Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (27 page)

The
odd
glow
of
the
laptop
was
the
only
light
in
the
room
,
apart
from
the
occasional
flash
of
lightning,
but
still
Aggie
pecked
away
at
the
keyboard,
determined
to
get
the
kids’
party
lists
entered
into
some
s
emblance
of
order.
A
pile
of
scrap
paper,
notebook
paper,
envelopes,
and
of
all
things,
construction
paper,
had
notes
of
everything
from
“gold
balloons”
to
“don’t
forget
to
invite
Deputy Markenson
.
Kenzie
insists.
I’
m
writing
this
down
so
she’ll
quit
bugging
me.”

Lost
in
confusing
food
suggestions
such
as
sparkling
grape
juice
and
crab
cakes,
she
didn’t
see
the
flash
of
light,
hear
the
booms
that
rattled
the
windows,
or
feel
the
cool
gusts
of
wind
that
fought
to
get
into
the
house.
She
did
feel
cold
hands
cover
her
eyes
and
screamed,
clutching
her
laptop
before
it
flew
across
the
room.
“Luke!”

“I
knocked!
I
could
see
you,
but
you
didn’t
answer.
Is
the
power
out?”

“No,
I
just
pulled
the
plug
in
case.
”
She
sank
back
to
the
couch.
“My
heart
is
still
pounding!”
she
accused,
slapping
his
arm
lightly.

“Well,
I
have
to
produce
some
kind
of
heart
thump
in
you…
it’s
my
duty
as
your
fiancée.”

“You
like
that
word,
don’t
you?”
Aggie
set
the
laptop
on
the
table
and
stood,
fumbling
for
the
light
switch
in
the
dining
room.
“There.
Shed
a
little
light
on
the
subject.”

“Yes,
I
do
like
that
word.
I’d
like
wife
better…”
he
frowned.
“Tell
me
you
don’t
want
to
serve
crab
cakes
at
our
wedding.”

“Um,
no.
The
kids
want
to
serve
crab
cakes
at
Ellie
and
Tavish’s
surprise
party.”

“Ellie—”
He
paused,
then
laughed.
“You
got
me.”

“No,
I’m
serious.
They
want
to
do
a
surprise
party
for
Ellie
and
Tavish’s
golden
birthday.”

“What’s
a
golden
birthday?
Wouldn’t
that
be
age
fifty?”

“That’s
the
fiftieth
wedding
anniversary.”

Luke
winked.
“What
can
I
say,
I’ve
got
weddings
on
the
brain.
Now,
tell
me
about
golden
birthdays.”

“It’s
just
when
your
birth
year
coincides
with
the
day
of
the
month
you
were
born.
They
were
born
on
December
ninth
and
are
turning
nine
this
year.
Vannie
did
the
same
thing.
Thankfully,
everyone
else
isn’t
for
a
long
time.
Maybe
I
can
get
out
of
doing
anything
by
then.
”

“They
really
want
crab
cakes
and
sparkling
grape
juice?”

“I
know,
right?”
Aggie
flopped
back
against
the
couch,
staring
at
the
screen
on
the
coffee
table.
“I
was
thinking
nine
small
cakes,
nine
kinds
of
ice
cream,
and
nine
balloons
or
something.
I
planned
to
invite
your
nephews
and
nieces
and
that’s
it.
They’ve
got
a
list
of
everyone
we
know!
They
even
want
to
invite
Tina’s
dad!”