-month-old tyke has decided that he will be an over-achiever and become an absolute terror.

Milliken says
: That sweet cherub? Not possible.

Aggie says:
I have aged in the last twelve hours. I know I must have gray hairs somewhere.

Milliken says:
They hide until you’re convinced that they aren’t ever going to appear and then they jump out one night while you’re

sleeping.

Aggie says:
Well, isn’t that just dandy?

Milliken says:
Well, he’ll probably be fine tomorrow or the next day. Things have been a little off kilter there for the past few weeks. He’s probably reacting to that.

Aggie says:
Speaking of off kilter, remember how Sammie was lethargic and refused to move? She’s bouncing like crazy. That dog is so excited that Ellie is home it’s almost scary.

Milliken says:
Aw, poor dog. Isn’t it amazing how they sense these

things?

Aggie says:
Well, I’m just glad she’s better. I got tired of letting her sleep in the mudroom. Once she was in, she was fine, but then of course, we had to let in Miner and well… We’re only down five shoes from three pairs.

Milliken says:
Oh, boy. When do puppies stop chewing?

Aggie says:
Luke says sometime before they die.

Milliken says:
Ugh. Well, I’ll remember to have Dad add dog chews to your care packages.

Aggie says:
Thanks. I always forget them… and they always seem to bury them. I thought that was a myth, the burying thing.

Milliken says
: Apparently not.

Aggie says:
Anyway, I’ve got to go to bed, but I thought I’d let you know about the latest drama at the Stuart-Milliken abode.

Milliken says:
You know we love you. You’re doing great.

Aggie says:
Okkkkkkkk. Whatever.

Milliken says:
Hey, how go the wedding plans?

Aggie says:
I’ll give you particulars tomorrow, but if we don’t get a caterer figured out this week, I think we’re going to make the reception a jeans and t-shirt potluck. Tina did order invites today.

Milliken says:
Good. When do they arrive?

Aggie says:
Get this. They’ll be done on Friday. It pays to have someone with connections. We’re already addressing envelopes. She brought them home with her.

Milliken says:
That was smart!

Milliken says:
Ok, that’s enough. Get some sleep.

Aggie says:
Love you, Mom. Hug Dad for me.

Millken says:
Will do. Goodnight.

Aggie says:
Nighters.

Plans and Problems

Saturday,
January
31
^st

The
bowl
of
soup
flew
across
the
kitchen.
“No!”

Aggie
blinked
as
soup
sprayed
her
cabinets
and
the
bowl
shattered
on
impact
with
the
granite.
“Ian!”

“No!”

Feet
raced
into
the
kitchen
and
Vannie
stopped
frozen
in
place,
stunned
by
the
carnage—or
appearance
thereof.
“What
happened?”

“He
is
either
not
hungry
or
he
has
figured
out
that
I’m
a
mediocre
cook
at
best.”

A
sippy
cup
flew
from
the
highchair
as
if
to
wash
it
all
down.
“Ian!”

“Down!”

Vannie
started
to
unlatch
the
highchair,
but
Aggie
stopped
her.
“Wait.”