Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (23 page)

Milliken says:
Tina? You around?

Milliken says:
Oh, Tiiiiiinaaaaaaaa…

Milliken says:
Stop flirting with the cops and get on here.

Tina says:
Not all… just one…

Milliken says:
Well, then. That makes all the difference.

Tina says:
So, how did the day go? Was it pretty emotional?

Milliken says:
You might say that…

Tina says:

I’m sorry. I should have come.

Milliken says:
Got that right. You missed my very public proposal!

Tina says:
What? You said Luke wasn’t going!!!

Aggie says:
There. I don’t do well when my name isn’t my name on this thing.

Aggie says:
Well, he was here!

Tina says:
Ok, tell me more!

Aggie says:
Well, I showed up and he was in the back yard. You know, right where the family room window shows EVERYONE the whole thing?

Tina says:
Back yard? Really?

Aggie says:
Yep. I came through the back, because Dad was supposedly working out back on something and I needed to see it, and there he was!

Tina says:
Did he get down on one knee and declare his undying love for you. Snort.

Aggie says:
Sure did!

Tina says
: You’re kidding, right? Luke?? LUKE????

Aggie says:
Yep, in front of all my kids, both my aunts, and both my parents ogling and salivating at the window.

Tina says:
Wait, were your aunts really there? Both of them?

Aggie says:
Yep. I bet you know what came next.

Tina says:
You’re pretty yeppy tonight.

Aggie says:
Better yeppy than yappy. Yappy dogs are annoying.

Tina says:
You’re not a dog.

Tina says:
I guess he figured out your name pretty quickly.

Aggie says:
Yes (note the use of yes instead of yep???) Then it

was war.

Aggie says:
It’s all on tape too! You should call Mrs. Sullivan. Luke is taking it straight to her house tonight.

Tina says:
No, I’ll wait. I want to watch it with you.

Aggie says:
Because you want to watch my face. Don’t bother typing it. I know you started.

Tina says:
I want to watc

Tina says:
You know me well.

Tina says:
So, do you have a ring?

Aggie says:
Oh, Tina. It’s just perfect. It’s ME somehow.

Tina says:
Did he pick it out by himself or…

Aggie says:
Libby picked it out for me way back at my birthday. Let me send you a picture. Hold on.

Tina says:
I don’t suppose you set a date…

Tina says:
What kind of wedding do you want?

Tina says:
I get to wear a pretty dress, right???????

Aggie says:
Sorry, couldn’t get a decent picture without going into the kitchen.

Aggie says:
I’m not sure about the date. They tried to talk about it, but…

Tina says:
Not the right day for that, was it?

Aggie says:
It felt rushed and Thanksgiving is a family day, not Aggie day.

Tina says:
Oh, that ring is perfect for you!

Aggie says:
I know, right? I just can’t believe she did that!.

Tina says:
Libby is pretty insightful...

Tina says:
What about wedding? Still want the garden wedding with the tea cakes and string quartet under the archway?

Aggie says:
You’re going to hate me.

Tina says:
If you tell me you’re going to elope…

Aggie says:
Ok, maybe just utterly despise. I want a little wedding at the house and then a reception somewhere—even after the honeymoon. If we get one.

Tina says:
If you get one?

Aggie says:
Well, I’m a mom now. I can’t just take off for a week.

Tina says:
Well, you’re going. We’ll find a way. I’ll be there and maybe Libby can come over or something.

Tina says:
We can talk about it later, but you’re going. Hey, what about my dress.

Aggie says:
You’re  going to have  to have an  amazing  dress. We have to utilize any chance to knock William’s starched socks off.

Tina says:
Oh, ugh! Starched socks.

Aggie says:
Well, we know he doesn’t.

Tina says:
But it’s not unbelievable—that’s the problem!

Tina says:
Enough about my love life, I want to know more. Do you know any wedding things other than small? Colors?

Aggie says:
That’s hard to tell. Every color I come up with makes me think of eighties poof or too contemporary/chic for me. Assuming the color works with white, we’re good.

Tina says:
White! A dress. Oh, you are going to have a wedding dress.

Aggie says:
Mop up the tears.

Tina says:
Yes ma’am. Now dress. ANY idea?

Aggie says:
I don’t want sleeves that are wider than my thighs or enough gathers to hide Luke from the posse.

Tina says:
Good. No mermaid dresses either, ok? I think you’d look ridiculous. Takes the right person to pull those off.

Aggie says:
Well, since I’m not her, there’s no worries.

Tina says:
How long of an engagement?

Aggie says:
Since elopement was knocked off the table, then whenever we can have time to do it without rushing. December is too busy, January is recuperation from December (and kind of quick)

Aggie says:
February is out. Not going there in Valentine’s Day month. Maybe March. I don’t want to wait too much longer than that.

Tina says:
January is sort of quick, but December is just busy.

Aggie says
: Doesn’t make much sense, does it?

Tina says:
Go to bed. You’re tired.

Aggie says:
You’re right. I am. Thank you, Tina.

Tina says:
For what?

Aggie says:
Just for being you.

Tina says:
Love you. Congratulations. Good night. Sleep tight. Bite

the bedbugs.

Aggie says:
Leave it to you to be revolting and endearing—all in

the same breath. Night. Love you too.

Aggie says:
Wait! Wait!

Aggie
says:
Tiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaaa

Aggie says:
Come back! How is Miner’s paw? I promised Tavish I’d ask!

Aggie says:
Come on, Tina. I know you’re researching something instead of sleeping.

Aggie says:
I will call you—or worse, I’ll call William and have him call you!

Tina says:
I was getting a drink! Sheesh! Paw seems better. He limps a little bit, but not too much. I’ve got both of them in the mudroom with it shut off.

Aggie says:
Mudroom!

Tina says:
I don’t want him to get cold enough that he needs to walk around, but isn’t willing to because of the foot.

Aggie says:
You are such a pushover.

Tina says:
And the dog is healing, so we’re good. He’ll go back out in the morning.

Aggie says:
Ok… thanks.

Tina says:
Now SLEEP.

Aggie says:
As if I’ll be able to.

Tina says:
And here note, world, today’s the day Aggie became a girl.

Aggie says:
Ooooh… I’m telling Luke… he’s not gonna like that!

Tina says:
Bring it on.

Aggie says:
hee hee. Night.

Tina says:
*poofs* Again

Surprise

Monday,
December
1
^St

Bang!
The
door
slammed
shut
behind
Aggie,
but
the
children
hardly
noticed.
“Ok,
guys
we
have
maybe
five
minutes
until
she’s
back
and
even
more
obsessed
with
making
up
for
lost
time
past
and
future.”